Restore your floor’s shine with polish
Well polished floors or tiles can liven up your space. SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
What you need to know:
Most, if not all of us have found ourselves with dirty house tiles with no knowledge of how to clean them. Here we give you tips on how to clean and polish your tiles.
After a certain period of time, even the best of tiles (be it marble, granite, homogeneous or ceramic tiles) will begin to show the ravages of time that no regular cleaning can help. Polishing the tiles helps to restore a floor’s protective layer.
Michael Kaye, a manager at Glowria Cleaning Services advises that while sweeping and mopping is essential protection for any floor, polishing tiles should be done every two-four months, depending on the amount of traffic your floor gets. A properly polished floor should be able to reflect light and make an area brighter, more inviting, and create an illusion of space.
“Each type of tile has its own distinct method of polishing and products. For instance, while vinegar is an excellent cleaning compound, it must never be used to clean marble tiles because it erodes them,” cautions Kaye.
Hajirah Mirembe, a housewife who refers to herself as a cleaning addict says she finds polishing her floors very easy and doesn’t need sophisticated equipment. “At first, I used to hire cleaning services until I realised that I was spending too much money. I improvised until I landed on the perfect formula,” says Mirembe.
What you need
Before polishing your floor, ensure that you have the following:
•Detergent
•Water
•Bucket
•A mop or rugs
•Brush
Procedure
Fill a bucket with water and add about two spoons of detergent. Using a soft brush, scrub the floor then mop it up. After working throughout the whole room, pour the water and fill the bucket with clean water and rinse the floor to remove any residual soap and let the floor dry. Next, add polish to a soft rag and rub it into the floor. Starting at one end of the room spread a thin layer of polish over the entire floor. To make the floor shine use a fresh, clean soft rag to buff the floor.
Mr Kenneth Odoi, a salesperson at Home Base Supermarket says he stocks various types of tile polish but most of his customers prefer Cobra which goes for Shs15,900 for 750ml and Mr Muscle which costs Shs16,200 for 750ml.
Learning how to polish tile floors is a relatively a quick, cheap and easy way to extend the life and look of your flooring. You must also ensure that tiles are cleaned before they stain.
Another point to look for when purchasing tiles is to check whether the tiles are pre-sealed. If they are not pre-sealed you must make sure to do so when laying the tiles and before grouting. This is done to avoid staining of tiles. Use vinegar to remove persistent stains. Use three cups of vinegar mixed into a cup of water and scrub the tile using a brush. After cleaning with the solution take a wet cloth and wipe the tile clean.
If there is still residue left on the tile, mix half a cup of hydrochloric acid in four cups of water and clean the tile. If this also doesn’t work you must use a soap scum remover. Apply the liquid on the tiles and let it sit for some time. After that, clean the tiles with a wet cloth and afterwards a dry cloth. Also, always ensure that fresh spills are cleaned immediately.
Expert advice
“Each type of tile has its own method of polishing and products. For instance while vinegar is an excellent cleaning compound, it must never be used to clean marble.”
