Ceramic tile is usually made from clay silicate. It is used for walls and floors. All ceramic tiles need regular cleaning. Unsealed ones are prone to dirt. So, you need to know how to clean unsealed ceramic tile floors.
Unsealed ceramic tiles absorb dirt and moisture freely, leading to discoloration. Improper cleaning can cause long-term damage. Some precautions should be taken before cleaning unsealed ceramic tile floors.
There are so many options available for floor cleaning, but not all of them are appropriate for your ceramic floor. If your ceramic tile floor is sealed, it will be easier for you to maintain. If it is unsealed, you just have to give your floor a little more attention. That’s it.
3 Easy And Effective Methods To Clean Unsealed Ceramic Tile Floors
As ceramic tile is made of clay, it becomes hard to keep it clean if it is not sealed. Unsealed ceramic tiles get dirty very easily. The cleaning process has to be precise to avoid any damage. There are a few easy and effective methods to clean unsealed ceramic tile floors.
Method 1: Regular Cleaning
The main thing about keeping your tile floor from damage is to clean it regularly. Routine cleaning is the primary method to keep your unsealed tile floor tidy. As unsealed ceramic tile catches dirt easily, you have to remove the dirt as regularly as possible. You can either use a vacuum cleaner, dry mop, or broom.
Use a vacuum cleaner on your tile floor frequently whenever possible. The most important part is the grout, so it is better to pay attention to that more while cleaning. You can also use a dust mop if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner. Opt for a soft mop with a removable end. You can remove the end, machine washes it, or just use a dust broom.
After that, clean the tile with a wet mop. You must clean unsealed ceramic floors with a damp mop regularly. For this, use a soft mop again with a removable end. Rinse the mop often and change the water frequently while cleaning. And lastly, dry your floor with a towel. If you don’t dry your unsealed tile floor, it might get organic stains from mold.
Method 2: Cleaning Stubborn Stains
This method will help you clean the stubborn stains on your unsealed tile floor. Any kind of stain that sits for too long on your floor will lead you to further stain and damage. To remove the stain, you need to do a bit of scrubbing.
First, pre-wet your tile floor so that the pores can absorb the water and prevent the chemicals from penetrating the tile. Pre-wetting the tile floor will loosen the dirt. You can then scrub it with a pot scrubber before using chemical solutions.
The next thing to do is to scrub with solutions. For this, mix a bleach solution. The ratio of the water and bleaching solutions must be precise. Leave the solution for 10-15 minutes, then scrub it off with a nylon or bristle brush. Use a toothbrush to brighten the grouts. Lastly, rinse the tiles with water.
It is better to rinse it twice and then dry the floor with towels. Now, before using chemical solutions, test them in an inconspicuous area. If your cleaner is acid-based, be very cautious. Make sure you pre-wet the floor and rinse it later thoroughly.
Method 3: Maintaining Unsealed Tile
Last but not least, the easiest method to keep your unsealed ceramic tile floor tidy is to maintain it properly. A few easy steps can ease all your problems regarding cleaning.
First, try to clean any kind of spill right away. As unsealed tiles absorb dirt and moisture very quickly and are more porous than sealed tiles, you have to clean any type of spill then and then. Again, to minimize tracked dirt, keep doormats.
Better if you keep doormats for both the inner and outer sides of your door. If you have pets, make sure to clean their feet every time. In wet weather, make sure to clean your doormats often. You can place mats in your home where there is high foot traffic. To avoid furniture stains, put protective pads underneath.
4 DIY Homemade Solution for Cleaning Ceramic Tile Floors
Floor cleaning was never fun, but it can be made easier with the right cleaner. If you want to avoid store-bought cleaners, you can go for a DIY homemade solution for cleaning ceramic tile floors. Here are a few recipes for you.
Recipe 1: Liquid Soap Solution
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of water ( warm)
- Three full teaspoons of liquid soap
- Six full teaspoons of baking soda
You will also need a spray bottle and sponge for this. Now, pour 1 cup of warm water into the bottle. Then pour the soda and soap into it, and shake gently. To avoid creating soapy bubbles, try not to shake too hard. Now spray the cleaner onto the floor and clean it with the help of the sponge.
Recipe 2: Vinegar Solution
Ingredients :
- 1 gallon of water (warm)
- ¼ cup of white vinegar
- ¼ cup of baking soda
- One full tablespoon of dish detergent
- Essential oil (peppermint)
This time you will need a bucket and a mop for cleaning. Mix the vinegar, baking soda, dish detergent, and essential oil into the water. Don’t worry if you don’t have vinegar, and you can use lime juice instead. When the solution is ready, clean with the help of the mop. Lastly, rinse your floor with plain water.
Recipe 3: Baking Soda Solution
Ingredients :
- 1 cup of water (warm)
- 1 cup of baking soda
- ½ cup of white vinegar
Now use a spray bottle and pour water into it. Then mix the ingredients thoroughly. You can use a sponge to clean your floor with this solution. Spray the solution on your floor and scrub with the sponge. You can also use a brush to clean the grout or any stubborn stain on the floor.
Recipe 4: Borax Solution
Ingredients :
- 1 gallon of water (warm)
- ½ cup of borax
- ½ cup of white vinegar
Take the help of a spray bottle to mix all these ingredients. Shake them off thoroughly. Spray the solution on the floor wherever is needed. Then use a sponge to scrub. After that, rinse the floor thoroughly with water. It will help you clean the mortar.
4 Best And Safe Tile Floor Cleaner For Every Home
To keep your tile floor tidy, you will need a safe cleaner with fantastic features. To give you an idea about which one to choose, here are the four best and safe tile floor cleaners for you.
For a good mop, the O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin mop is the best you can ask for a mop. This is a convenient bucket system mop. It is famous for its amazing quick wringing. The mop head is triangular and easily fits into corners. This removes almost 99% of bacteria that too without a cleaning solution.
If you are looking for a good solution, go for The Once’n Done floor cleaner by Armstrong flooring. It’s the safest option for your tile cleaning. You can apply it by hand with the help of a cloth, or you can clean it with a mop. You just have to dilute it before using it.
If you have pets, Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor cleaner is the best option available for you. Nature’s Miracle will clean any type of pet fur or paw prints for you and help you remove stubborn stains. This rugged floor tile cleaner has an enzymatic formula. This formula counteracts stains and removes them.
Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit is an all-in-all spray mop that is the top pick for tile cleaning. Just push the button, take a small amount of liquid, and clean. You can remove the pads after cleaning as they are disposable. It is suitable for your sealed tile floor too.
4 Tips To Clean Unglazed Ceramic Tile Floor Like A Pro!
Ceramic flooring as a home decor idea is fantastic. Unglazed ceramic is prone to dirt and difficult to clean. But don’t worry, as there are a few tips for cleaning unglazed ceramic tile floors like a pro!
Tip 1: Make A Cleaning Solution
Make a cleaning solution for your floor. As the unglazed ceramic is difficult to clean, you need something powerful. It will be better if you use a vinegar-based solution for this. You can use a homemade one or a store-bought one. Here’s to use a vinegar-based solution that suits your floor.
Tip 2: Scrub The Dirt Off
For your unglazed floor, scrubbing is the key. A simple tip for you, try not to scrub hard. Dampen the sponge or any other scrubbing pad and wash thoroughly in a circular motion.
It will help you remove all the dust and dirt. Focus on the grout too, and you can use a toothbrush for this. Focus on the areas that have the most dirt. It is better to dap your floor before scrubbing the dust.
Tip 3: Clean With A Soft Mop
Now comes the cleaning. Take a clean cloth or a soft mop. You have to clean the tiles and cover the entire floor. As unglazed tiles are porous, they may get organic stains from mold. So, keep this in mind while cleaning. Make sure to clean the cloth or mop often, and change the water frequently. Try to use a mop that has a removable end so that you can clean the mop afterward.
Tip 4: Make Sure To Rinse The Floor
Here’s a tip, if you feel that the stains are tough, let the solution set for a few minutes (10-15). Then scrub it off. Thus the vinegar will cut through the stains. After you are done, rinse your floor with plain water. It’s better if you rinse it twice. And last but not least, make sure to towel dry your floor to give it an excellent finish.
Related Questions:
How Do You Mop Unsealed Tiles?
You can use both dry mop and wet mop on your unsealed tiles. Better if you sweep it either with a vacuum cleaner or with a dry mop beforehand.
Then you can mop your floor either with water or with solutions. For this, you can use both store-bought and homemade solutions. Once you have poured the solutions, clean them up with your mop thoroughly.
How Do You Clean Unsealed Ceramic Floors?
Cleaning unsealed ceramic tile floors needs patience. First, you should clean it regularly as it gets dirty easily. Before wet cleaning, try to sweep the floor either with a vacuum cleaner, mop, or broom.
Then pre-wet your floor and use solutions on the floor. Then scrub the dirt off with a brush or sponge. After that, rinse your floor with plain water. And finally, dry it using a cloth.
Can You Use A Steam Mop On Unsealed Tiles?
The thing is, different floors demand different cleaning. You can use a steam mop on unsealed tiles only if the floor can handle hot water. Some floors, such as hardwood or laminate, can’t tolerate hot water.
You can not use a steam mop on them. But if the floor is made of ceramic tiles and can tolerate hot water, then it is okay to use a steam mop on unsealed tiles. It helps to clean the grout especially.
Can Unsealed Grout Be Cleaned?
Unsealed grouts may hold stubborn stains. But unsealed grout can be cleaned. The most effective method is steam extraction cleaning. The steam will help the detergent cut through the stains and loosen the dirt.
Then it will become easier to scrub it. It can be removed by using a vacuum cleaner too. Leave it for a few minutes, and then clean it off with the help of a sponge or brush.
How Do You Clean Unglazed Ceramic Tiles?
Unglazed ceramic tile is one without any glass coating. For cleaning, you will need a robust solution. Scrubbing is necessary for keeping your floor clean. Use a brush or sponge to scrub your floor.
Focus on the grout using a toothbrush. Now, move on to moping. Make sure you cover all the areas. Then rinse off with water. It is better if you use it twice. Lastly, don’t forget to dry.
Conclusion:
Ceramic tile floor is a popular option for flooring. They are easy to clean and maintain too. The only thing is that if you have an unsealed ceramic tile floor, you have to be a little cautious about cleaning. You must know how to clean unsealed ceramic tile floors.
Unsealed ceramic floors are prone to dirt, so they need frequent cleaning. Make sure to use a suitable cleaner. The key is to clean regularly, remove any stubborn stains and maintain properly.