How to Clean Mexican Tile Floors
True Mexican tiles are handmade and fired at low temperatures, if not baked in the sun. They are therefore not perfectly flat or perfectly shaped, giving the room they are in a softer, textured look. Though they are available in a variety of colors, Mexican tiles are most often a terracotta beige, orange or red.
Always seal Mexican tile floors with the appropriate sealant to maximize life span. Otherwise, the tiles are highly absorbent and can easily be damaged. Regularly but lightly cleaning a sealed Mexican tile floor is easy and requires few materials.
Things You Will Need
- Broom or vacuum cleaner with hard-floor attachment
- Mop
- Bucket
- Water
- Vinegar
- Cleaning solution for Mexican tile floor (see below for suggestions)
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If possible, remove all furniture and rugs from the floor.
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Thoroughly sweep all dust and dirt from the floor with a broom or vacuum the debris with the floor tool attached to your vacuum-cleaner hose.
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Fill a bucket with water. This is usually enough to clean the floor. (Yes, just water.)
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However, you may add one cup of white vinegar for every gallon of water or use a cleaner meant for Mexican tiles like Maintain by Aldon or Sofix Stone.
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Saturate a mop in the bucket's solution; then squeeze out the excess so that the mop is more damp than wet.
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Thoroughly mop your Mexican tile floor, changing the solution if it gets too dirty.
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Allow the floor to dry before replacing rugs or furniture.
Tip
If water beads up on your floor, your sealer is still working. If it does not bead or if it beads in some places but not others, it may be time to reseal your Mexican tile floor
The Drip Cap
- True Mexican tiles are handmade and fired at low temperatures, if not baked in the sun.
- Always seal Mexican tile floors with the appropriate sealant to maximize life span.
- However, you may add one cup of white vinegar for every gallon of water or use a cleaner meant for Mexican tiles like Maintain by Aldon or Sofix Stone.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
Gail began writing professionally in 2004. Now a full-time proofreader, she has written marketing material for an IT consulting company, edited auditing standards for CPAs and ghostwritten the first draft of a nonfiction Amazon bestseller. Gail holds a Master of Arts in English literature and has taught college-level business communication, composition and American literature.
Photo Credits
- http://www.sxc.hu/photo/954600
- http://www.sxc.hu/photo/954600
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