How To Clean And Maintain Wood-Look Tile Floors To Keep Them In Tip-Top Shape

One important part of keeping any home looking neat is cleaning the flooring, yet every type of flooring has a different care routine. If you recently installed wood-look tile floors or have had them in your home for years, you may be wondering how to best clean and maintain this type of flooring. Luckily, House Digest spoke exclusively with Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids, to learn more.

Cohoon suggested that when trying to clean your wood-look tile floors, you start by reading the manufacturer's instructions to find the best practices. But if it proves difficult to find these directions, Cohoon provided some further suggestions.

Start by sweeping or vacuuming. "When using the vacuum, remember to use a soft brush attachment and avoid the heavy roller," Cohoon said. "Although wood-look tile flooring is durable, it's best to use the 'hard floor' or 'auto' setting." Then, ensure that you properly clean any grout lines to remove excess dirt that may get stuck in those spaces. FInally, Cohoon said to use a damp microfiber mop with a pH-balanced floor cleaner. Finding a floor cleaner that works well and has a smell you like can sometimes be difficult. Rather than hunting through the cleaning aisle, try checking out your pantry. There are a few common household ingredients you should be using to clean your floors.

Keeping your flooring looking as good as new may seem impossible. Yet it may be easier than you think! When Kathy Cohoon spoke exclusively with House Digest, she shared some tips on keeping your floors looking in tip-top shape. Cohoon's biggest pieces of advice were to maintain a routine and clean up spills as soon as they happen. Make a plan to clean your floors weekly — or more often if needed. For instance, if you have a pet that traipses mud into the home, you may need to wash the floors more frequently. 

"Generally, wood-look tile floors are easier to clean than other types of tile floors because of its durability and ease of maintenance," Cohoon said. "More traditional tile flooring may have deeper grout that may be harder to keep clean than wood-look tile floors." For some helpful mopping advice, check out these mopping tips that will keep your floors looking like new.

When washing your wood-look tile floors, there are a few common mistakes to avoid. During House Digest's exclusive interview with Kathy Cohoon, she provided some valuable tips on these issues. Cohoon shared that when washing this type of floor, you should avoid harsh cleansers. "Harsh cleansers may be too abrasive, which can remove the protective coating, and cause scratching and discoloration," she said. 

Cohoon also reiterated that you should always sweep or vacuum prior to mopping, and she added, "When it comes to mopping, the rule of 'less is more' applies. While a wood-look tile floor is more durable than a wood floor, the water can make grout lines appear darker or dirty."

Follow Cohoon's tips to avoid these common mistakes, and your wood-look tile floors will look sparkling new for years to come. Feel like you are cleaning your floors every other day? Here's how to keep your floors clean for longer.