| |
Tips for Keeping Your Ceramic Tiles Looking Great
What about your kitchen? Can you bear placing your
food atop a surface that looks dubious? Can you
imagine the germs sticking themselves to your
favorite vegetable?
Alas, help from professional cleaners may cost us
hundreds to thousands of dollars. That money can be
better spent on other worthwhile items. All we need
to know is how to properly care for our ceramic
tiles so they'll keep looking clean and brand new.
1. Wipe 'Em Daily
Keep this as a mantra to yourself. This is easy
enough to do, especially on kitchen counters, and it
won't take you more than 15 minutes. All you need is
a wiping cloth and some water. Always wipe surfaces
after use. This is the best method from keeping dirt
and debris from piling up. Dry tiles with a cloth or
a sponge to prevent mildew formation.
2. Felt and Pads
Do you have heavy furniture made of wood, metal,
aluminum or even plastic? Try to place felt or
similar pads to their legs. This will help reduce
the wear and tear on the tiles and will also
facilitate easier shuffling and movement.
3. Protection with Mats
All houses have spots where heavy pivoting occurs.
This could be your doorstep, or in front of the
kitchen sink or the bathroom door. Situate mats of
good quality to protect your tiles from pressure,
weight or friction. These mats can also reduce dirt,
grit, sand and oil that is deposited in your tiles
since the fibers of the mat trap them nicely.
Make sure to wash the mats every once in a while to
remove the deposits. Replace worn mats if possible.
4. Weekly Appointments with the Damp Mop
Aside from the daily regimen of wiping them, your
ceramic tiles can also benefit a great deal from
mopping them with a solution of vinegar and water.
Mix ½ cup of vinegar to a gallon or so of water and
use this to mop your floor.
Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then mop the floor
again with tap water to remove most of the vinegar
and odor. The mild acidity of the vinegar will
promote the death of mildew. Also, refrain from
using soaps on the tiles as they will dull they
surface.
5. Kiss Grime Away With Bleach
Ooh, your neighbor tracked his mud-soiled boots on
your spotless white tiles. Even though you want to
beat him up bad, you might want to hold in the urge
because you need to act on that dirt, fast! Wipe off
most of the dirt with a wet cloth. If there are
stubborn streaks remaining on your beautiful tiles,
it's time to bring out the bleach.
Add about half a liter of bleach to a bucketful of
water. Make sure you have your rubber gloves on,
since bleach is very harsh on the skin. Mop the
floor with the solution and let it sit for 15-20
minutes. After that, try rinsing it with water.
If stains still remain, repeat the process until you
get back your shiny, sparkly tile. Remember to wipe
it dry with a clean cloth after the procedure.
6. Clean that grout!
Grout is the cemented space between your tiles.
White tiles usually have a white grout and white
grout is a breeding ground for mildew, molds and
dirt.
If you already spot mild discolorations on your
grout, it's time to mix about ¼ of a mild detergent
to a bucketful of water. Splash some on the grout
and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. After that, try
scrubbing the grout with a soft cloth. The color
should fade away quickly. Again, wipe your tiles
with a dry cloth after the procedure.
7. Abrade me not
Never use abrasives and harsh soaps on your tiles.
They reduce the shine and polish as well as make
cracks and pits that would be a more ideal ground
for dirt and grime to settle in. Use only mild soaps
and detergents. Always dilute strong acids before
using them on your tiles.
8. Can you hand me that toothbrush?
Stubborn dirt and grime in your grouts? Well it's
time to give them a little push. This will involve
getting down on you hands and knees but it's all
worth it when you see your tiles looking like
they're newly installed.
Again, make a mild detergent solution from ¼ cup of
detergent to a bucketful of water. You can add a
small amount of bleach if you want, but remember to
protect your hands and knees. Let it sit for a few
minutes.
After that, get a used toothbrush and start
scrubbing your grout. Be careful not to damage the
side of the tiles. The ugly dirt should give way
even with only a little force. Rinse with water and
wipe dry.
9. Stock on Drying Cloth and Sponges
You might have noticed that every procedure call for
wiping your tiles dry. That's because there is no
sense in performing the task yet leaving molds and
mildew for a chance to attack. Remember that these
organisms grow best in moist surroundings.
With all that cleaning going on, you'll get tired
from washing and drying the same cloth everyday so
stock up for convenience.
10. Be Patient.
The thing is, people look up handy tips and tricks
to cleaning their tiles. But some mail back, feeling
very unsatisfied with the results. The usual problem
here is PATIENCE. If a specific procedure tells you
to wait for 15 minutes, it's best to follow it. See,
waiting allows the solution to seep into the layers
of dirt and grime. The solution loosens up impacted
dirt and facilitates removal. This is the key to a
successful cleaning venture.
By Lee Dobbins
<< back
home
interior decorating
|
|
