The best way to have stain-free tile floors is to prevent stains in the first place. Too bad life isn\u2019t always that easy. In the real world, you WILL have to deal with stains, but you can avoid many by thinking ahead about how to prevent them. One way to reduce the amount of staining on any tile surface is to make sure it is sealed with a good penetrating sealer or impregnator when installed.<\/p>\n
In rooms with tile flooring, ensure there is at least one window and proper ventilation. If it\u2019s a bathroom, install a fan to help keep the room from becoming too humid. A ceiling fan in other rooms will keep the air circulating. If the environment is very humid, a dehumidifier can be effective against humidity and stagnant air creating the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow.<\/p>\n
As far as maintenance goes, mop floor tiles each week with warm water. If you notice mold forming, choose a specialized cleaning solution to keep stains and mold at bay. A tip on cleaners:<\/strong> Always start with the weakest cleaner and work your way up. You never want to permanently damage your tiles\u2019 surface or the grout (we\u2019re trying to prevent that here) by using a super strength cleaner.<\/p>\n How often you perform regular cleaning will depend on the level of foot traffic through your home, how much you use the space, and how many pets and humans you have in the house.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong><\/p>\n What NOT to do:<\/strong><\/p>\n In this instance, deep cleaning means using a cleaning solution instead of plain water. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that a third of Americans are cleaning their tile incorrectly! Pay close attention here: The best cleaners for porcelain tile are the ones that are made specifically for tile and grout. Makes sense, right? But most people aren\u2019t doing it. That\u2019s why we repeat it here.<\/p>\n Disinfecting is a big deal for a lot of people right now. The good news is ceramic surfaces don\u2019t need harsh cleaning chemicals. However, on occasion if you do need to use a disinfectant, it will not dull or damage porcelain like it may other non-ceramic surface materials.<\/p>\n Check out the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA\u2019s) list of disinfectants to choose the correct one for cleaning specific bacteria or viruses. When cleaning is complete, thoroughly rinse with clean water to keep residue from drying on the tiles.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> Follow the label\u2019s instructions for safe use.<\/p>\n Now let\u2019s move on to cleaning the grout. It\u2019s logical that you\u2019ll clean your grout when you clean your tile. However, over time grout can develop stains or other issues. These require a little extra care:<\/p>\n There are three categories for cleaners:<\/p>\n When water alone won\u2019t work, neutral tile and grout cleaners are the best options. If neutral cleaners aren\u2019t strong enough, you can try a mildly alkaline detergent but never use an acidic cleaner.<\/p>\n So now we move on to stone tile stains, which can drive you crazy if you can\u2019t figure out how to get rid of them. That one small spot will eventually feel like it\u2019s grown large enough to see from space.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s check out the most common stain types:<\/p>\n Type of Stain \/ Cause<\/strong><\/p>\n There are several poulticing powders you can use to remove stains. The best are diatomaceous earth and clays like attapulgite, kaolin, and fullers earth. Poulticing powders work with water to go below the surface and draw the stain out of the stone.<\/p>\n DIYers Beware:<\/strong> Never use clays on rust stains, and never use whiting (chalk) or iron-type clays with acidic chemicals, which will negate the cleaning power of the poultice.<\/p>\n How do you choose the proper chemical to remove a stain? First, identify the stain. This is the most important step. If you know what caused the stain, you can look at a stain removal chart for the proper chemical to apply.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t know for sure, try to figure it out by color, shape, or pattern. Do your best impression of Sherlock Holmes by using your powers of observation and perform some investigation to deduce the answer to Name That Stain.<\/strong><\/p>\n Here\u2019s an extremely handy guide for removing stains from stone tile by Frederick Hueston, the Founder of Stone Forensics:<\/p>\n The next time you find a stain on your tile flooring and no one will confess, no need to lose your cool. This information can guide you step-by-step to removing stains from your porcelain and stone tiles without too much time or trouble.<\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n The best way to have stain-free tile floors is to prevent stains in the first place. Too bad life isn\u2019t always that easy. In the real world, you WILL have to deal with stains, but you can avoid many by thinking ahead about how to prevent them. One way to reduce the amount of staining […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adonetileandbath.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Regular Cleaning of Tile and Stone Floors<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
How to Deep Clean and Disinfect Porcelain Tile<\/h3>\n
How to Deep Clean Grout<\/h3>\n
\n
Tile and Grout Cleaners Types<\/h4>\n
\n
The Most Common Stain Categories for Stone<\/h3>\n
\n
Poulticing Powders:<\/h4>\n
Stain Removing Chemicals<\/h4>\n
Stain Removal Guide<\/h3>\n
\n
Conclusion<\/h4>\n
\n\n