There are many great reasons to choose tiled flooring in your home. Apart from being durable and affordable, tiles are also easy to clean so it’s no wonder they have been a popular flooring choice for homeowners for many decades. Visually appealing and versatile, floor tiles come in many shapes and sizes to fit a range of design aesthetics – from minimalist right through to an ornate Spanish or Victorian inspired feel. Floor tiles look amazing in many different areas of the home, from the bathroom and kitchen, through to living areas and bedrooms. However, as with any significant home interior investment, proper care should be taken to ensure your tiles look their best all the time. Read on for tips on how to care for and maintain tile floors.

1) Be diligent in cleaning

Dust and debris are abrasive to tile floors and can sometimes scratch and even damage floor tiles. It’s no surprise that one of the best ways to care for tile floors is to be proactive in cleaning. Set aside time each week for some regular mopping or sweeping to keep your floor tiles dust and debris free, while also preserving that ‘as new’ look.

2) Clean spills immediately

One of the biggest selling points for tiled floors is that dealing with spills and stains is far easier compared to other flooring options like carpet or hardwood. You don’t face the risk of liquids or grease seeping into fibres like carpet, or moisture penetrating into wood and creating cupping, as with wooden floors. However, it is still important to react to spills immediately when they happen to prevent any potential staining, particularly if you have light coloured grout. Plus you’ll minimise the work you’ll have to do when you finally get around to cleaning them later on!

3) Use mats on high-traffic areas

Mats placed on strategic areas such as entryways, high-traffic or water-susceptible areas go a long way towards preserving the longevity of floor tiles. Not only are they good for catching debris, dirt or even moisture a well-placed doormat can also minimise the tracking of outside dirt inside your home. Remember to vacuum run off mats weekly to ensure they stay clean too.

Britex tip: Installing feet protectors on furniture can also alleviate potential scratching or scarring of tiles. Be careful when moving furniture. Ensure the piece is always lifted rather than dragged across tiled floors to avoid potential scratching.

4) Grout sealing

By sealing your floor grout, not only do you prevent it from absorbing water, bacteria and stains, a grout sealant also acts as a barrier of protection to repel moisture and germs, protecting the floors from staining or discoloration. It can also help to minimise any mildew or mould, prolonging that ‘fresh and new’ tiled floor look we all crave and love!

Britex tip: Consult with the tile and grout manufacturer beforehand to determine the most appropriate type of sealant for your tiles.

5) Regularly deep clean your floor tiles and grout

Even if you’re extra diligent in maintaining your tile floors, over time dirt, dust and grime inevitably find their way into grout lines. And when it comes down to cleaning, a little elbow grease is often required. While good old-fashioned scrubbing on your hands and knees may work, who really has the time for that?

When it comes to deep cleaning floor tiles and grout, the Britex Grout & Tile Cleaning system is ideal. Available to hire in more than 1,500 stores Australia wide, the Britex Grout & Tile Cleaning system is a cost-effective and efficient tile cleaner hire option to rid those ugly stains from your beautiful tiles.

The Britex Grout & Tile wand uses a combination of bristles and sponge in one handy head – while bristles get in between tiles, reaching deep into grout lines to polish and scoop out dirt, dust and grime, the sponge simultaneously polishes and wipes the tiles clean. Used in tandem with the Britex Deep Cleaner, the Britex Grout & Tile wand extracts dirt and grime up and away from floor grout, rather than pushing the dirt back into grout lines like a regular mop would. The result? A seriously clean finish.

While you’re at it, why not hire the Britex carpet wand and upholstery wand in addition to your tile cleaner hire package to deep clean carpets, upholstery and grout & tiles all in one go! Available in a flexible 24-hour or 48-hour hire package, head to your nearest hire outlet to find out more about how you can hire a tile cleaner, carpet and upholstery cleaner all in one!

Britex tile cleaner hires and other products are available at the Britex hire stand in Bunnings Warehouse, Woolworths, selected Coles, IGA, Mitre 10 and Home Hardware Stores.

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