Tile floors are used to make interior spaces beautiful due to their shiny and attractive appearance. However, all tile floors become dirty and eventually lose their shine when neglected. Tile floors become unattractive due to dirt and stains commonly transferred from shoes and other foot wears.
Wax is known to improve the appearance of the tile floors, but it eventually builds up and forms unattractive residue on the floor. Fortunately, simple and natural products are capable of making tile products shine without the need for wax or other chemical products.
It is important to note that before the process of cleaning, furniture should be removed from the floor if possible. If not, the furniture should be pushed against the wall, and the floor must be dusted or swept to remove dirt and dust from it. The importance of removing the furniture or pushing it against the wall is to gain easy access to the tile floors to make the cleaning process easier.
5 Ways To Make Tile Floors Shine Without Wax
There are various ways of cleaning tile floors without using wax and chemical products, some of which include;
Soap And Water Solution
A little bit of soap and warm water should be mixed in a mop bucket to make the soap and water solution, and it should be applied on the tile floor using a mop.
The mop should be squeezed thoroughly before using it on the floor, and the solution should be renewed or changed once it becomes mucky.
The entire floor surface should be rubbed with soft towel to absorb the solution, and the floor should be examined for shine.
Where there are tough stains, a soft brush or sponge should be used to scrub the spot gently, and the floor may be rinsed with clean water if necessary.
Ammonia And Water Solution
Ammonia is very good for making tile floors shinny and bright. It can be used to remove stains and dirt from tile floors.
To use ammonia, a little bit of ammonia should be mixed with warm water in a bucket. Soak a mop in the ammonia solution and squeeze out the excess water. Mop the floor thoroughly to disinfect it.
For tough stains, dip a sponge into the ammonia solution and scrub the tiles gently.
Finally, the ammonia solution should be rinsed with clean water and floors wiped to remove any lingering solutions.
Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is a natural product that can be safely used to disinfect and clean soiled tile floors. Vinegar can effectively clean soiled floors without harsh fumes, and once it dries up, it leaves behind a fresh and natural scent.
To use vinegar in cleaning a tile floor, a little amount of vinegar should be mixed with warm water in a bucket. The floors should be swept or dusted to remove loose dirt.
Dip a mop into the vinegar solution and squeeze it out. Mop the floor thoroughly and allow the floor to air dry or use a towel to clean it and remove any solution that is still on the tile floor.
Where there is a tough stain on the tile floors, sprinkle the wet tile with baking soda and scrub with a cloth before cleaning with a mop dampened with the solution.
It should be noted that vinegar should not be mixed with bleach and when using vinegar, the windows should be opened, or the area should be ventilated because of the smell of the vinegar.
Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is widely used in baking. This is because it has leavening properties, that is, it causes dough to rise by producing carbon dioxide. Aside from cooking, baking soda can be used for additional household uses and health benefits.
Baking soda can be used to remove tough tile and grout stains if the floors appear dirty or discolored. It can be said to be a natural tile polish that helps rejuvenate tile floors.
To use the baking powder paste, combine an equal amount of baking soda with warm water to create a thick paste. Then, dip a soft-bristle brush in the baking soda. Scrub the grout and tiles.
Allow the baking soda to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing the tiles with warm water. Repeat the process on the tile floor to remove any obvious stains.
High Gloss Tile Sealer
Once the tile floors are cleaned using any of the natural options, a high gloss tile sealer can be applied on the tile floor to give it a little extra shine. In addition, the high gloss tile sealer helps to protect the tile floors to keep them looking great even longer.
There are different types of high gloss tile sealers, so it is good to choose a product designed for a type of tile. Most high gloss sealers are designed for stone tiles with porous surfaces rather than ceramic tiles.
If the high gloss sealer is intended to be used on ceramic tile, it should be tested out on a sample tile or in a hidden area first to make sure it bonds well, as the non-porous ceramic surface can cause issues.
It should be noted that a topical sealer can become scratched or fade over time, so the results may not last. Therefore, if the sealer becomes scratched or faded, the sealer can be stripped and reapplied for a neat and attractive tile floor.
In conclusion, dirt are transferred to the tile floor, most usually from shoes and other foot wears and when this dirt accumulates, and the tile floors become neglected, the floors that were once shinny and attractive becomes dirty, dull and unattractive.
The disadvantages of accumulated dirt on the tile floors brings about the need to constantly clean the floors to maintain the shine. Fortunately, there are simple and natural products like the ones mentioned above, that are capable of making tile floors clean and shiny without the use of wax or other chemical products.
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