Home Cleaning and Housekeeping Are You Cleaning Your Tile Floors The Right Way? Try These 3 Easy Methods These proven cleaning methods will keep your tile floor sparkling clean. By Rabekah Henderson Rabekah Henderson Rabekah Henderson has been writing about all things homes, housing, and design since 2019. Her work has been featured in Real Simple, The Spruce, Dwell, USA Today, and Apartment Therapy. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 29, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Before Getting Started What You’ll Need How to Clean Tile Floors How Often to Clean Tile Floors Health and Safety Concerns Frequently Asked Questions Close Photo: Getty Images Tile floors are a popular choice in hallways, bathrooms, and kitchens thanks to their durability and stain-resistance. The most important factor to some, though, is how easy they are to clean. Tile floors can be mopped with several store-bought cleaners, but they can also be cleaned just as easily with a few ingredients you likely already have on hand. Here's what you need to know about cleaning tile floors in the bathroom and kitchen, how often these floors should be cleaned, and what types of tile should be treated with extra caution when cleaning. Before Getting Started Porous natural tile floors like travertine or sandstone should be cleaned with care. Vinegar can damage these types of tiles, especially if it's left to sit. Clean natural stone floors with the dish soap method listed below instead. If you're unsure what type of tile floor you have, clean a small, hidden area with a water and vinegar cleaning solution first to see how it reacts. What You’ll Need Broom or vacuum Vinegar Baking soda Dawn dish soap Water Traditional mop or flathead mop Bucket or spray bottle Tooth brush Microfiber cloth (optional) How to Clean Tile Floors Method 1: Vinegar and Water Solution Step 1: Sweep or vacuum the floor before doing any mopping. This ensures your mop won't be moving around crumbs or pet hair as it cleans.Step 2: Prepare the cleaning solution by pouring one cup of distilled water into a mop bucket. Add a gallon of warm water to the bucket—if the floors are extra dirty, add another cup of vinegar to the cleaning mixture.Step 3: Mop the floor with the vinegar and water solution, remembering to work from side-to-side or in a figure-eight pattern, rather than moving the mop up and down. Wring the mop as needed.Step 4: Dump out whatever cleaning solution is left in the bucket. Refill it with warm water, then rinse the tile floor by mopping it with this fresh water.Step 5: Let the floor dry completely before using it again. Method 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar This method is best for spot-cleaning any dirty grout lines left behind after your first pass with the mop. Step 1: Create a paste by adding enough water to a medium-sized bowl of baking soda until it becomes thick and gritty.Step 2: Apply the paste to the dirty grout lines with a toothbrush, scrubbing the grout as you apply it. If the grout is quite dirty, let the paste sit for five to 10 minutes.Step 3: Pour one cup of vinegar diluted with one cup of water all over the grout lines. The combination will fizz and bubble.Step 4: Fill a mop bucket with clean water, then use a mop to rinse away the baking soda and vinegar. This may take a few passes, depending upon how much baking soda you used.Step 5: Let the floor air-dry before stepping on it again. Method 3: Dawn Dish Soap and Water This gentle method is best for porous natural tile floors like travertine or sandstone. Step 1: Begin by sweeping or vacuuming the tile floors clean.Step 2: Prepare the cleaning solution by combining warm water and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle.Step 3: Generously spray the cleaning solution all over the tile floor, then use a flathead mop to wipe it up.Step 4: Fill another spray bottle with clean water and spray it over the tile floor. Rinse the floor by mopping the water away with a clean mop head.Step 5: Let the floor air-dry, or use a few large microfiber towels to wipe away any left-behind moisture. How Often to Clean Tile Floors Tile floors should be cleaned just as frequently as other hard-surface floors in the home, like vinyl or laminate. A frequently used kitchen tile floor should be cleaned every (or every other) week. A frequently used bathroom floor should be cleaned at least once a week. Tile floors in less trafficked spaces can be cleaned just once or twice a month. How To Clean Laminate Floors And Protect Their Shine Health and Safety Concerns When cleaning tile floors with vinegar, never use too much. High concentrations of vinegar can damage grout and tile sealant, especially when left to sit for more than a minute or two. Vinegar has a strong smell, even when it's diluted. Make sure to crack a window or turn on a fan to ventilate your space while cleaning.Use gloves to protect your hands from any potential irritants or chemicals, especially when mixing a cleaning solution. Frequently Asked Questions Can I use bleach to clean tile floors? Bleach should not be used to regularly clean tile floors, and it should never be used on porous tile like sandstone or travertine. However, bleached can be used occasionally to whiten grout lines or sanitize small areas of tile. How do I remove tough stains from tile floors? One of the best ways to remove tough stains from tile floors is to repeatedly run your mop dipped in vinegar and water over the stain. You can also spray dish soap and water on top of the stain, let it sit for five minutes, then mop it up. Can I use a steam mop on tile floors? Yes, you can use a steam mop on tile floors. Steam mops are a great way to clean tile in one step—no mixing, wringing, or rinsing required. Should I seal my tile floors after cleaning? Tile floors don't need to be sealed after every cleaning, but they should be cleaned before they are sealed as needed. This ensures you don't trap any dirt or dust on the tile. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit