The beauty, stylishness and sturdiness of ceramic tile have made it a most wanted flooring material of choice for centuries. While these qualities are reason enough for its popularity, tile is also amazingly easy to maintain. Simple household cleaning products is all you need to keep your ceramic tile floors looking new for years.

As with any flooring, the best way to take care tile is by regular periodic cleaning and maintenance. The minimum you need to do is sweep or vacuum your ceramic tile floors at least once a week, more often if it gets regular high foot traffic. Dust and lint can progress into grime if they are not promptly removed, especially in areas where there is high level of moisture.

Since ceramic tile is often used in moist or high humility areas of the home, it is likely that it will be subject to different spills and strains. If removed promptly, any strains of spills on your ceramic floors can easily be cleaned with washing or mopping with hot water and a mild household detergent. Using hot water helps loosen any stubborn dirt that collects in the spill and the detergent lifts any oily substance that may be on the floor. If a simple wipe is not enough to clean up the entire spill, try a second pass over the floor with a damp sponge or mop. If the spill remains obstinate, you may try a soft brush or synthetic scouring pad to loosen the spot, but do not use steel wool or a metal brush, as metal will scratch the glazed surface of the tiles.

After washing a ceramic tile floor, be sure to thoroughly rinse the floor with clean water. This will remove any detergent residue from setting and attracting more dirt to your floor.

Occasionally, a tough stain will appear on a ceramic tile floor, especially floors with unglazed tiles, but these stains can also be easily removed with every day cleaning products. Prepare a paste of scouring powder and water, and firmly rub it onto the stain with a cloth. Allow the paste to sit for at least 5 minutes, and then scrub it away with a soft brush or synthetic scouring pad. Repeat the process until the stain is completely gone, and then thoroughly wash and rinse the floor with clean plain water.

Even in the cleanest homes, mildew frequently makes an appearance, especially in bathrooms, spa areas and pool decks which moisture level is high. Should mildew appear on your ceramic tile, use a simple solution of equal parts water and ammonia to remove it. Again, use a soft brush to clean away the mildew so you do not damage the tile or grout. Rinse the area thoroughly with clean plain water once the mildew is successfully removed. Be sure the area you are working in is well ventilated when using the ammonia solution.

If the grout itself becomes stained or discolored, it can be brightened by a good cleaning with diluted bleach (3 parts bleach to 1 part water). Use the edge of a sponge or a toothbrush for this job, and be careful to keep the bleach solution away from other surfaces. Grout needs to be cleaned and re-sealed once a year to keep stains invisible.

Even rust stains can be easily removed from ceramic tile. Commercial cleaners for rust stains that you can find in your local home supply store will handle most jobs, or you can use regular kerosene to take out the unsightly rust. Be sure to wear rubber gloves if you do use kerosene as it can burn your skin, and make sure the work area is well ventilated.

Unless the glaze on a ceramic tile is damaged, it is rear that stains on ceramic tiles cannot be removed easily. Ceramic tile’s durability and imperviousness to stains is one of its great appeals, and with regular cleaning, most of the stains that may end up on your floor should be easily eliminated. However, if you have been less than diligent in cleaning your ceramic tile regularly and your tiles or grout requires a bit more work to clean, the methods cited above should do the job of returning your tile floor to its original beauty.