Published on January 18th, 2020 | by Ali Dino
0How A Steam Mop Can Make Your Tile Flooring Look Brand New
Make Your Ceramic Tile Look New Again With Safe And Easy Steam Cleaning
Steam mops like, for example, the Shark Genius – best steamer mop of the year, are convenient and excellent cleaning equipment. With their sturdy cleaning capability, these machines will bring your washing floor game to a whole new level.
You’ll be able to say goodbye to hand-wringing, foul smells, deep bending, popping tiles, and rinsing spills. These innovative washing tools are definitely time savers. However, their cleaning efficiency will depend on how you utilize them. Plus, it requires a bit of care and prep work to ensure a clean floor at all times.
How Does A Steam Cleaner Work On Your Tiles?
You can easily get rid of that sticky residue that your conventional floor cleaner leaves behind with a steam cleaner.
The unit will produce high-pressure steam that will not only clean but also disinfect your ceramic tiles. There’s no need to utilize harsh chemicals, which often damage grout or the tile itself. Using a steam mop can help prevent those chemicals from making contact with your skin.
These cleaning tools will heat water to up to 220F. It means that it can blast away all the dirt from crevices and tiny cracks that your regular mop can’t handle.
Benefits Of Using Steam Mops For Your Home
Keeping a kitchen clean and sanitary has never been easier, thanks to these steam machines. The steam mop has a built-in water reservoir where water is heated up. It then sends out a burst of steam down to its mopping pad that covers its head. The steam is hot enough to loosen the grime and dirt off of your floorings.
Unlike your regular mop, its mopping head can absorb dirt. On the other hand, the steam’s heat can kill almost all the dust mites and bacteria on your surfaces.
This cleaning option is both quicker and more sanitary. It also makes it very convenient to give your floors a quick touch up from time to time. Nonetheless, there are essential guidelines you need to remember before and while using your unit.
A Simple Guide On Steam Cleaning Your Tiles
- Before going ahead with your task, sweep your tile flooring with a dust mop or broom. Doing so will remove larger pieces of debris that your unit may not catch. Also, wipe your tile walls down using a dust cloth. This is to ensure the corners are free of cobwebs.
- Remove your mop’s fill cap, and then fill its water reservoir with distilled water. Depending on its type, the tank of your steam cleaner is either on a separate holder or attached to its handle. Keep in mind that there’s no need to put any cleaning agents in the water tank. When done, return its fill cap.
- Your steamer usually comes with a microfiber pad, which you need to attach to its head. Some models have latch strips and hook on the head where you can attach the cloth. Meanwhile, some use elastic.
- Plug your unit and turn it on if it has a separate button for the on and off functions. Other steam mops will automatically turn on once you plug them in. A good steam mop will be ready for its job in as little as 30 seconds, while some may need a few minutes of water heating time.
- To start cleaning, squeeze your steamer’s trigger or pump its handle to release stem via its microfiber pad. Move the head of your device in a back and forth motion over your tiles.
- If a change of pad is required, unplug your equipment first. Plug it back into heat water, and then continue with your session.
- To clean your tile walls efficiently, move the mopping cloth across it in a back and forth motion. For the wall tiles in your shower, make sure to wipe them right away after cleaning with a terry cloth towel. This will eliminate any hard water films and any impurities that have loosened.
- When you’re done, unplug your device, remove its pad, and allow your tile flooring to dry. Drying time with steam cleaning is shorter in comparison with regular mopping.
Mistakes You Need To Avoid
Make sure to keep the following things in mind before going ahead with your steam cleaning session:
- Attach the mop cloth first before plugging it in. Your steam mop will heat up pretty fast. Its foot will also get very hot for you to handle when attempting to attach the cloth while it’s heating up. So before attaching anything to it, make sure that your unit is not plugged it.
- Never let your hot machine idle. The heat will build up quickly, and leaving your steam floor mop may cause it to apply a lot of heat and steam to a spot, which may likely damage your flooring.
- Only steam using water. Except for a handful of models with dual functions, most steam cleaners are usually meant to be utilized with water only. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s manual thoroughly to know the do’s and don’ts of your tool.
- Never clean with a dirty pad. It’s tempting to continue mopping and overlook the amount of filth building up on your mop pad. This is especially true if your floor area is massive or you have several rooms to take care of. However, a dirty cloth will only spread the dirt throughout your home. It’s better to have a spare or two of mopping pads around so you’ll have a new one when necessary.
- Do not store a steam mop if its pad is wet or dirty. Storing your steam mop with a wet pad may lead to mildew accumulation, or worse, ruin its cloth head. When your machine has cooled down, remove its cleaning pad, and then store it properly.
What You Need To Remember When Cleaning Tiles
Ensuring any spills or filth don’t have an opportunity to settle on your tile flooring is a major factor when cleaning. You can’t prevent these things from happening. So instead of preventing your family from walking or even stepping on your floors, clean those tracks or spills up immediately.
Although you can do it using hot water, a light cleaning solution, and a cloth or mop, a steam mop will make the process a lot easier. And you don’t even need to use any household detergents.
Another thing of utmost importance is regular upkeep. Regularly vacuuming and sweeping your tiled surfaces is the most effective way to get rid of filth. Plus, it’s the quickest and easiest means to remove dirt before it settles on your flooring’s grout or tile.
Ceramic tiles are stain-resistant. They’re also hygienic and low-maintenance. But there’s no way to stop dirt from accumulating. So the best thing you can do is to prevent it.
How About Resilient Tiles?
Resilient tiles are those made from cork, vinyl, linoleum, and rubber materials. They’re easy on your feet and require minimal upkeep. However, these tiles and steam mops do not mix. They are not capable of withstanding excess moisture and extreme heat.