Tiles are very commonly used in areas of the home such as kitchens and bathrooms, both on the walls as well as the floors. Of course, they have more uses than this. These are the ones that you see regularly. However, despite the fact that they are so common. People still seem to struggle when it comes to maintaining their tiles, often ending up with dirty, stained ones that look unsightly.
2025 is not the year of the dirty tiles! 2025 is going to be the year that we all learn about tile maintenance. Ensuring that they remain in excellent condition for years to come. It’s going to take some regular hard work from you, but it’s worth it for the result. Let’s get into it.
Understanding Your Tiles
The first thing that you need to know is that you have to understand your tiles in order to maintain them. There are different types of tiles out there, all of which have different needs. When you know what kind of tiles you have, this will determine your tile maintenance. Then need to start researching how often they need cleaning, how to clean them, when to clean them, what’s best to clean them and so on.
It’s a lot of information, but like anything in your home you want it to look nice and presentable, right? Of course you do, so getting the right knowledge is a big step in the right direction.
Make Sure You Clean The Grout Too
We also want to make sure that you know you don’t just need to clean the tile itself, you need to clean the grout around it. We know that this is tedious sometimes as grout seems impossible to get clean. However if you can keep on top of it then that’s the best option. There are also various products available that are specific to cleaning grout. It’s worth taking a look at them. But, if you don’t want to do this then a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water will work. Using an old toothbrush to scrub the area.
Tile Maintenance: Tile Repairs
There are going to be times where some people experience lifting tiles, cracked tiles, and other problems that they didn’t want to encounter. This can happen for all sorts of reasons contact TRIM for any tile repairs. However, sometimes over time tiles just lift, and it’s best if you get a professional in to sort the problem. If you try to sort it yourself, you could end up making the problem worse next time, even if it seems that it’s fixed.
If you do want to give it a go though, you need to know what you’re doing. If you have a loose tile and you’re going to replace it, you’re going to need to remove the grout from around the tile, and then remove the tile from the floor. You then need to scrape any old adhesive away and make sure it’s smooth. Before adding the new specialist adhesive and resetting the tile. Then, grout around the tile and you’re set!
Tile Maintenance: Use The Right Products
The final thing that we want you to understand about taking care of your tiles is that you need to use the right products and equipment whether you are cleaning or fixing the tiles. Some people use harsh chemicals like bleach for this task, but that’s a big mistake. You should use dedicated tile cleaners for your specific type of tile and fresh water to clean your tiles.
If you have to make a repair, you need the correct adhesive, a chisel, a scraper, and even more to make sure that the job is done properly. Always do your research into the products and equipment that you need or that you think you want to use for your tiles. A lot of people don’t know that bleach. For example, when used regularly can eat away at the surface of a tile, not to mention the grout. As well as discoloring the grout in the process.
Ideally, if you’re using a new product, test it on a small patch of your tiled area and make sure it’s not reacting badly before you go forward with your cleaning or repairing!
Tile maintenance doesn’t have to be too difficult, as long as you know all about how to do this properly. If you didn’t before, now you do, and you can start taking proper care of your tiles. Ensuring that they remain in excellent condition for years to come. Just remember though, if you are ever in doubt about cleaning your tiles or something to do with maintaining them. Speak to a professional to get the best advice.
Contact TRIM today!