The Best Vacuum For Tile Floors | Best 4 Your Home
In any living or working space, it can be very difficult to keep floors clean, especially if you have tile floors. What is the best vacuum for tile floors, and what are the best ways to clean them? Whether you own a business with hard-surfaced and level flooring, live in an apartment and share bathroom cleaning duties with your roommate, or you own your own home and have kids and pets who track in mud and make messes, you need to ensure that you have the tools to clean your floors, no matter what material they are made from. Most living spaces are designed with a variety of surfaces including carpet, tile, linoleum, and hardwood. Vacuums are most associated with cleaning carpets and hardwood—but your tile flooring can benefit from vacuums, as well.
When you look into purchasing a vacuum for your home or business, you should take into consideration all the types of floors you have. Don’t just rely on sweeping and mopping your tile floors to clean them. Many vacuum cleaners are designed with multiple attachments and settings to tackle any surface and soil level. Some brushes and powerheads are not effective on flat surfaces, so it’s important that if you don’t purchase a vacuum specifically made for tile flooring, that you get a vacuum that has attachments or brushes for flat surfaces. Here is a quick list of our top choices:
Tile flooring can also be made from a variety of materials, including linoleum, porcelain, granite, marble, and ceramics. On top of ensuring your vacuum can clean more than just carpet, make sure that your vacuum can clean the specific material your flooring is made of. You’ll also want to take care to clean grout, which is a mortar or paste that’s used to fill the gaps between floor tiles and hold them in place.
Overall, tile flooring and grout can be difficult to clean, and many people overlook vacuums as a useful tool as they stick to sweeping and mopping. However, vacuums can give your tile floors the deep and refreshing clean they need. This is how to ensure that your flooring stays clean, and the best vacuums for tile floors that are available for purchase.
Top Related Article: Best Vacuum for Wood Floors
How to Find the Best Vacuum for Tile Floors & Grout
Regardless of whether you have ceramic or stone flooring, the first step to tile and grout cleaning, and an imperative part of the cleaning process, is vacuuming. It may seem counterintuitive to vacuum stone or ceramic floors. After all, many people think of vacuums only when they clean rugs or carpet. However, vacuums are an essential first step as they pick up loose excess dirt, which will help avoid unnecessary grime from forming when you apply water and cleaning solution. Vacuuming will ensure a better and deeper clean.
If you’re looking for the best vacuum for tile floors, make sure to:
- Use a vacuum that doesn’t have a brush roll/beater bar, to spare your tile from scuffs and scratches. Many upright vacuum cleaners will have the option to turn on or off brush rolls, and many canister vacuums come with hardwood/bare floor attachments with soft bristles. This way, you can ensure the clean your tiles get is a gentle one. You can also use a crevice tool on the end of your hose to clean in between the cracks of grout.
- Get a HEPA certified vacuum cleaner. If you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies, using these cleaners over others will aid in prevention of allergies, as they keep all of the dust accumulated in the bag or dirt cup, and filter particles down to .03 microns. This is also an added benefit to vacuuming over traditional sweeping, as vacuuming will trap more dust and dirt that lend to allergens.
- Pay attention to the dust bag and motor filter. These two vacuum parts play a very important role in the efficiency of the cleaner. If either the bag or the filter becomes clogged, no air can pass through. That means that no cleaning can take place, no matter how powerful your vacuum is. To keep your cleaner operating at maximum efficiency, you need to change the dust bag frequently and clean the filter as needed.
- Be careful of fine particles. Do you use fresheners or cleaners with your vacuum? Keep in mind, some cleaners, powders, plaster dust, or similar fine substances can restrict the airflow very quickly and decrease the performance of your vacuum even before the bag appears to be full. For that reason, the bag and filter may need to be changed more often if you’re using cleaners that contain small particles or powder.
Related Article: Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners
8 of the Best Vacuums for Tile Floors
So, which vacuums currently on the market are best for cleaning and sanitizing tile flooring? These are eight of the best vacuums for tile floors.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #1: Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Buy Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Features:
- Ball technology that allows you to turn and maneuver on a dime
- Self-adjusting cleaner head
- Dyson powerful suction
- Cyclone technology
- Instant-release wand
- Floor to ceiling cleaning
- Hygienic bin cleaning
- Certified asthma and allergen friendly
Dyson’s upright vacuum cleaner provides you with unrivaled Dyson suction. It’s easy to maneuver, and the instant release wand allows you to clean up high or under furniture. The ball technology that Dyson is famous for helps you turn on a dime and steer easily into difficult to reach places. Instantly change your direction with a flick of your wrist as you utilize a tool that seals in suction across all floors, whether you’re cleaning carpet, wood vinyl, or tile flooring.
At just fifteen pounds, this is a lightweight vacuum that’s also hygienic, as you merely push a button to release and empty the bin. It’s also certified asthma and allergen friendly with whole-machine HEPA filtration, which ensures that allergens are kept inside the machine and are never expelled back into the air of your living or working space. Radical Root Cyclone technology also captures more microscopic dust than any other cyclone on the market. With Dyson, you’ll ensure that you’re getting a safe and efficient clean, and the company’s five year warranty covers both parts and labor, so you can also make sure you are getting the most from your vacuum.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #2: Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop, Floor Steamer, Tile Cleaner, and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner
Buy Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop, Floor Steamer, Tile Cleaner, and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner
Features:
- Chemical free clean
- Customizable steam cleaning
- Swivel steering
- Clean and sanitize using steam to eliminate the use of harsh chemicals
- Deluxe mop pad kit
- Fresh clean scent
- Effective across all hard flooring
Bissell’s PowerFresh floor cleaner sanitizes and cleans any sealed hard floors without the use of harsh chemicals. Plus, it eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam. With Bissell, you can power through tough, sticky messes with a scrubber that flips down, and you have the control to choose from high, medium, or low steam based on your cleaning needs with smart set digital steam control.
The PowerFresh floor cleaner comes with different scents that’ll also make your living or working space smell great. Each cleaner comes with an 8-pack of fragrance discs with the scents of Spring Breeze, Eucalyptus Mint, or Citrus, which you can insert into the mop pad for a whole-room fresh scent. This powerful cleaner comes with a deluxe mop pad kit that includes a washable soft mop pad, washable scrubby mop pad, and fragrant discs. It also comes with swivel steering and a 23-foot power cord. When you’re ready to clean your tile flooring with powerful steam and a fresh scent, this cleaner is ready to use within thirty seconds after you turn it on. You can use it to clean all hard floors, including sealed hard wood, ceramic, linoleum, granite, and marble, and it even cleans grout.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #3: Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop, Floor Steamer, Tile Cleaner, and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner
Buy Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop, Floor Steamer, Tile Cleaner, and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner
Features:
- Swivel steering
- Scented boost
- On-Board spot boost brush
- Cleans across all hard floors
- Scent waters
- Deluxe mop pad kit
- Included measuring cup
- Freshening discs
Bissell’s PowerFresh Deluxe cleaner sanitizes your floors to eliminate 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria. All thanks to the natural power of steam. Therefore, there is no need to use harsh and harmful chemicals with this powerful cleaner. This deluxe cleaner steam mop has an On-Board Spot Boost Brush that helps you remove tough, sticky messes. The included measuring cup allows you to easily and efficiently fill the water tank, and then you can attach the measuring cup onto the handle for convenient storage. As you clean, you can choose between either high or low steam settings, based on your cleaning needs.
You can also leave behind a refreshing scent as you clean. Each cleaner comes with Spring Breeze, Eucalyptus Mint, or Citrus fragrance discs that you can insert into a tray, which will provide bursts of freshness as you steam clean. The included Deluxe Mop Kit has a washable soft pad, washable scrubby mop pad, and two scent discs. Swivel steering allows you to maneuver around and underneath all furniture, and this cleaner is built to tackle all hard floors, including hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, tile, granite, and marble, making Bissell’s Deluxe PowerFresh cleaner perfect for tackling the dirt and debris on your tile flooring.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #4: Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Buy Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Features:
- Extended reach
- Deluxe stretch hose
- Wide cleaning path
- Extra large dust cup
- Washable filter
- Five height adjustment settings
- Extra long crevice tool
- Dusting brush
- Vacuum upholstery tool
- Ultra lightweight
Eureka’s PowerSpeed cleaner is a powerful multi-surface vacuum that saves you from having to purchase multiple cleaners for your home or business. The cleaner’s five height adjustment settings allow you to use this vacuum for hardwood floors, carpet, area rugs, and tile flooring. Its seven-foot extended reach also gives you the opportunity to tackle hard to reach places and cobwebs and dust on your ceilings. There’s also a deluxe stretch hose that extends up to four times its length and can clean under, behind, and above furniture. The cleaner’s 12.6” wide nozzle also cleans more with every stroke.
The PowerSpeed cleaner is very lightweight at just ten pounds. You can carry it up and down stairs easily for a whole home clean that is not just accessible but also powerful with top-notch suction. There are also many accessories that are included, such as an extra-long crevice tool which cleans corners, baseboards, and your auto interior, a dusting brush which both sweeps and vacuums to remove dust on furniture, blinds, and lampshades, and upholstery tool, which helps you easily clean your car, curtains, or furniture. Also, all of these tools are stored right on the vacuum, so you never lose your tools again.
In addition, this cleaner was built with cleanliness and efficiency in mind. A washable filter means that you can rinse and reuse, with no maintenance cost. The extra-large dust cup holds more dirt, which means that it requires less emptying between uses so you can clean more and empty less. Overall, the vacuum is low maintenance and easy to assemble. With Eureka, you can give your house the clean it deserves and needs without breaking your budget. This small but powerful cleaner won’t disappoint.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #5: Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner
Buy Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner
Features:
- Spin Scrub Brushes
- Dual Tank technology
- Lightweight
- Clean Boost Control
- Wash/Dry mode selection
- Easy to clean
- Safe for all sealed floors
Hoover’s FloorMate is one of the best vacuums for tile floors and other hard floor surfaces. This vacuum allows you to leave mopping behind, as its Spin Scrub brushes do the scrubbing for you. It delivers the best clean as it gently and safely scrubs sealed wood, tile, and grout. The soft, counter-rotating brushes reach from all angles for an all-around deep cleaning. The Dual Tank keeps clean and dirty water separate, so you don’t have to worry about pushing dirty water on your flooring; you’ll never have to clean with dirty water again. It also dries in one smooth and quick motion.
At under fourteen pounds, the FloorMate is easy to carry and lift up and down stairs. With Clean Boost Control, controls at your fingertips apply extra detergent to stairs and other heavy-traffic areas, so you can ensure a deep clean in places you know especially need it. The Wash/Dry mode selection makes things even easier, as you can choose whether to use the wash mode and use brushes to clean while suctioning up excess water, or use the dry mode to decrease drying time. The entire vacuum is easy to clean as well, as the tanks, brush, and nozzle are all easy to remove and rinse for a hassle-free clean up.
Most importantly, the FlooorMate is perfectly safe for all sealed floors. You can use your FloorMate on surfaces such as hardwood, ceramic tile, laminate, marble, vinyl, and more. This is a great vacuum for those who are looking to clean their tile floors and grout with a floor cleaner that easily and efficiently gets it done, with no hassle or large clean up left for you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #6: Eureka Mighty Mite Corded Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Buy Eureka Mighty Mite Corded Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Features:
- PowerTouch handle with fingertip controls
- Deluxe floor brush
- Bare floor nozzle
- Blower port for blowing debris from garage or workshop
- Auto shut off to protect against overheating
- Two extension wands
- Triple filtration bag system
Eureka’s Mighty Mite is a canister vacuum cleaner that’s ideal for quick and efficient cleaning for both your home and your automobile. The included blower port makes it easy to blow debris away from your garage or workshop, and you can use this vacuum anywhere in your home as the lightweight canister completely cleans both carpet and bare-floor surfaces.
This is a lightweight and mighty vacuum that comes equipped with all the tools you need, including a floor brush, bare-floor nozzle, and powerful brush rolls to deep clean carpets. There are also specialty tools provided for cleaning stairs and upholstery. This includes two extension wands, so you can reach high places such as the ceiling and clean away those cobwebs. The vacuum also includes a triple filtration bag system, so you can ensure that all the dust and debris you’re sucking up won’t be released back into your living or working space.
You’ll have control over everything with the PowerTouch handle, which has easy to use controls at your fingertips. At nine pounds, the canister vacuum provides a compact and convenient yet powerful clean as it picks up dust and pet hair easily from both your car and your home. It is ideal for cleaning quickly and efficiently. While it works on carpets and rugs, it’s especially ideal for cleaning bare floors, wood floors, and tiles. With the canister design, it’s extremely easy to carry. It is maneuverable, and storage shouldn’t be a problem given its compact size.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #7: Hoover WindTunnel Air Steerable Pet Bagless Corded Upright Vacuum
Buy Hoover WindTunnel Air Steerable Pet Bagless Corded Upright Vacuum
Features:
- WindTunnel 3 Technology
- Multi-Cyclonic action
- Level 3 allergen technology
- Steerable technology
- Multi-floor capabilities; move from carpet to hardwood with the press of a button
- Lightweight
- Detachable wand
- No scuff bumper
Hoover’s WindTunnel upright vacuum helps you manage all your cleaning tasks with a lightweight tool that has been designed to maneuver easily. Hence, how it made our list of the best vacuums for tile floors. It utilizes WindTunnel 3 technology to create three channels of suction that lift and remove surface debris and dirt embedded deep down. Multi-Cyclonic action has been engineered to drop dirt out of the vacuum’s airstream, which helps the filter stay clean. Plus, you can move from carpet to hardwood or tile flooring with Hoover’s multi-floor brush, by the simple press of a button.
Hoover also utilizes Level 3 allergen technology to block 99% of allergen particles from re-entering the air of your home or apartment. This is especially beneficial if you or someone you live with has allergies. You’ll also get a telescopic handle with a detachable wand, and a reclining body that will allow you to clean under furniture easily and efficiently. With a steerable design that allows you to swivel and turn around objects, as well as a multi-floor brush, clear nozzle, and no-scuff bumper, this Hoover vacuum is the answer to whole home cleaning.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Product #8: Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum Lightweight Bagless Vacuum
Buy Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum Lightweight Bagless Vacuum
Features:
- Lightweight hand vacuum
- Easy conversion
- Ultra-light and compact
- Removable floor nozzle
- Bagless cleaning technology
- Includes crevice tool
- Floor to stair cleaning
- Easy conversion; compact and convenient
This ultra-lightweight vacuum from Bissell weighs in at just three pounds. You can use this small vacuum for anything—it easily converts from stick vacuum to hand vacuum with a removable floor nozzle and is effective on stairs. It’s great for hard floors as well as carpets, area rugs, and upholstery. The bagless cleaning technology also makes it easy for you to empty dirt and debris.
Bissell’s compact vacuum is easy to store and easy to use; you can easily put it in your closet or in the corner, and if you live in a small apartment, it’s the perfect cleaning tool for you and for your small kitchen or bathroom floors. A crevice tool and fifteen-foot power cord are included. If you’re looking for a small, compact tool that can clean your tile flooring powerfully and effectively, Bissell has the best product for your needs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Tips to Clean Your Tile Floor
One of the most important aspects when it comes to cleaning your tile floor is consistency, and making sure that dirt and spills do not stay for a long time. As soon as you see spills or tracks, clean them up. Also, try to stay on a schedule of consistent deep cleaning.
On top of sweeping and mopping, you should also find a vacuum for tile floors. A quick sweeping will remove the topmost dirt and debris before it can become imbedded into the tile or grout. Vacuuming will then ensure a deeper clean, especially if any dirt has become imbedded. Mopping with warm water and a cleaning product will enhance your tile’s gloss, shine, and color.
Cleaning options include:
- Mop or cloth with hot water and a mild household detergent
- Mix a cup of white vinegar with a gallon of water for an effective, odor-eliminating cleanser that is a great alternative to harsh chemicals
- Specifically designed or commercially designed cleaners
Keep in mind that regular maintenance is the easiest, quickest, and most effective way to ensure your tile floors stay clean. Regularly sweep, vacuum, and mop your bathroom, entry way, or kitchen floors, to ensure that your family, roommate, or customers can thrive in a clean space.
Related: Best Canister Vacuums
Cleaning Ceramic/Porcelain Tile Floors
There are many advantages to porcelain or ceramic tile floors. Ceramics are made from natural particles that are shaped and fired in a kiln at very high temperatures, and porcelain is made from materials that feature the lowest water absorption levels. They are both well known for being easy to clean.
These processes create a durability and resistance that goes unmatched by many other materials, and this is why ceramic tiles are often the most popular for both households and businesses. Glazed tiles have a protective barrier from dirt, water, stains, and chemicals. They are also very easy to maintain, which make them perfect for a household with young children, or for a busy business.
Advantages to ceramic tile flooring includes:
- Beauty
- Versatility
- Being very low maintenance
- Easy cleaning
- Wear resistance
- Scratching resistance
- Stain resistance
- Resistance to frost
- Resistance to chemicals
It is strongly recommended to not use substances such as oil or vinegar to clean. Also, water will not be enough. It’s also recommended to upkeep the cleanliness of the grout that holds these tiles in place. Typically, grout is white, and over time, it can become dirty and discolored. When this happens, it distracts from the beauty of your floor. Cleaning both the tiles and the grout will ensure you get the most out of these tiles that are hygienic, low maintenance, and resistant.
Related: Best Commercial Vacuum Cleaner
Cleaning Marble Tile Floors
Marble is another popular type of tile for flooring. Marble is a hard type of limestone and is typically white or contains streaks of color. The material has been tested and used for hundreds of years a highly functional and durable surface. With a little attention and maintenance, your marble tile floors can be beautiful for a long time.
Overall, the cleaning, protection, and maintenance of marble is not difficult or time-consuming, but it does require particular care. Before you end up fussing over your marble floor tile wondering what happened, you should practice the following marble cleaning dos and don’ts. Thus, avoiding damage, the expense of marble repair, and to keep your marble always looking its best.
Dos for Cleaning Marble Tile Floors
While marble is beautiful and durable, it is also very susceptible to scratching and staining. There are many ways to ensure your marble stays clean without damage. You should:
- Seal your marble. Sealing may seem like a hassle, but not only is it actually fairly simple to perform, it is also necessary to upkeep your marble tile. The time and cost involved are small compared to how long your marble will last, and how good it will look, especially if you use a top-quality penetrating sealer. Keep in mind, some marbles do not need sealing. If this is the case, don’t try to apply a sealer as it won’t absorb correctly. A surface spray will provide protection and shine in replace of sealers for these types of marble.
- Blot up spills immediately. One of the downsides to marble is that the material is much more susceptible than granite and porcelain to stains from acidic substances such as wine and fruit juices, as well as coffee, soda, and so forth. This includes cleaning products that may stain surface finish. If you spill anything, ensure you clean it immediately.
- Dust mop marble floor tile regularly. To mop your marble floor, use a clean, dry, non-treated dust mop. This will clean the marble and won’t cause any damage, as long as you mop with a specialized stone cleaner. Also, be careful when using a vacuum cleaner so you don’t scratch the surface.
- Clean surfaces using a soft cloth or sponge. The only cleaning agents you should use with marble tile flooring are hot water and a specially formulated marble cleaner. Keep in mind, you can’t use just anything on this material, and you need to be gentle as well. Using mild soap for cleaning marble won’t harm the stone, but consistent use of soap can lead to a dull film that covers the surface, much like soap scum in a shower.
- Use cutting boards, coasters, and trivets. Marble can be troublesome because it’s impossible to prevent etching and scratching. This goes for your countertops as well as your floors. When you’re moving furniture, you’ll need to take care not to scratch up the marble surface of your floor tiles. Try to use trivets to protect against direct contact. Bottles, cans, and glasses that contain acidic drinks may also scratch the polish or damage the surface of your marble.
- Use doormats, runners, and rugs. Grit, dirt, and sand that’s unwittingly carried indoors by your shoes are very abrasive, and this material will easily scratch marble tile. Doormats both inside and out of the entrances will help protect your flooring. To help keep out the impact of high foot traffic, you can also put runners or rugs in high-traffic areas, as this will minimize the wear on the surface finish of your marble. If you do have rugs, they must be cleaned regularly so that any dirt and dust that builds up in the rug are eliminated and don’t scratch the marble themselves.
Don’ts for Cleaning Marble
Since marble is sensitive and requires a lot of maintenance, there are some things you should avoid. Don’t:
- Use generic household cleaner of any kind. Cleaning marble with products that you bought at your local store often contain acids, alkalis, and other chemicals that can etch and damage the surfaces of your marble tile flooring. These can also degrade the sealant, leaving your stone more vulnerable to staining. Unfortunately, most common household cleaners are too harsh, and you will need to invest in products that are made specifically for marble. That way, you don’t cause damage. In the long run, you’ll save money by avoiding expensive repairs or marble restoration.
- Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon, or orange cleaners. These cleaners are especially acidic, and while they’re great for other cleaning projects, they can damage marble and dull the material’s surface. A sponge with hot water, and cleaners that are made for marble, are all you need.
- Use bathroom, tub and tile, or grout cleaners. Powders and even soft creams can contain abrasives. While tile and grout cleaners may seem like the perfect solution for your marble, marble is more sensitive to staining and scratching than other materials and will require more specialized products.
- Place toiletry or beauty products on your marble. Perfumes, colognes, nail polish products, lotions, and hair products can easily stain the surface of your marble. They may leave spots, rings, or dull areas. To ensure your marble stays beautiful and clean, avoid getting any of these products on the floor, or keeping them on your marble countertop. Instead, place them on a tray.
Overall, many of the dos and don’ts of marble cleaning are things that you already practice. Learning how to clean marble, and sticking with a routine, can be easy to incorporate into your normal life. If damage does occur, restoration and marble repair is possible in most cases. Luckily, damage to stone is rarely permanent.
Since marble is so sensitive, keep your cleaning products for this type of tile floor separate, and label them. Whether your family cleans, or you have a cleaning service, make sure that everyone understands to use specialized products to clean marble. Good cleaning is a matter of understanding, and then it easily becomes routine.
Cleaning Grout
Along with using the best vacuum for tile floors, it’s important to take care of your grout in order to preserve your tile. The best way to do this is to seal your grout after you’ve installed your tile. This will keep dirt, stains, and water from being able to penetrate the protective barrier, and to erode your grout over time. It’s recommended that you seal your grout twice a year, but check with your tile manufacturer, as they may recommend a different sealing schedule.
On top of sealing grout, it’s also imperative that you maintain and clean grout on a consistent schedule that you incorporate into your cleaning habits. To clean grout that’s become dirty, you can:
- Mix water and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts, then apply this solution with a toothbrush to remove the stains
- Put a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water into a spray bottle; spray onto grout, let stand for five minutes, then scrub with a soft brush
- Use commercially prepared grout cleaners; follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle
- Use diluted bleach, sparingly, as regular use can erode the grout
- For especially stubborn grout stains, mix a paste of two parts baking soda and one-part water. Let it sit overnight, and then scrub with a nylon brush.
- Use a pencil-top eraser by rubbing back and forth
- Use sandpaper; fold the sandpaper and work the creased edge back and forth across the grout line gently
- Rinse thoroughly with hot water when you’re done
It’s recommended that you first wipe down grout with hot water, to remove surface dirt and grime before using products or cleaning solutions to get a deeper clean. Always use toothbrushes or other small scrub brushes to scrub the grout, to ensure that you’re getting a deep clean and to be gentle, as you don’t want the grout to wear away. Also, metal brushes are not recommended as they can scratch the tile and knock out pieces of the grout. For extra scrubbing power, you can use an electric toothbrush.
Grout that’s properly maintained will be much easier to clean and remove stains from. In fact, the secret to clean and great tile floors is clean grout, as tile can resist dirt and stains, but grout is porous and will absorb dirt and spills. Mold and mildew can also easily find homes in grout, so cleaning this part of your flooring is especially important to ensure that you’re living or working in a safe and sanitary space. Knowing how to effectively clean grout will extend the life and look of your tile flooring.
Things to Watch out For While Cleaning Grout
The best vacuum for tile floors and grout is important, but there are other things to keep in mind as well. For instance, while you’re cleaning grout, you should keep in mind the exact type of material that your tile flooring is made out of, since different materials will require different cleaning solutions. If you have coarse or porous tile such as marble, you’ll need to use a less acidic solution because vinegar can stain the tile. For these cases, peroxide or baking soda will be better ingredients to use. If you have stone flooring, vinegar should be avoided as well since vinegar will erode the stone.
For ceramic tiles, you’ll want to use an alkaline tile and grout cleaning solution that is mixed at a 1:1 ration with the hottest possible water. Apply this solution with a sponge, and saturate the grout, then let sit for twenty minutes. Afterwards, scrub the tile and grout with a scrub pad.
Important things to keep in mind in general as you clean grout are:
- No matter what the liquid is, wipe up spills immediately so the liquid doesn’t get into the grout
- Do not use products that contain lemon juice to clean grout
- Do not use abrasive brushes or sponges
- You can use soap diluted with water, but avoid using too much soap, as this will make a film develop along your tile
- Do not use detergent
- Change your water frequently as you’re cleaning, so you’re not putting dirty water back onto the grout or tile
- Do not use a spinning brush roll, as this will dull the finish on your tile
- Seal your floors and grout regularly, as it will reduce the risk of stains and spills settling in
- Remember to vacuum regularly to remove sand and dirt, and keep abrasive materials from wearing down your tiles
Knowing how to clean stained grout is important. So too is knowing how to clean your material specifically, as well as understanding what to look out for. This knowledge will help you avoid accidentally damaging your tile floors. It doesn’t take much to clean but going in without precautions can lead to expenses in the future if you have to replace damaged tile and grout.
Once you’re done cleaning, it’s important to let the grout air dry for twenty-four hours. Then, apply a silicone-based grout sealer to resist future stains and dirt. This sealer will have to be reapplied every two years, or more frequently if the grout is located in more high-traffic areas such as entryways and the kitchen.
Advantages of Tile Flooring Versus Carpet
While carpet may be soft and beautiful as it adds color and style to any room, there are many advantages to choosing hard tile flooring for your work or living space. Whether you’re choosing between hard floor or carpet, or already have gone with tile, advantages to bare floors include:
- Hard flooring lasts longer than carpet. Quality carpet flooring tends to last eight to fifteen years as long as it gets consistent cleaning and care. In comparison, solid hard flooring can last up to one hundred years, and engineered hard flooring lasts up to seventy-five. The reason for this is that eventually carpet wears down, and you have to replace carpet once it’ sworn. A single hard flooring can be refinished many times over its lifespan, so instead of completely replacing the tiles, you’re merely giving them a new, shiny, and fresh look while keeping their beauty and character.
- It’s cheaper. Over time, since you don’t have to replace bare flooring as much as you would carpet, this saves you money. The cost that it takes to refurnish a tile floor over its lifetime is less than the costs of replacing and maintaining carpet during the same time period.
- It is easier to clean than carpet. With bare floors, all you need is a damp mop, a cleaning kit, a broom, and a vacuum to keep your tile clean and free of dust, dirt, pet hair, and debris. On the other hand, carpeting requires consistent vacuuming and cleaning that involves a hot water extraction method and shampoo or soap. It takes more work, and is costlier, to keep up with cleaning carpet overall.
- It’s more sustainable in the long run. Carpet will never look as good as the day you first bought it and had it installed, no matter how well you care for it. Over time, carpet becomes worn, to the point you have to replace it. Tile flooring, however, can maintain its new appearance for years, and all it requires is refurnishing to look brand new again.
- It’s better for people who suffer from allergies. It is very easy to remove dust, dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens from tile flooring using a damp mop and one of the best vacuums for tile floors. With carpeting, however, the thick fiber harbors these allergens, and if you don’t stay consistent with cleaning, these allergens can be released into the air to be inhaled. If you vacuum carpets with a tool that doesn’t have a quality HEPA filter, you’re also blowing these allergens into the room every time you turn on the vacuum.
- It’s better for IAQ. IAQ stands for Indoor Air Quality. IAQ is important for a home, especially if you have children. Carpeting can negatively impact your IAQ because it’s made with harmful chemicals that are released after the material is unrolled and installed. This release is called off-gassing, and it’s worst in the first week, but can actually go on for years in unnoticeable amounts. With hard flooring, this doesn’t happen and there is no danger or risk for any chemicals being released into the air of your household.
- Tile flooring is greener. Because hard floors don’t need to be replaced as often, they are an eco-friendlier choice than carpet. The vast majority of carpet goes to waste after it’s thrown away, and 2% of all landfill waste is carpeting. Also, hard floors are typically made from natural and renewable materials.
If you’re debating between carpet and tile flooring, take into consideration important values. Hard flooring offers many benefits over traditional carpeting.
Finding the Best Vacuum for Your Tile Floors
There are many benefits to using tile flooring over carpeting for your home, apartment, or business. Tile is more sustainable, will last longer, is cheaper, and is healthier when it comes to allergens and the quality of air. Perhaps the toughest part of having tile flooring is how to clean it, as well as how to clean grout and how to take into consideration all the different types of materials that tile flooring can be made out of. Hence, the importance of finding one of the best vacuums for tile floors.
Whether you have tiles that are ceramic, marble, porcelain, or stone, conduct research on the best cleaning solutions for these materials. When cleaning grout, make sure you are being gentle and taking care not to accidentally erode away either the grout or the tile itself.
Overall, vacuuming is an integral aspect to keeping tile floors clean and like new. Using a vacuum will get rid of loose dirt and debris that will then make it easier for you to mop. The eight vacuums above are among the best vacuums for tile floors, and whether they’re canisters, use the power of steam, or are general cleaners for all types of flooring, you can ensure that you are getting a deep, sanitary, and powerful clean from your tools. Incorporating vacuuming into your regimen will help keep your tile intact, shiny, and clean.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]