Cleaning Tile Floors - Desparately in Need of Advice !!

Updated on September 02, 2012
L.B. asks from Metairie, LA
10 answers

My house is tile - light tile. When I bought it I thought it would be easy to maintain.

4 1/2 years, 4 dogs, and a teenager later - I am being beaten by these dang floors.

Add in this week's Hurricane, no AC, and open windows through the Hurricane - the floors need major cleaning. Since I don't go back to work until Tuesday, and I have some window units installed for AC, I am ready to finish getting everything back in order from this past week.

So, I have a Swiffer Wet jet, lots of Spic of Span, and a Shark steam mop.

I just swept and sprayed a solution of Spic and Span and water on the floors, then use the Swiffer thing to "mop" that up.

But, they still don't feel clean.

Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? Should I just try to run the steamer over them and call it done? At least that way they will be sanitized.

Have I mentioned that I hate house work? So this becomes a major chore for me. LOL

Thanks - I think I needed to vent.

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Oh God Jo W - I hate you... LOL I know hands and knees and a scrub brush is best - I just wish I could get my teen to do it. I promise I will spot scrub the grout. :P

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from New London on

I have light tile and dogs, too. The summer w/ all the dirt and humidity...it's filthy.

About 2 years ago, I had my grout and tile steam cleaned (no chemicals) by a professional. It came out beautiful, but, it got dirty again about 7 to 8 months later.

In order not to take the grout sealer off, I take Seventh Generation dish soap and very warm water...I mix a drop of the dish cleaner in a cup and a half of very warm water. I scrub the grout w/ a toothbrush. Then, I take an old towel soaked in hot water to wipe off the excess.

I only use a steam mop on the tile. I will not use the other 2 you mentioned because I only use non-toxic cleaners. You might have build up on there !

It's not easy keeping light tile clean !

1 mom found this helpful

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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Dallas on

The best way to get everything up off the floor is to vacuum. After that, get the vacuum wand and go around the corners to pick up anything the vacuum missed. I usually use the wetjet myself when cleaning houses, but, as another poster stated vinegar would probably be the best. Vinegar is natural, leaves a clean smell and sanitizes as well. Also, when using the wet jet, make sure to change the pads often instead of using on throughout the house.

Hope this helps!

3 moms found this helpful

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't know if this is good or not but I use vinegar and water on our bathroom tile floors. It seems to do the trick and is not that expensive.

2 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I hate cleaning as well but the only way to really feel like tile is clean is getting out a scrub brush, some bleach, and getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing it.

Sucks I know but you will feel you can eat off of it when you are done.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

I love my Shark Steam Mop. And a recent person on here suggested using Simply Orange for dirty grout. She let it sit full strength on the grout and it really brightened it. (You also need to really seal it after you clean it, if your grout is getting dirty.)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I have used murphy's oil soap on vinyl and it comes out beautiful shiny and clean. It's made for wood, but you might give it a try. You usually dilute it in water.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I have an Oreck Orbitor that I love. It scrubs tile and grout. You will never be on your hands and knees again. The down side is after you scrub the floor you still have to mop the floor to soak up the dirty water. If you don't want to buy one I think you can rent one from the Oreck store. I think I paid about $500 for mine about 10 years ago.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

hubby said the girls at work were all a buzz about a magic eraser Mop that is apparently out now. not sure if it's safe for everyfloor but maybe you could check intot hat.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.B.

answers from Lake Charles on

I use some vineger in my steam mop it cuts grime very good. I also add a few drops of essential oil to smell good very happy with results also its cheap.

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