We always look for ways to clean floor tiles and fix scratches, which is indeed important. But what's even more essential to learn is prevention. After all, prevention is better than a cure. You will never need to spend hours looking for cleaning methods and then implementing them if you are careful enough to prevent tile stains and damage in the first place.
Being a market leader in the tile manufacturing industry, H&R Johnson offers high-quality floor tiles that are highly durable and easy to maintain. But to maximize the longevity of these tiles, you need to take proper care of them. Here are some expert tips from H&R Johnson to prevent stains and scratches on floor tiles:
1. Sweep Every Day to Avoid Scratching From Dust
Every day cleaning of floor tiles is essential to keep them looking neat and prevent scratches from dust. Dust particles are tiny, but they can slowly scratch the surface of tiles like sandpaper. Dust accumulated for long periods can lead to minor scratches on your tiles, which affect their finish and make them look dull. Cleaning tiles once a day is enough, but if you have kids or pets at home, who are always playing around, you can even consider cleaning the floor twice everyday.
For this regular cleaning, you can use a broom with soft bristles along with a microfiber dust mop. Make sure to use a damp mop for cleaning, and not a wet one, as too much water can also impact the tile finish. Although H&R Johnson's floor tiles are resistant to scratches and are water-resistant, it is essential to be careful on your end to ensure the long-lasting appearance of these tiles.
2. Wipe Spills Immediately
Spills become worse if left on the floor for a long time. The sooner you take action, the better. Spills like oil, juices, etc, can damage the grout and penetrate under the tiles if left for longer periods. They become tough to remove once they are set and cause discolouration and damage to the floor tiles. Therefore, the tile experts at H&R Johnson advise removing such spills as soon as you notice them.
Put a soft, absorbent cloth over the spill immediately. Do not rub the spill, but let the cloth soak it completely. Once soaked, wipe the area with a mild cleaning agent or water. This follow-up cleaning will also remove sticky spills like oil or sugary juices.
3. Avoid Using Harsh Acidic Cleansers
Acidic or bleach-based cleansers can be harsh on the floor tiles. If there are any tough stains on your floor tiles, you can use mild cleaning agents or methods recommended by your tile manufacturer. H&R Johnson's tile experts advise not to use any acid-based cleansers as they can lead to discolouration of tiles and negatively impact their overall life. These harsh liquids can also weaken the grout lines, which further leads to high maintenance and replacement costs.
Even if you have accidentally spilled some acidic product on the floor and it caused tough acid stains, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water to remove them. For more detailed information, read this - How to remove Acid Stains from Floor Tiles
For commercial spaces that are prone to frequent acid spills, you can opt for the acid and alkali-proof tiles from Endura by Johnson. These tiles are especially designed to withstand direct contact with harsh chemicals and acids, and can resist stains.
4. Use Felt Pads Under Furniture Legs & Don't Drag Heavy Furniture
Keeping heavy furniture on floor tiles can damage them over the long run. What causes even worse damage is when you drag these furniture items to move them from one place to another. To minimize this damage, the first thing you should do is to install felt pads under the furniture. It will reduce the friction between the furniture and the floor, ultimately reducing the damage to the floor tiles.
Also, whenever you want to move the furniture, lift it rather than dragging it. Dragging is always a bad idea as it affects both the furniture and the tile surface negatively. It is also advisable to change the placement of furniture items to avoid discolouration of the floor tiles in some places, while tiles in other areas remain looking like new.
5. Seal the Grout Properly & Reseal When Needed
Proper grouting is very important for the long-lasting durability of floor tiles. So, make sure that the grout lines between your floor tiles are properly sealed using a high-quality grout. If you notice any damage to the grout lines, get them resealed without any delay. Even without noticeable damage, you should consider resealing the grout lines every few years as they weaken over time, especially in high foot traffic areas such as the living room, kitchen, entryway, etc.
6. Repair Small Scratches with Wax Fillers
Even with prevention, it is possible to get minor scratches on your floor tiles. But, replacing the entire tile is not always possible, especially when you have installed large-sized tiles. To avoid further damage due to these scratches, you can opt for wax fillers to maintain the original appearance of the tiles. Find a wax stick in a colour that matches your floor tiles and rub it over the scratch to fill it completely. Before filling it, clean the tile properly to remove any underlying dust or grime.
7. Trim Pet Nails to Avoid Scratches & Keep Their Paws Clean
If you have pets at home, you need to be extra careful with the maintenance of your floor tiles. Pets are always running around and playing. You don't have to stop them from playing, but just make sure that no damage is caused to your floor tiles when they do so. Trim their nails on a regular basis to avoid minor scratches on the floor tiles. Also, keep a towel or mat at the door and make your pet clean their paws after a walk, as the dirt and grime on their paws can impact the appearance of your tiles.
8. Deep Clean Tiles & Grout Lines Every Month
Regular cleaning is okay, but deep cleaning the tiles once every few months is also essential to keep them shining like new. This helps remove stubborn stains and clean areas that are not accessible on a regular basis. For deep cleaning, move any furniture items and rugs to completely clean every part of the floor tiles. Do not forget to gently scrub the grout lines to remove any dirt stuck inside them.
Get High-Quality Tiles for a Long-Lasting Appearance
If your floor tiles are of high quality and have a fine surface finish, the risk of damage or stains reduces by a large percentage. Rather than generic flooring, you should opt for H&R Johnson's high-quality vitrified or glazed-vitrified floor tiles. These tiles are built to withstand heavy foot traffic, resist stains and scratches, and retain their original appearance for years to come with minimal maintenance needs. However, you still need to be careful and follow the above tips to ensure longevity.