Kitchen floors come in different materials from laminate flooring, to hardwood floors and ceramic tile. Tile flooring is one of the most popular options for kitchens as they are durable, easy to clean spills from, and are available in an array of colors and styles.
When it comes to cleaning tile floors, you need to consider the material of the tiles and the grout. Acidic and harsh, chemical cleaners may dissolve the grout, leading to weak points that will deteriorate over time. Mold and mildew thrive in porous grout as well, so disinfection is much-needed when cleaning kitchen floor tiles.
What You'll Need
There are readily-available kitchen floor cleaners for different types of flooring: there are stone-safe solutions for natural stone tiles, as well as multi-purpose cleaners for wood floors and ceramic tiling. Choose a cleaning solution that works for the material of your kitchen floor.
- Commercial tile cleaner OR
- Dish soap and Warm water - for cleaning tile floors
- Baking soda and White vinegar - for cleaning grout
- Vacuum cleaner
- Large bucket
- Mop with microfiber mop head
- Scrub brush or Old toothbrush
- Paper towels or Old towels
- Spray bottle - optional
How to Clean Kitchen Floor Tiles: A Step-by-Step Guide
Cleaning Kitchen Floors
Step 1: Vacuum the Kitchen Floor
First, vacuum up any loose debris and dust from your kitchen tiles. Go over every area of the kitchen floor at least once, and switch to the nozzle attachment to clean the corners of your tiles. Vacuum up any visible debris to remove excess dirt.
Step 2: Mix Your Cleaning Product
Decide on the cleaning product you will be using on your floors, and mix them according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most commercial floor cleaners come in concentrated solutions, so make sure to read the label before using the cleaner on your floors. It is also a good idea to spot test the solution on an unnoticeable corner of your floor to test for any chemical reaction.
If using a DIY solution, mix together 2-4 tablespoons of liquid dish soap with a gallon of warm water in a large bucket. The dish soap has degreasing properties that will remove stains like oil and grease from your floors. Warm water will help soften any food spills or particles.
Step 3: Apply Cleaner onto Kitchen Floor
Apply the cleaner onto your floors with a microfiber mop. Clean one area of the floor at a time, making sure the cleaning solution does not saturate the grout. Keep your mop damp, but not dripping, by squeezing the mop head as you dip the mop in your cleaning solution. Go over the entire area of your kitchen floor once or twice.
Step 4: Let the Solution Dry
Let the solution air dry completely before walking on your own kitchen floor. Wet tiles would appear glossy and shiny, so wait until the floor is dry to the touch before stepping on the tiles. A dry mop would help dry the floors faster, but may wipe away any cleaning solution residue.
Cleaning Kitchen Floor Grout
Step 1: Create Your Cleaning Paste
Create a deep cleaning baking soda paste by mixing together baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda will lift stains from tile grout, while the vinegar solution kills mold that forms in the porous tiles. The paste should be thick enough to stick onto your grout, but moist enough to effectively dampen the grout.
If you have natural stone tiles, omit vinegar and use water instead. Vinegar and other acidic solutions will etch natural stone, and may leave stains on wood floor types as well. Using water will work to remove stains, but may take a longer time to activate.
Step 2: Apply Paste on Grout, and Let it Sit
Apply the paste directly on grout, focusing on stained areas. Let the cleaning paste sit on the grout for at least 15 minutes to an hour, dampening the paste with water and vinegar solution as needed (or just water if omitting vinegar).
Step 3: Brush Out Grime
Take an old toothbrush or scrub brush, and start brushing out the now-loosened grime. Keep brushing until you see the grout getting cleaner. If the stains do not lift, let the cleaning paste sit for a longer period of time.
Step 4: Wipe Clean Kitchen Floors
Use paper towels or an old towel to wipe the floors clean, and remove the baking soda paste residue. Wipe at the grout between the tiles until there is no visible residue - this will remove the loosened grime as well, making your tiles look brand new!
Disinfecting Kitchen Floors
Disinfect with Sanitizing Solution
Using a sanitizing solution is the most accessible way to disinfect your floors. Commercial disinfectants are safe to use on almost all types of kitchen flooring: laminate floor, marble floors, linoleum floor, and even tile flooring. Choose a brand that works for your floor, and spot test the solution on an unnoticeable corner before using the solution to disinfect your tiles.
Disinfect with UV Light
There are UV light disinfection devices that work like robot vacuums to sanitize your floors with UV light. Strong, effective devices should be used with caution, and without anyone present in the room as only effective UV light disinfection may damage the skin. If you have a UV light device, you can use it to sanitize your kitchen floors by following the device guides.
Disinfect with Steam Cleaner
A steam cleaner or a steam mop is perfect for disinfecting tiles as the hot water vapor gets deep into porous grout, killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi on contact. Use a steam cleaner or steam mop with a disinfecting solution for a powerful sanitizing action, or use plain water to keep your kitchen cleaning food-safe and natural.
Call Luce
Our cleaning services Singapore will get rid of those unsightly spots and stains from your home at your convenience! Our cleaners focus on efficiency as we tackle the home maintenance chores you need to do around the house for you. We'll get those kitchen tiles looking brand new.
Check out our full list of cleaning services, and let us know how we can tailor our services to fit your home!
