Steam Cleaning Tile Floors

Tile floors can be difficult to clean. That is because the grout can become stained easily and dirt tends to accumulate there. A traditional mop isn't very effective in cleaning the grout, and getting down on your hands and knees with a toothbrush is tedious and time-consuming. Is there another option? Of course: a steam-cleaning mop.

What are the benefits of investing in your own steam-cleaning mop? First of all, it will get your floors really clean. Not just tile floors, but all kinds. The pressure of the water blasts dirt out of crevices that are hard to reach with ordinary cleaning tools. Secondly, the high water temperature of a steam cleaner will disinfect your floors, whereas traditional mopping spreads the germs around. Third, your floors don't stay wet because the water is hot and evaporates very quickly, which makes it great for cleaning hardwood floors. One more benefit is that you won't need to use any chemicals on your floor; the heat and pressure are all that's needed to clean and disinfect.

So how do you use a steam cleaning mop? It's easy.

1. Assemble the machine, fastening a clean steam cloth cover onto the large brush attachment.
2. Fill the steamer with clean water, filtered if possible. Plug it in and allow it to heat up.
3. Put the brush on the floor, holding onto the wand, and hold the trigger down. Move the brush along the floor in a mopping motion. Take care not to hold the brush in one place for a long time with the trigger down; this may melt the finish on your floor. Your floor is safe as long as you keep the brush moving.
4. When the floor is clean, empty the water from the machine after it has had a chance to cool. Throw the used steam cloth cover into the laundry.

If your floor still appears dirty, you may need to go over it again. Keep in mind that for some tiles that have become yellowed with age or damaged by dirt, no amount of cleaning may bring them back to their original color. But steam cleaning is the best method to use, as it will restore the color better than other cleaning methods.

If your tiles are painted, clean them with low steam pressure to avoid damaging the paint.