
Tips for End of Summer Cleaning
October 12, 2018
Most Common Cleaning Mistakes, Pt. 1
December 14, 2018Tips of Cleaning Floors and Tiles

Worker cleaning floor tile after grouting tiles with sponge in construction site
When is the last time you inspected the floors and tile work of your home? How do they look? If they’re dirty and stained, it is time for a cleaning. Here are some products you can use to clean your floors at home, as well as your tile.
- Did you know that old layers of wax can cause your floors to turn yellow over time? You can make them sparkle like new again by mixing ½ cup ammonia in a ½ gallon of water. Before using, allow the mixture to sit for three to five minutes. Apply onto the floor and scrub with a nylon or plastic scouring pad. Wipe away residue with a clean cloth or sponge, then rinse the floor. If your bathroom tiles are coated in mildew, mix ¼ cup ammonia in one gallon of water then apply onto the tiles with a sponge.
- Lighter fluid. If you have black marks caused by shoes scuffing across your floors, pour a small amount of lighter fluid onto a paper towel and wipe away the marks.
- These are also great at removing shoe marks.
- Steel wool. If the shoe marks on your vinyl floors were caused by rubber soles, remove the smudges by gently rubbing the surface with a steel wool pad. Dampen the pad with soap and water first, and then wipe the area with a clean sponge once the marks have been removed.
- Tea is a wonderful cleaning agent for wood furniture and floors. Boil a few bags of tea in a liter of water. Once the tea has cooled, dip a cloth into the tea, wring out excess liquid, and apply to the area. Buff and dry with a clean cloth.
- This is great at removing soap scum and water spots from ceramic tiles that surround sinks and tubs. Mix ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup ammonia, and ¼ cup borax with one gallon of warm water. Scrub onto the tiles, rinse with cool water, and then air dry.
- WD-40. If you recently added a new coat of polyurethane to your wood floors, you may notice your floors look a little bit too shiny, creating a glare when the lights are on. Spray WD-40 onto a cloth and wipe the floor with it to cut back on the shine.