Absolute Best Way to Clean any Type of Tile Flooring: Don't use Vinegar or Bleach!

Absolute Best Way to Clean any Type of Tile Flooring: Don't use Vinegar or Bleach!

Absolute Best Way to Clean any Type of Tile Flooring:

First A Quick Note of Caution: Vinegar and bleach are commonly used on porcelain or ceramic tile for the removal of stubborn mold and mildew stains and works great but for heavy soil grout lines a high alkaline cleaner works best. Also, beware if you use bleach or vinegar on a natural stone tile it will permanently etch and dull the stone so never use bleach or vinegar on a natural stone such as marble, travertine, or terrazzo.

1. Spray or Mop on Cleaning Agent


Use a High Alkaline Tile and Grout Cleaning product.

Mix your high alkaline cleaner according to the directions on the bottle (usually 2-3 oz. per gallon) then apply with a pump up sprayer or mop on liberally, allow a dwell time of 5 minutes.

A high alkaline cleaner will get even black heavily soiled tile and grout lines looking like new again, it will absolutely amaze you!

High alkaline cleaners are safe for both Ceramic and natural stones. There are a lot of good products out there and by checking the pH rating of those products will help you purchase a good one. For heavy soiled tile a pH of 9 or above will get great results.

One of my favorites is Pro's Choice Heavy Duty Pro-Clean.

I have personally used this product for years, it has a pH of 12 and is safe for any type of tile flooring both ceramic or natural stone.

Why use high alkaline? The higher the alkaline, the stronger the cleaning ability.


2. Scrub & Clean


Next, agitate the tiled areas with a scrub brush or floor machine.

Home Depot or an equipment rental store carries floor machines you can rent along with a brush attachment for tile and grout.

Another option is to purchase a Stand up Tile Grout Brush 

This is a great inexpensive investment to make your job easier. This type of brush will last for years and saves you from bending over on your hands and knees with a scrub brush; they are a real back saver!

3. Remove soil and cleaning solution

To remove the soil and cleaning solution, we use a truck mounted steam system with a spinner tool but you can also use a wet/dry vac, mop, or sponge when doing it yourself. Please keep in mind that removing the soil and cleaning agent can be difficult if it dries, so only work on small areas at a time to keep the solution from drying before you have a chance to get it up.

4. Rinse area thoroughly with water.

Repeat the rinsing process several times using a mop or other type of extraction process; you will want to get all of the soil and cleaning product off the flooring. Once this is done, allow the tile to dry.

5. Apply Tile and Grout Sealer

After cleaning your tile, apply a grout sealer for ceramic tile or a penetrating sealer for natural stone tile.
Purchase a premium tile sealer and follow instructions on the back of the bottle, pretty easy to do.

Routine Cleaning & Maintenance

For routine cleaning & maintenance use a neutral tile cleaner with a pH of 7. This will keep your tile looking its best and will not harm the tile sealer you have applied. Mix the neutral cleaner according to instructions (usually 1-2 ounces to a gallon) mop on and rinse off with a clean damp mop. To keep your tile looking great I recommend a routine cleaning at least 1-3 times a week.


If you have any questions before starting your tile cleaning project, or feel you need a professional tile cleaner, please feel free to give us a call and be sure to leave us your comments below on the results you achieved using our suggestions. We so look forward to hearing from you!

Carpet Renovations, Inc. | Tile Cleaning Service | (918) 437-1956 | Serving The Tulsa Area Since 1986!

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