Ceramic & porcelain tile is durable and, thankfully, easy to clean. Grout, on the other hand, is a little trickier. Because of its typically porous composition, grout is prone to staining. When cleaning a tile floor, use a string mop to reach grout and properly clean it rather than steamer or Swiffer pads that just glide over the tile & grout. You should not scrub too hard and always avoid using metal bristle brushes, which can damage grout & tile face.
Remember, when choosing your cleaning product, to look for pH-neutral products. Neutral cleaners will not leave an oily residue like high pH cleaners or crystalline residue like low pH cleaners. Using these opposing pH chemicals will require a final neutral wash to remove the residue. Before cleaning, apply the neutral cleaner and let it soak for a few minutes to loosen/emulsify the soil build-up. Depending on the amount of soil, you will need to adjust the chemical composition accordingly.
Cleaning your grout properly can make your floors look brand new again!
