How to Clean Tile Floors With Vinegar & Baking Soda (2023)

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Grout and grime can easily make their way to your floor tiles after a while if not thoroughly cleaned every two weeks. But you don’t need to spend so much on professional help when you could easily clean the stains on tile floors by yourself as most of the products involved in the cleaning process are available at home.

How to Clean Tile Floors with Vinegar and Baking Soda?

Baking soda and vinegar are effective cleaning agents available in most households and are pretty easy to use. These products actually work in cleaning the tiles if you take the right amount of ingredients and follow the steps carefully. We have explained a simple and thorough guide on how to clean tile floors with vinegar and baking soda, which won’t cost you a penny if you already have the products at home.

1. Collect Supplies

Now that you have decided to clean the grime, mildew, and grout on the tile floors of the kitchen or the bathroom (see cleaners for bathtub and bathroom cleaners), you need to collect the supplies present in the household. You can find things mentioned below quite easily. And if you don’t have them at home, you can run to the nearest store to get the supplies.

  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • Bowl
  • Spray bottle
  • Mop
  • Toothbrush
  • Old rags or towels

2. Clean the Floor

The tile floor must be cleaned thoroughly using a broom or a floor sweeper, and vacuum to make sure there are no dirt particles before you begin the cleaning process.

3. Combine the Ingredients

Take a bowl and add equal parts of baking soda and water to it. Stir the mixture thoroughly to make a fine paste. Now by using the toothbrush, apply the paste to grout on the floor tiles. If you have a large tiled floor, then ensure to make the mixture in abundance to cover the entire floor.

4. Dilute the Vinegar

As we explained in our previous article on cleaning the tiles, add equal amounts of water and vinegar to a bowl depending on the floor area you need to cover. Add the distilled vinegar to a spray bottle and spray the contents on the floor and the grout. You will see a fizzy reaction when the distilled vinegar is sprayed on the baking soda paste. It is important to note here that if the floor is made of natural stone, then it is ideal to avoid vinegar as it could damage the floor.

5. Scrub the Floor

Scrub the grout with a toothbrush and the floor using a mop to clean the stains left on the floor. With constant scrubbing, you will start to see grout, dirt, and stains coming off the tiled floor. You need to do this step fast and with greater determination so that there is no dirt left on the floor.

6. Mop the Floor

After thoroughly scrubbing the floor, take a semi-wet mop or old rags to clean the excess mixture off the floor. Make sure that you don’t let the mixture sit on the floor for too long as it could damage the floor finishing.

7. Rinse the Floor

This is the last step and an important step in the process, which entails thoroughly rinsing the floor with water to wash out the mixture. This will ensure that there is no baking soda residue stuck in any corners of the floor. After the floor is completely rinsed, mop it to soak out the water on the tiles. You will notice a clear difference in the floor once it has dried.

Benefits of Vinegar and Baking Soda

Vinegar is not only used in cooking, but it is also quite popular for its cleaning properties. That is why you will find a bottle of vinegar in every household. The primary substance used in vinegar is acetic acid, which is strong enough to dissolve and clean grime, mildew, and dirt particles present on different surfaces. It can kill germs and hence could be used as a natural disinfectant for both floors and kitchen countertops.

The interesting thing about vinegar is that it has a long shelf life, so you don’t have to worry about the expiration date. Furthermore, you can use it anywhere in the house for cleaning purposes (see also ‘House Cleaning Checklist’ post). Since it is diluted with water before cleaning, you don’t have to worry about the weird smell and it causing stains.

Baking soda is another non-toxic natural cleaning agent that can get rid of dirt and grease by dissolving them. Baking soda when mixed with vinegar can help remove stains from carpets (see the best carpet stain removers and carpet cleaners) as well floors, which is a quick and easy DIY.

Moreover, you can also use baking soda to polish your silverware. You should also check out our recommended DIY cleaners for glass surfaces.

Related Topics: Best Cleaners for Tile Floors | Top Picks for Laminate Floors

Conclusion

When it comes to cleaning tiles, it is always better to try out natural products before seeking professional help as it can save you a lot of money. But prior to testing out DIY floor cleaning methods, it is best to do thorough research on the cleaning agents so you can avoid damaging your tiled floors. Baking soda and vinegar are readily available everywhere, which allows for a budget-friendly cleaning method, whether it is cleaning the tile floors or showerheads.

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FAQs

1. What is the best and easiest way to clean tile floors?

To clean ceramic tile floors, use warm water or warm water mixed with a few drops of mild dish soap. Change the water periodically while cleaning to avoid using unclean water. Wash and dry one section of the floor at a time.

2. Why are my tile floors always dirty?

The most common mistake is not rinsing after using too much floor cleaner. Contrary to popular belief, too much floor detergent can actually make your floors look dirtier. So take a bath! You should mop your floors every other or third time with pure water.

3. What do you use to mop tile floors?

When cleaning tile with mild detergent and clean water, use a rag or chamois-type mop instead of a sponge mop. Since sponge mops force contaminated water deeper into the grout lines, they are the most effective for cleaning tile.

4. Will vinegar damage ceramic tile?

Fortunately, vinegar won't damage porcelain tiles if used correctly. It is safe to use, natural, and vegan-friendly, but you must be careful how you apply it.

5. Is vinegar and Dawn safe for tile?

Vinegar's cleaning properties make it an excellent floor cleaner. Before using vinegar to clean grout, it is necessary to determine how thoroughly sealed it is. Polishing the floor on a regular basis is possible if it is well sealed and has no cracks, holes, or openings.

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