Getting Rid of "Blurry" Tiles

Getting rid of "blurry" tiles in your home isn't all that hard. In fact, the easiest way to do this is to make sure that you have cleaned the tiles properly the first time around. When you clean tiles improperly, you leave behind a bit of debris or scum that makes the tiles look all blurry. To make sure that you don't have that problem, simply follow these directions.

Materials needed:

• Vacuum
• Broom or brush (which ever is appropriate)
• Dust pan
• Baking soda
• Two large buckets
• Rag mop (or several rags)
• Squeegee (appropriate size)
• White vinegar
• Clean sponge
• Hot water (the hotter the better)

Procedure:

1. Do a little "pre-cleaning." Begin getting rid of "blurry" tiles by first doing a little bit of "pre-cleaning." What this means is that you will need to sweep up the area that you plan on cleaning. If the area that you plan on cleaning is on a countertop or backsplash area then you will want to use a hand brush to do the same thing. Once you have cleaned the area with a broom, go over it again with a vacuum cleaner, using the surface attachment, and the lowest possible setting. This should remove any remaining dust and dirt that you may have missed.
2. Create the cleaning mixture. In one of your buckets create a 50/50 cleaning mixture of white vinegar and hot water. In your other bucket simply fill it 3/4 of the way full with hot water.
3. Apply the mixture. Once you have the cleaning and rinsing buckets ready, it's time to apply the cleaning mixture. For tile floors you will want to use either a large rag mop or a bunch of different rags. For a tile countertop or backsplash simply use a few rags to wipe the area down.
4. Wipe and rinse. Go over the area as you normally would (either moping or cleaning) and periodically dunk the rag or mop in the cleaning mixture and wring it out. You may need to do this a couple of times to get the area really clean. For any particularly difficult stains, sprinkle a bit of baking powder onto the afflicted area and allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping or scrubbing it away.
5. Rinse with water. After having cleaned the area with the cleaning mixture, go over it again, this time with the rinse water. Once again, use the same method for applying the rinse water as you did the cleaning mixture, but with one extra step, utilize the squeegee. Using a squeegee will not only help you dry the area quicker, but it will also help remove any remaining scum that may be on the tiles.
6. Dry and inspect. Allow the tiles to dry completely, and then inspect carefully. You should have no blurry tiles, but if they seem a little dull you can simply "buff" them to a shine using either a clean sponge or a bunch of clean soft rags.