Porcelain tile is a great alternative for hardwood floor especially if we want to emulate different stylish looks. The beauty of the design of our floors are everything and of course, we would want a home that’s presentable but also safe, easy to clean and manage.
But it’s not all the time that having hardwood floors is ideal and sometimes porcelain tile is the more practical way to go. In this article, we will talk about how to clean porcelain tile that looks like wood and everything else that comes in between.
How to Clean Porcelain Tile That Looks Like Wood?
Porcelain wood tile is a great replacement for natural hardwood while it looks like real wood it’s significantly easy to maintain than real wood. It’s also generally less expensive and is more durable. Plus you have hundreds if not thousands of looks to choose from.
No wonder why a lot of people are getting porcelain wood tiles rather than hardwood. Natural hardwood can be quite challenging to maintain and are prone to different types of degradation and overall they are just a challenge to clean and maintain.
So the next following steps are what you need to do to maintain your porcelain wood tile.
For Dust and Dirt:
Dust and dirt are everywhere no matter what you do they will get into your home or your office spaces. If you have porcelain wood tile then this part should be easiest. Just turn on your handy vacuum cleaner and run it across your tile floor.
If it’s got a specific setting for a hardwood floor or maybe the auto setting you can use either of those. Make sure to vacuum in a crosshatch pattern to be more efficient. Vacuuming regularly maybe two to three times a week should be more than enough.
Be more frequent in high traffic areas like entrances or exits. Make that cleaning session count!
For Pet Hair:
Pets add color to our lives, but sometimes taking care of them may be quite challenging especially if we have kids in our homes and at the same time we live busy lives.
Porcelain tile floors are super pet-friendly so it will make taking care of our beloved pets more manageable. The best way to clean porcelain wood tiles with pet hair is by using a rubber broom. Rubber brooms efficiently attract pet hair and should be able to clean it thoroughly in no time.
Of course, you have tons of other great options to choose from. There are super pet-friendly vacuum cleaners. They are specifically designed for pet hair and are safe and convenient to use. Also, there are robot vacuums such as a Roomba that is pet-friendly and will clean your porcelain wood tile floors for you.
There are no tangle, bagless, and advanced filtering system infused vacuum cleaners that will cater to your needs when it comes to cleaning pet hair off of your porcelain tiles. Only a little bit of research is needed to see what best fits your situation or your lifestyle. Go try it out!
Mopping or Damp Cleaning:
Damp cleaning is necessary when vacuuming or any dry cleaning methods are no longer effective and dirt and grime had already accumulated that we need mopping done. Some do mopping regularly while some don’t, maybe depending on how effective their dry-cleaning in the first place is.
But when you do need to do damp cleaning on your porcelain wood tile floors then here are the things that you need to do.
Vacuum first before doing anything. Make sure to vacuum any loose dust, dirt or debris, this is to not create a thin film of mud on your porcelain wood tile floors. On some occasions, unvacuumed dirt might even damage your floors later on.
Next is to prepare the right solution for your floors. Use warm water to mix in your solution with and soak your mop in it. After make sure to wring as much solution or liquid from your mop, you don’t want your porcelain wood tile floor to be soaked in it as well for unwanted damage (if there would be any).
Make sure to mop thoroughly so that you don’t have to repeat the process once dried up.
For Spills:
You must clean on any spilled areas right away. Sometimes, time is of the essence before any permanent damage may be done. Just using a cloth rag and water should be enough as first aid most of the time.
If you want to level up a little bit then use the old fashioned vinegar solution which is perfect to use in a lot of cleaning situations. Vinegar will make sure to not only clean spots but at the same time keep your tile floors as good as new and smelling fresh.
Deep Cleaning:
There are a lot of areas in your home that need special solutions and deep cleaning. Especially in high traffic areas of areas or damp areas that leave lots of marks on your floor. These are your entryways, bathrooms or kitchen areas as they are prone to spillage and are always damp.
The first thing you got to make sure is to keep these areas as clean as possible all the time. Vacuuming is always recommended as is a proper solution. But when it gets tough then deep cleaning is needed.
You would think that this part can get complicated but no, it’s still the old fashioned steps and it should be done real quick and easy.
First is to identify the spots that need deep cleaning once done prepare your favorite cleaning solution and mop the area with it. Rinse mop when necessary as we assure you, they will get dirty. Freshen your water as necessary as well.
Now finish the job with your clean mop then your warm water. After all of that make sure to dry with a clean rag or towel thoroughly.
If the job was done properly then no other follow-ups should be required.
Our Thoughts About Commercially Available Cleaners
What we’ve been talking about are DIY ways to clean your porcelain wood tile floors and of course, there are items available for you in the market that are also easy and ready to be sued.
There are a ton of them so just a quick but very useful tip is to watch out for materials that might damage your tile floors.
These are items that contain bleach, abrasives, ammonia, sealants, wax, and oil-based cleaners. Some of these may cause damage most especially discoloration that might not be remedied. They may also damage the grout in your tiles and you certainly don’t want that to happen.
Final Thoughts…
How to clean porcelain tile that looks like wood is not a complicated process. It just requires diligence and discipline in doing so. These porcelain wood tiles are stylish and easy to maintain so it’s not going to cost you much time and energy but it will make your homes more presentable.
Having said that, we hope you’ve picked up a thing or two from our simple article, and please do enjoy the rest of your day.