| Cleaning tiles is not as easy as you | | | | tile installers use a commercial product |
| think. Tiles used in the home are set in | | | | that is easier to wash off, but also |
| a thin plaster-like substance called | | | | more expensive. Remember not to use |
| grout. The best and easiest way to clean | | | | scouring powders or other abrasives that |
| a ceramic tile floor is to scrub it with | | | | can scratch the finish. To clean ceramic |
| an electric floor washer or | | | | tile, mix vinegar, ammonia, baking soda |
| polisher-scrubber. The thorough cleaning | | | | and warm water. Store the solution in a |
| action should brighten the tile and | | | | spray bottle for easy bathroom cleaning. |
| joints. You can use a solution of | | | | Cleaning stains out of grout can test |
| detergent, washing soda or tri-sodium | | | | your patience. The porous nature of |
| phosphate or commercial floor cleaning | | | | grout lets liquid cleaners seep right |
| powder in one gallon of water.When | | | | through. If the stain refuses to budge, |
| further treatment is needed, | | | | soak a heavy-duty paper towel with |
| particularly for the grout, apply a | | | | straight peroxide laying the towel on |
| solution of water and chlorine bleach | | | | top of the stain. Cover the towel with |
| (liquid or powdered). There still may be | | | | plastic wrap to prevent the peroxide |
| white or gray dust tracks over both the | | | | from drying out quickly.If that doesn't |
| surface and in carpeted floor areas even | | | | work, mix a paste of straight peroxide |
| if the tiles have been sealed. The | | | | and baking soda. Allow the bubbling to |
| whitish dust is from the grout used in | | | | subside. Apply to the stain and let it |
| laying the floor. You may use muriatic | | | | set. Shaving cream sprayed on stains |
| acid to clean up floor surfaces. Most | | | | also does a good job removing them. |