How to Clean Ceramic Tile

December 16, 2019

Ceramic tiles are a beautiful addition to any area of the house. They work fine indoors and outdoors. Because they look great and are so easy to maintain, ceramic tiles are a popular choice for many homeowners.


Being easy to clean doesn't mean there's no work involved in keeping your ceramic tiles clean or the grout around the tiles in good shape. Like any material, heavy traffic, improper cleaning methods or products, and no maintenance at all can cause your ceramic tiles to look lifeless or even begin to degrade over time. Also, when the grout is stained, dirty or damaged it can make the whole surface look dingy and unappealing. Let's take a look at how to clean ceramic tile and how to keep it in shape once it's been cleaned.

How to Clean Ceramic Tile

Cleaning and maintaining ceramic tiles is a fairly easy job if the ceramic has been maintained and isn't too far gone already. It can be a little more difficult if you've got ceramic tiles you haven't been taking care of or tiles that are in bad shape when you purchase a home.


For ceramic tiles that aren't in bad shape and don't yet need to be replaced, you can keep the area wiped or swept and vacuumed on a regular basis to keep dirt from becoming embedded in the tile or grout. Mopping with warm water and a non-acidic pH-neutral tile and grout cleaner can also keep your ceramic tiles in great shape. Here are some recommendations from our experts to properly take care of your ceramic tiles:

• Most store-bought products contain acidic and harsh substances that can damage the ceramic tile. The safest options are pH-neutral tile cleaners.
• Use soap-free cleaning products. Soap-based cleaning products leave a sticky residue on the surface that attracts dirt and promotes grime buildup.



• When moping, it is necessary to constantly change mop water. This way, you will make sure that you are really removing dirt from the surface and not just spreading it.
• Avoid using abrasive products and tools like steel wool and scouring powder, which can dull and scratch your tiles.
• Even if your ceramic tile is properly sealed, you should remove any liquid spills as soon as they occur to avoid damage to the surface.
• No matter what cleaning method you use, you must remove all remaining waste water with an absorbent towel.

You can learn the do's and don'ts of grout and ceramic tile cleaning in our article "How to Clean Tile and Grout: 5 Mistakes You Don't Want to Make".

Dirty, worn ceramic tiles are another story. The tiles and the grout can become severely damaged and dirty without proper cleaning and maintenance. Dirt and grime can become embedded in the tile and grout, causing discoloration.

Tiles set in a moist location can be particularly problematic if the grout isn't properly sealed. There is always a danger of black mold growth in these situations, which is why it is so important to have sealed grout. In some cases, you may be able to clean even extremely dirty tile and grout yourself, but in a lot of cases, the best avenue is professional tile and grout cleaning and sealing.


Deep cleaning ceramic tile and grout that has gone beyond casual disrepair can be a bit trickier, particularly if there is black mold involved. The steps required to clean ceramic tiles and grout in this condition are a little more detailed:

1. Mop the floor and clean the tile and grout as much as possible with a pH-neutral cleaner. The dirtier the tile and grout are, the longer you will need to let the cleaner sit before scrubbing the surface and rinsing the cleaner away.


2. Repair any areas that need to be repaired in the grout. If you leave grout cracked and chipped in places, it will only be more susceptible to getting dirty again.


3. Properly seal the grout lines to extend their life.

Can I Clean Ceramic Tile Without Professional Help?

Keeping your ceramic tiles clean yourself isn't a big deal, but ceramic tiles that have been neglected for some time might require professional care.


Sir Grout, experts in hard surface restoration, have experienced techs, superior products, and the equipment necessary to deep clean tiles and grout that need extra care. You could rent the equipment necessary to perform this kind of deep cleaning yourself, but unless you are familiar with the equipment and what it takes to thoroughly clean the tile and the grout, it might be better to let the professionals handle it. Once your dirty ceramic tiles and grout have been cleaned and restored to their former beauty, keeping them clean and maintained isn't such a challenge. In fact, Sir Grout technicians always instruct their customers on the proper cleaning and maintenance techniques so they can keep their newly restored grout in the best shape for as long as possible.



If you find that your ceramic tiles need more than light cleaning and that the grout between them is beginning to fall apart, call Sir Grout and let us handle the job for you. With locations throughout the U.S., you're likely to find a Sir Grout near you. Call us at (866) 476-8863 to find a Sir Grout location near you or to request a free in-home evaluation and quote. Sir Grout is the leader in hard surface restoration. When you need your ceramic tile and grout deep-cleaned, restored, or repaired, there's no better choice than Sir Grout.

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