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callie8799

what do use to mop your

18 years ago

tile floors with? I always had vinyl flooring in my kitchens and just installed ceramic/porcelan tile w/ light colored grout. I don't know if I use a mix of Spic & Span w/water = will that damage my grout, in terms of changing color permanently. Right now, I just spray Spic & span on a soiled tile and wipe off.

Thanks for your advice! :)

Deb

Comments (12)

  • 18 years ago

    Vinegar and water, only. It's best to stay away from chemicals on your grout. I don't like using a mop of any sort on my tile floors. They don't get the floor dry enough, especially in the grout lines. I use a big sponge and a bucket of water and vinegar and then I wipe with a terry cloth towel. I'm on my knees, but it goes faster and surprisingly, it's easier on your back than using a mop.

  • 18 years ago

    I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but if your grout was sealed - and it should have been - I don't think that using Spic and Span with water presents any problem. And if it does, I'm in trouble too!

  • 18 years ago

    Deb,
    Go to the Cleaning Forum and read about Steam Mops. I have one from Bissell which I use on ALL of my floors and would never go back to the old mop and bucket. It's the best thing I've discovered in a long time.
    Lynn

  • 18 years ago

    Lynn-do you have any fake wood floors-I hate mine but am stuck with them for awhile and I can't get them to shine...do I use a steam mop on them too?

  • 18 years ago

    Our full baths and laundry room are tiled and the grout has never been sealed. The remainder of the floors , including the powder room, are site finished hardwood. We use an iRobot Scooba. My lovely, intellegent, and practical spouse thought it a ridiculous extravagance when I purchased it a couple of years ago (for much less than they are charging now.) After we used it a couple of times though, she developed an unbounded love for it.
    We did have problems with the first unit after a couple of months. A replacement unit failed a few months later. The company replaced that one with a newer top of the line model which has functioned flawlessly for the past year and a half. Customer service dealings weren't always the easiest, but we were able to get brand new, not refurbished, replacements each time with a bit of persistent insistence.
    We use the Scooba solution and water or vinegar and water and are always amazed at how well the thing scrubs the floor. Spot cleaning or interim quick cleanups are done with a damp microfiber mop or sponge and towel. If you have enough hard floor surface to warrant it or youÂre a gadget geek, I doubt that you'd be disappointed with the purchase of one of these floor mopping robots. There are a couple of different models.
    Cheers.

    Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with iRobot, nor do I invest in the company. (Perhaps I should?) I am enamored with the Scooba though.

  • 18 years ago

    I have had both porcelain and ceramic tile floors. By far the best cleaning was with a steam mop, and nothing in it but steam. The one I have is called "Homeworks" and I think its Eureka.

    Do not use a steam mop on laminate floors!

  • 18 years ago

    Darn! I hate my laminate floors-what in the world makes them look shiny and real?

  • 18 years ago

    Never ever use Vinegar, on Tile floors. Vinegar, is for cooking, not for tile floors. After awhile your tile to start to pit. Mine did. Just use water. A steam machine is good.

  • 18 years ago

    Vinegar shouldn't be used on porcelain tile. It will ruin the finish.

  • 18 years ago

    I've used a Hoover Floormate hard floor cleaner in my last 3 homes (and the cleaning concentrate made for the machine). It basically washes the floor, then sucks up the fluid leaving the floor nearly dry. I've never had any problems and it cleans much better than a regular mop. I have never heard of these steam mops--what are they??--I have to go check them out.

  • 18 years ago

    I've used both the Floormate (with their recommended solution) and the Bissel Steam mop. Both work well. The only thing I don't like about the steam mop is that the terry cloth covers don't last very long . . . they seem to get torn up by the tile. My cleaning ladies use a twist-mop and "Once and Done" -- I have to admit that Fern and Mary are my very favorite method!!

  • 18 years ago

    For wood laminate, use a special cleaner for them. One can get it at Lowe's. Look in the wood laminate section for it. It is made by Bruce. I use that and a swiffer pad on the swiffer (without their liquid cleaning stuff) and floors come out great.

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