Natural Cleaning Products Such As Vinegar and Water Offers a Great ‘Green’ Alternative
As AZ custom home builders, more often than not we install natural stone flooring or ceramic tile than any other type of hard surface. Natural stone and ceramic tile can last a lifetime and have terrific durability and longevity. Tile floors are usually located in very high traffic areas of a home due to their durability, but it also means they get the most abuse. Both ceramic tile and natural stone require regular cleaning as well as periodic maintenance to keep it in top condition. Grout is the cement product holding the stone or tile in place and it is the grout, over time that picks up stains. Grout is a porous material therefore more susceptible to stains and ground-in dirt. It’s our recommendation that regular maintenance be done applying green techniques by using natural cleaning products. As more and more of us try green techniques, less dangerous cleaning materials are a great alternative to more traditional cleaning compounds.
It’s best to begin cleaning tiles by vacuuming the floor and removing all debris. It is not recommended to sponge mop a ceramic tile or a natural stone floor. This is surprising to most people. This technique actually forces dirt back into the grout. Cleaning with alternative green techniques is becoming much more popular. For cleaning tile floors, it’s recommended that natural cleaning products such as a mild mixture of vinegar and water be loosely mopped onto the floor with a saturated mop, almost puddling the water/vinegar mixture onto the floor. One-part vinegar per two-parts of water makes a good concentration for adequate cleaning. Once the water is mopped onto the floor, let it sit for several minutes. Then return to that area and soak up the water with a very dry mop. This process actually lifts the dirt off of the floor and out of the grout. Always test an area before cleaning an entire floor. Be sure that the vinegar/water mixture is not too strong, vinegar is a naturally acidic compound and if it is applied too strong, it may over-time adversely affect the grout.
If there are tough stains that don’t seem to lift out during routine cleaning. Use a spray bottle filled with one-part vinegar per one-part of water and spray the affected area. Saturate the area and let the water/vinegar mixture sit for several minutes. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the stained grout or tile, and then rinse off with clean water. This usually takes care of stubborn stains, but can be time consuming if stains have been allowed to build up over large areas. Traditional sponge mopping forces the dirt back into the grout and because the grout is a porous material natural cleaning products like vinegar may be better for both the tile and grout than using more harsh floor cleaning products. Green techniques by using natural cleaning products are terrific alternatives to more harsh and dangerous chemical cleaners.
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