Ceramic tile is one of the easiest floors to live with. The glazed surface shrugs off water and most spills, so a lot of people assume it needs no care at all. Then, a year or two in, the floor starts to look grey and the grout turns a colour nobody chose.

The tile itself is rarely the problem. The glaze is hard and sealed. Grout is the weak point, because it’s porous and it sits slightly lower than the tile, so dirt and dirty mop water collect in it. Most of what follows is about looking after the grout without wrecking it.

Before you start

Sweep or vacuum first. This is the step people skip, and it matters, because wet grit turns into mud and gets pushed straight into the grout lines. A soft brush attachment is fine on glazed tile.

While you’re down there, glance over the floor. Tiles that sound hollow when you tap them, cracked grout and loose edges are worth knowing about before you start adding water.

If the tiles meet carpet or a wooden floor, keep the mop away from the join. Water wicks into both.

Picking a cleaner

For everyday cleaning, a pH-neutral tile cleaner or warm water with a small squirt of washing-up liquid is enough. Use less than you think you need. Too much soap leaves a film that attracts dirt and makes the floor look dull a few days after cleaning.

Skip bleach, ammonia and anything with oil in it. Bleach can discolour grout, ammonia is harsh and gets mixed with other products too easily, and oily cleaners leave the floor slippery and streaky.

Vinegar gets recommended for everything. It’s fine on the glaze occasionally, but it’s an acid, and grout is cement-based. Used regularly it eats the grout away and leaves it crumbly. If you use it at all, keep it diluted, keep it off the grout lines and rinse well.

Whatever you buy, try it in a corner first. And follow the dilution on the bottle. A stronger mix doesn’t clean better. It just leaves more residue.

Mopping

1. Fill a bucket with warm water and your cleaner.
2. Wring the mop out until it’s damp. Dripping is too wet.
3. Work in sections of a couple of square metres, so the floor never sits wet for long.
4. Change the water as soon as it looks grubby. This is the one that makes the biggest difference. Mopping with dirty water just moves the dirt into the grout.
5. Go over the floor again with a clean mop and plain water to pick up the cleaner.
6. Dry it with a microfibre cloth or mop, or leave it to air dry with a window open. Avoid walking on it until it’s dry, as footprints on a damp floor are surprisingly hard to buff out.

For day-to-day upkeep, sweeping and a quick damp mop each week is plenty. Doormats at the entrances take care of a lot of the grit.

Stains

Most stains on glazed ceramic wipe off, because the glaze stops them soaking in. The ones that stick are usually in the grout.

• Food and drink: wipe it up while it’s fresh. For a dried mark, leave a paste of baking soda and water on it for 10 to 15 minutes, scrub gently with a soft brush and rinse.
• Grease: blot first, then clean with warm water and a little washing-up liquid. For old grease, use a proper degreaser, and rinse it thoroughly.
• Rust and limescale: these respond to a mild acid, so a diluted vinegar solution can work on the tile surface. Leave it for a few minutes, scrub with a non-abrasive pad and rinse. For stubborn rust, use a rust remover that says it’s safe for ceramic.
• Coloured stains: a half-and-half mix of hydrogen peroxide and water can lift them. Test it on a hidden bit first, and keep it off coloured grout in case it lightens it.

Wear gloves with anything stronger than washing-up liquid, open a window, and never combine cleaning products. Bleach plus another cleaner is a common way to produce toxic fumes.

Grout

Grout needs more attention than the tiles do. A stiff brush (an old toothbrush works for small areas) and a baking soda paste will deal with most dirt. Put it on, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, scrub in small circles and rinse with clean water. Peroxide mixed into the paste helps with heavier staining.

A commercial grout cleaner is worth buying if the grout is really dark. Follow the label, and don’t overdo it, because scrubbing too hard wears the grout away and makes it rougher and dirtier next time.

Steam can lift dirt from grout on glazed ceramic without chemicals. It’s less suitable on older floors or where the grout is already crumbling, because it can force moisture underneath.

Once the grout is clean, seal it. A grout sealer stops it soaking up spills and dirty water, and it makes everything easier afterwards. Reapply it roughly every year or two, depending on how much the floor is used. If water no longer beads on the grout, it’s time.

A few things to avoid: bleach as a regular habit, dirty water, and scrubbing so hard that you scratch the tile or dig into the grout.

When it’s time to get someone in

A mop and a brush will keep a ceramic floor in good shape. They won’t always rescue one that’s been neglected. If the grout is deeply stained, if it’s cracked or missing in places, or if the whole floor has a film that won’t shift, a professional clean will get further than more scrubbing. We use specialist cleaners and equipment to lift dirt from the grout lines, and we can reseal the grout afterwards so the floor stays cleaner for longer.

If you’d like us to take a look, see our ceramic tile cleaning service or our tile and grout cleaning page, or get in touch and send a few photos.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean ceramic tile floors?

Sweep or vacuum as often as you can, and damp mop about once a week. Do a deeper clean of the grout when it starts to look dull or dark.

What’s the best cleaner for ceramic tile?

A pH-neutral tile cleaner, or warm water with a small amount of washing-up liquid. Avoid bleach and ammonia. Be careful with vinegar on grout.

Can I use vinegar on ceramic tile?

Occasionally on the glazed surface, diluted, and rinsed afterwards. Keep it off the grout, which it will wear away over time.

How do I clean dirty grout?

Scrub with a brush and a baking soda paste, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse well. For heavily stained grout, use a commercial grout cleaner or call a specialist. Seal it afterwards.

How often should grout be sealed?

About every year or two, depending on traffic. If water soaks into the grout rather than beading on it, it’s due.

How do I get stains off ceramic tile?

It depends on the stain. Baking soda paste works for food and drink, a degreaser for grease, and a mild acid for rust and limescale on the tile surface. Test any product somewhere hidden first.