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HELP! Filthy tile floor

4 years ago

I cannot seem to get my tile floor clean. It has been mopped 3 times today (in one small spot because I'm trying to figure out what I need to do) with a microfiber mop head and floor cleaner, on my hands and knees with a microfiber rag and dish soap with water, and finally a paper towel with water and there are STILL streaks. We moved in just over a month ago so I'm not sure about the tile details. Are these floors just especially filthy?

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

4 years ago

The other thing that might be going on is the water residue being left behind is dirty. One of the best methods of removing the dirty water (yes...even after all that water+cleaner+cloths can still leave behind dirty water) is a Shop-Vac.

You can change the water AND mop head as many times as you want. You can use as many different cleaners as you want (I don't suggest it) but if dirty water is still left on the tiles (unglazed are SUPER difficult to get everything 'up') then you will be left with dirt. Why? Because water evaporate but dirt does not.

Many people have used a tremendous amount of water as a RINSE... and then vacuumed up the water with the Shop-Vac. The suction is pretty much the only thing that guarantees to PULL UP the dirt with the water.

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Comments (11)

functionthenlook
4 years ago
What kind of tile are you cleaning? Vinyl or like porcelain/ceramic with grout?
serenar96
Original Author
4 years ago
It is ceramic/porcelain
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functionthenlook
4 years ago
Try a bleach cleaner and scrub brush. You sure the tile is really dirty or just its normal color. Grout is hard to clean. I gave up on mine and painted it with restore grout paint. It looks 100 times better and cleans up easy. Post a picture if you can.
serenar96
Original Author
4 years ago
It's definitely dirty. There is terrible streaking after I mop and if I wipe with a paper towel, it comes away dirty. I'm thinking the grout needs a professional cleaning and sealing and I'm just pulling dirt out of the joints everytime I mop.
functionthenlook
4 years ago
Though I never used it I heard steam works wonders on grout. To save your back and knees I would have a professional clean and seal it. It's a shame the previous owners let it get so dirty. I'm sure it is driving you crazy.
curlycook
4 years ago
Our carpet cleaner uses a power washer thingy on our tile and grout. It looks like an upside down bowl that blasts the floor and vacuums up at the same time. It looks amazing when finished. My sil had an unglazed tile that looked streaky and smudgy constantly. It really bothered her. Are your tiles glazed?
sheilajoyce_gw
4 years ago
When DD bought a house that had not been well maintained by the previous owner, we cleaned the tile countertops with Mr. Clean sponges. The filth on the grout just melted off. I wiped off the dirt as I cleaned so that all that dirty water would not be re absorbed into the grout.
serenar96
Original Author
4 years ago
curlycook yes they are unglazed.
curlycook
4 years ago
I believe she found just water to be the best cleaner, you may need to do research.
tartanmeup
4 years ago
Pop into a specialized tile shop (not HD) and ask if they have anything to recommend for your unglazed porcelain/ceramic. There are specialized cleaners pros use with an orbital floor cleaner. It can be a DIY job but might be back breaking if you don't have the machine. I was looking into one of these to clean my slate entry last year. Don't remember the brand, unfortunately.

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