| Tiles can be some of the prettiest additions to your | | | | the tile over time. |
| home. They can also se some of the hardest to | | | | 5. Keep mats or rugs in heavily traffic areas like in |
| keep clean. Below are 8 tips to help you keep your | | | | front of the sink and in the doorway. These mats will |
| tiles looking like they were just installed. | | | | help keep dirt and grime from getting ground into the |
| 1. Regularly maintaining and cleaning tiles. Kitchen tiles | | | | tile and grout. Clean the mats regularly. |
| should be cleaned daily to prevent food and dirt from | | | | 6. Use bleach to clean and brighten tiles and grout |
| building up in the grout. Shower tiles should be | | | | (only for white grout & tiles otherwise see tip |
| cleaned on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Regular | | | | #8). Avoid direct contact with skin. Allow bleach to |
| cleaning will prevent gunk build-up and can actually | | | | sit on tile for 10 minutes, wipe with water and then |
| save you some time. | | | | dry. |
| 2. Use vinegar diluted with water on tile grout at least | | | | 7. Use a grout sealer to make the tiles easier to clean |
| weekly on Tile floors. Allow the vinegar solution to sit | | | | and to prevent grime from getting stuck in the grout. |
| on the floor for 10 minutes. This eats up some of | | | | 8. Use a few drops of lemon juice to help remove |
| the grime. Then wipe with water and dry off to | | | | grout stains. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe dry. |
| prevent mildew. | | | | This also acts as a mild disinfectant and leaves your |
| 3. Use a toothbrush to reach small crevices, especially | | | | house smelling fresh and inviting. |
| around fixtures such as sink and shower faucets. | | | | Additional tips: Pour ¼ to a ½ cup of |
| Wet first and scrub after a few minutes. Rinse and | | | | vinegar or bleach down shower or sink drains when |
| dry. If needed, you can also put a little soap or | | | | cleaning. This will allow you to prevent hair and food |
| baking soda on the end of the toothbrush to get out | | | | build up and help you keep your shower drain and |
| the dirt in small areas. | | | | sinks flowing freely. |
| 4. Avoid harsh chemicals. Rather than being good for | | | | Remember, cleaning can be fun, but even better is |
| your tile, they actually eat up the grout and destroy | | | | having a sparkling clean house! |