Maintaining the Home:
Interior Maintenance
Tile Floor Care and Cleaning
Ceramic Tile Floors: Care and Cleaning
Care
If the tile is unglazed, seal it with a special sealer. If it is glazed, seal the mortar between tiles. If the tile is not sealed or glazed, it can be stained by grease. Glazed tile is easily scratched like porcelain enamel.
Cleaning
The best and easiest way to clean a ceramic tile floor is to scrub it with an electric floor washer or polisher-scrubber. The thorough cleaning action should brighten the tile and joints. Use a solution of 1/4 cup of low-sudsing detergent, or 1 to 2 tablespoons of either washing soda, tri-sodium phosphate or commercial floor cleaning powder, in 1 gallon of water. Rinse well.
When further treatment is needed, particularly for the grout, apply a solution of water and chlorine bleach (liquid or powdered). Let it stand for 20 minutes or so, then mop the floor, rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. Then wax the floor for protection and easier care.
Terrazzo Floors: Care and Cleaning
Care
Traditional terrazzo is made of cement and marble with extra marble chips on the surface. The cement portion is porous and quickly absorbs stains. A more modern form, made with synthetic resins, such as urethane or epoxy as the "binder", used in place of cement, do not stain as readily. A penetrating sealer should be applied to new terrazzo floors to seal the pores in the cement and thus retard stain absorption. Resealing may be needed occasionally.
Cleaning
- Clean as often as needed to keep grime and sand from building up. Soil acts as an abrasive and damages the floor.
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Use only neutral liquid cleaners (meaning those which are neither acid nor alkaline).
For the best results, use a commercial cleaner made especially for terrazzo. All-purpose household cleaners, soaps, detergents and wax removers usually contain one or more alkalis, and so should not be used on terrazzo. For general cleaning, use 1 cup of neutral cleaner with each 3 gallons of water or follow the manufacturer's directions. -
Wet the mop with the solution and then mop the floor. Allow the
solution to remain on the floor several minutes. Then mop up the
dirt-filled solution, changing the rinse water often. This helps to
remove all soil and also does away with unsightly "mop lines".
Keep the floor wet at all times during the cleaning operation. Otherwise, dissolved soil dries back onto the floor. When the floor is dry, buff it with an electric polishing machine, if you have one. Buffing helps restore the natural sheen on the floor. - To remove stubborn soil, periodically use an electric scrubbing machine with a stronger solution of the neutral cleaner.
- Daily sweeping or dusting will mean easier weekly care and more attractive floors. Do not use an oiled mop or oily sweeping compound. Oils in any form can penetrate the surface and permanently discolor terrazzo floors.
- Wipe up spilled materials quickly to prevent any staining.
This material was adapted from publications produced by Michigan State University.
Next: Vinyl Floor Coverings Care and Cleaning
