Cleaning White Tile Floors

• 1). Vacuum or sweep your tile floor completely. Use your canister vacuum's narrowest attachment to get into the tight corners. Grit often causes scratches on tile so keeping dirt off is the first and best step to keeping your floor clean.
  
  
• 2). Examine your floor closely. If you have been applying consumer floor wax products you may detect a haze or yellowing of the tiles as well as particles of dirt trapped under the buildup. If you have this problem you need to apply a sealant and wax removal product suitable for your tile and follow the manufacturer's directions. If your tile is stone, be careful that your product is safe for marble and limestone.
  
  
• 3). Examine your floor closely again. Is the cause of your floor problem really dirty grout? A product like Bar Keeper's Friend (not recommended for marble or limestone floors) will clean grout well. Apply the product as directed by the manufacturer and use the grout brush or toothbrush to loosen dirt. Avoid bleach products as they may discolor your tile and degrade grout over time. Wipe your floor very clean.
  
  
• 4). Fill one bucket with floor detergent (use pH neutral for real stones) and warm water. Fill your second bucket with clean rinse water. Mop your entire floor starting in your most remote section and working toward the door. Allow water to sit on dirty spots for a minute or so but then lift the water off. Rinse your floor completely.
  
  
• 5). Dry floor with rags. If your tile has textural features, it is likely that some dirt will be captured in the crevices. Add an appropriate cleanser to your steamer and steam the floor, wiping and drying as you go. Heat from the steamer should remove almost all remaining grime from the floor. Dry your floor completely so you don't leave water spots on the tile from the minerals in your water .
  
  
• 6). Remove any deep stains by applying a diatomaceous earth poultice. Mix the diatomaceous earth with your cleaning product. Make sure the cleanser says it can sit on the tile and grout for more than twenty minutes without damaging the surface and test in a remote location if you can't tell. Your poultice should be moist and look like clay. Apply the mixture to the spot and press down. Place plastic over the spot to keep it moist and stand on the plastic and poultice for a moment. You can place bricks or other heavy objects on the plastic for about twenty minutes. Remove the poultice and check to see if it has drawn out the stain. You may need to repeat this or to leave the poultice on longer for better results.
  
  
• 7). Mop your floor again with the two-bucket method. Then use your distilled water for your final rinse. Distilled water has no minerals to leave deposits and will give you the best possible results. Dry your floor thoroughly. You should not have water spots.
  
  
• 8). Apply grout sealer only to the grout using a small brush. This is a time-consuming process. If you need to add caulk around the edges of your tile, apply the grout sealer after you caulk because caulk won't stick to sealers. Most ceramic tiles with a glazed finish should not be sealed. Many stone floors require a penetrating sealant to prevent staining. For stone floors, you seal the tile and grout at the same time.
  
  
• 9). Place mats at all doors to trap dirt before it gets on the floor. Dust mop daily or several times a day if dirt accumulates faster. Mop frequently using mild floor detergent. Rinse thoroughly and dry every time by hand. This may be done daily in high-traffic locations.