So you are choosing a new flooring for your home but you are not sure what to choose. Well, tile is the best scratch-resistant flooring choice for flooring your home. It is a popular option for bathroom walls, kitchen backsplashes, and floors all over the house because it is easy to clean, durable, and available in various shapes and colors. However, if it is not properly taken care of tile flooring can get ruined.
Even though you might consider using tile on your next renovation, you should acknowledge that it will require more attention, especially if there’s bleach on tile floors during your next renovation. If you’re thinking of what needs to be repaired before renting a house, it’s a good idea to check out the tile and ensure they’re in good condition.
So, how does tile flooring get ruined? Well, here’s how to avoid some common tile maintenance mistakes that could result in your flooring getting ruined.
Not Sealing
One of the most critical steps in tile installation that you shouldn’t skip is sealing. It doesn’t matter whether the tile is on the backsplash, countertop, or floor. Sealing will ensure that the grout has extra protection and that you’ve got fewer chances of staining ceramic tile floors in your home. Before you install the tile, ensure that you get the right sealer from your tile manufacturer.
Usage Of Abrasives
You shouldn’t use substances such as steel wool or abrasive cleaning powders to scrub the tile. The surface of the tile will be more susceptible to staining and pitting due to a damaged finish. This is a main cause of tile flooring getting ruined so it’s best to avoid them.
Letting Spills Sit
Even after treating with a sealer and finish, staining tile is easy because it’s made of porous material. The same holds for grout. If you’d like to maintain a clean look for many years, if the tile gets accidentally wet with spills from acidic substances such as tomato sauce or coffee and red wine, clean up the spill fast.
Damp Vs. Wet Mopping
You’ve got to be careful if you decide to clean a staining ceramic tile floor. A dingy and dull appearance on your tile is due to letting it air dry or over-wetting it while mopping. Permanent stains on ceramic tiles may be a result of mildew growth from a damp grout.
On the other hand, tile discoloration can be caused by minerals in the water. To bring out the tile shine, use a soft towel to dry the area after damp mopping.
Using Ammonia Or Bleach
Cleaning tile floors with ammonia or cleaners with bleach may lead to discoloration of your grout. The job can be done nicely using a mild, all-purpose cleaner. You can also ask your tile manufacturer to recommend a cleaner. Like learning how to prevent fleas, you should learn how to properly clean tile floors to ensure the comfort of the people in your home. Using ammonia or bleach has similar effects as abrasive cleaners which results in your tile flooring getting ruined.
Use Of Colored Cleaners
Staining ceramic tile floor is a possibility if you use cleaners that have dyes. You will be left with a multi-colored wall if the natural stone tiles and grout absorb these cleaning products’ color. Different types of tiles are easier to clean than others. Just as you’ll find out what types of blinds are easiest to clean, it is best to ask for guidance on the easiest tiles to clean.
Not Sweeping Often
Dirt on its own doesn’t do much damage to a tile floor. But, when people step on the debris and dirt, the particles will form scratches on the tile. To keep your tiles looking nice for a long time and slow down wear and tear, you will need to regularly sweep your tile floors.
Using The Beater Brush
Use the hardwood floor attachment on your vacuum to sweep your tile floors. Please avoid using the beater bar as it will chip or nick the tile finish.
Not Recaulking
It would be best if you recaulk stain ceramic tile in the bathroom or kitchen regularly since it’s exposed to water. If water gets into the tiles, it may cause the grout to crack by loosening the tiles and will result in damage under the tile.
Now that you understand how tile flooring gets ruined, you will hopefully take proper care of your flooring. Taking into consideration the above details, you should be able to get your tile flooring to last longer.