Top Picks to Make Your Tiles Shine
A tile floor comes with many benefits; low maintenance cost, water resistance, high resale value, and better air quality. That’s why most people are inclined towards using tiled flooring.
However, like hardwood floors, you need special cleaners for tile floors that can clean without dimming its sparkle. Plus, tile floor cleaners must be gentle on the floors, not affecting its longevity.
With aisles full of different surface cleaners, it’s understandable why you might be overwhelmed while choosing the best tile floor cleaners.
In this article, I’ll help you find floor cleaners for tile floors that are perfect for spot cleaning and are as gentle as a feather.
You’ll find all options – scented and unscented, ready to use and concentrated – in this guide. So, let’s get started.
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Bona is a leading name in the cleaning industry due to its superior quality products, and this tile floor cleaner is a stark example of that.
Being incredibly effective on tiled floors, it’s a water-based solution that is guaranteed to remove even the most stubborn spots from your floors.
If you’re anything like me and always get confused with the measurements when using concentrates, the surface cleaner is for you. It’s ready to use, so there are no measurements or mixing involved.
All you have to do is spray it on the floor and then follow up with a tile mop. This tile floor cleaner adds convenience to cleaning because you don’t have to carry a bucket.
Since it’s a water-based formula, the solution dries quickly and does not leave any residue behind. It’s also safe for your kids and pets.
More importantly, the Bona surface cleaner has a pH-neutral formula. Thus, it maintains your tile floor’s finish, eliminating the chances of discoloration. Plus, it’s a versatile cleaner that can be used to clean luxury vinyl, laminate, stone, and vinyl flooring.
Having GreenGuard’s Gold certification, the Bona solution is among the best specialty floor cleaners. Thanks to its low VOC emissions, this cleaner is safe for the environment compared to other conventional cleaners.
Reviewers loved the product, primarily because it did not leave a waxy buildup or nasty smell behind. Also, many people mentioned that the cleaner does not leave any streaks on the floor.
One reviewer went as far as saying that her floors were the ‘nicest-looking in the neighborhood’ due to this Bona surface cleaner. Now, that’s an honor I’d like to have too.
Black Diamond is an acid-free tile floor cleaner designed to get even the nastiest and smelliest mold out of the grout lines. If you want to deep clean ceramic tiles or marble floors, this grout cleaner is the right option.
Although it’s not practical at cleaning mildew, the cleaner does an incredible job of removing grease, grime, and dirt from your floors.
If I’m not mistaken, the floors we struggle the most with are our bathrooms and kitchens. While layers of grease rule the kitchen floors, soapy scum settles well on the bathroom floors.
The Black Diamond tile cleaner is strong enough to remove everything from soap scum and food spills to old, tightly-stuck grease. Keep in mind that the cleaner won’t get rid of calcium spots.
Along with being safe for natural tiles, the cleaner is also safe for your family, as it does not contain any toxic chemicals. Plus, if your pet has an accident on the floor, the cleaner can take care of it.
Reviewers were over the moon with this tile cleaner’s performance. While some were happy that it efficiently removes dirt and buildup, others were satisfied with its quick action.
Some people also said that the surface cleaner was able to remove tough stains, making their floors look ‘brand new.’
Considering everything, I can confidently say that you need to have this ultimate grout cleaner in your deep cleaning supplies box. It works well on tiles, especially those that have lost their original sheen due to grease and grout.
Now, if you want to clean your house without emptying your entire wallet, I have a fantastic, yet budget-friendly, tile cleaner for you.
You don’t have to spend a significant fraction of your household budget on cleaners just because you decided to get tile flooring.
Luckily, the Better Life cleaning solution is easy on the pocket, yet performs as efficiently as more expensive cleaners.
This wallet-friendly cleaner is made from plant residue. Thus, it’s safe for your family and the environment. Besides, the tile cum tub cleaner is strong enough to dissolve mineral deposits and soap scum from the bathroom tiles and the tub.
Along with leaving it squeaky clean, the tile cleaner also makes the bathroom smell fresh. The plant-infused fragrances are non-toxic and non-synthetic, making them safe for kids and pets.
While most other tub and tile cleaners only clean dirt and grout, this Better Life cleaning solution can remove mildew stains, mold, and mild rust.
Despite being so strong, the tile cleaner does not leave any harsh fumes or stagnant smells in your bathroom. After using the tile cleaner, simply run the water for a few minutes, and your bathroom will be as good as new.
Reviewers praised the efficacy of cleaning and fresh scent of this tile floor cleaner. One user narrated how the tile cleaner ‘saved her lungs.’
While most other cleaners left an unbearable odor in her bathroom, this one had a subtle smell that was easy on her olfactory system.
I’d suggest if you have people with similar problems or allergies at home, opt for this affordable tile floor cleaner. It can remove mold and mildew, reducing the events of allergic reactions.
Another notable feature of the Better Life floor and tub cleaner is that it’s free of synthetic ingredients. Therefore, it’s very gentle on the environment and your floors.
As someone who has seen the unethical cleaning practices in the hospitality industry, I’m in support of any company that prefers eco-friendly cleaning practices. The Method Squirt all-natural cleaner is one of the best tile floor cleaners with an eco-friendly formula.
Being a chemical-free cleaner, it has a non-toxic formula that is safe for babies and pets. More importantly, the biodegradable formula does not leave any streaks behind, making your floors spotless.
Along with cleaning, the tile floor cleaner also deodorizes the tile floors, allowing them to retain their shine for years. As for the scent, the tile cleaner has a nature-inspired smell, which is gentle on the nasal receptors of allergic people.
If you have asthma patients at home, you should give this tile cleaner a try. It does not leave any harsh scents in the air, making your house environment friendly for asthmatic patients.
Instead, this ecological tile floor cleaner has a lemon ginger scent, which is too subtle to have a significant effect.
Reviewers say that the tile cleaner does the job while smelling great. Many people also swooned over the beautiful spray bottle, which has a very sleek look to it.
Other reviewers said that they’re glad to find such a reasonably-priced eco-friendly cleaner. The only issue with this cleaner is that you may have to put in some elbow grease when working on tough stains.
Other than that, it’s a wonderful tile cleaner with natural fragrance and gentle formula. Also, it has a Gold certification from Cradle to Cradle, guaranteeing the safety of use.
As the name indicates, the StoneTech stain remover is ideal for cleaning stone surfaces. However, you can also use it to clean tiles as it has a unique formula, which does not degrade tiles.
Don’t you hate mold and mildew buildup on your floors? I know I detest it. That’s why I always focus more on cleaning moist areas, but there are only so many precautions you can take.
No matter how careful you are, you’ll come across mold in the bathroom at some point. That’s when you put StoneTech remover to use and get your bathroom floors clean and shiny.
After getting your floors rid of stubborn mildew and mold stains, the tile cleaner leaves a fresh scent behind. Since it’s a versatile cleaner, you can use it on bathrooms, showers, walls, floors, and countertops.
The manufacturers recommend using the cleaner on specific surfaces, including slate, porcelain tile, marble, limestone, glass tile, and travertine.
Reviewers add that this cleaner for bathrooms has saved their showers and countertops from mold invasion. Plus, many people said that they never had such a great experience with a stone cleaner.
However, one concern was shared among some users; the scent. Being a concentrated tile floor cleaner, the StoneTech mold remover has an overpowering smell. One reviewer said that she had to take a break every five minutes because the smell was too strong for her.
I’d suggest you open the bathroom windows and door to keep the area ventilated. Doing this will lessen the intensity of the cleaner’s fragrance, making it easier for you to work.
You can also wear a mask or a bandanna on your face to keep the smell out while working. It’s a little sacrifice you’ll have to make to get mold-free floors.
Once you’re done cleaning mold off your bathroom floors, it’s time to head over to the kitchen and do something about the grease stains. IT JUST Works! Grout cleaner removes dirt and grime from tiles, leaving them sparkly clean.
You can tell that the manufacturer’s head was really in the game because the cleaner comes with a specially-designed grout brush. Now, you don’t have to bend anymore or put in any elbow grease.
The V-shaped brush quickly makes its way through grout lines, getting rid of old and stubborn grease in seconds. Since the brush is attached to any standard broom, you don’t have to spend any extra money to use it.
Besides, one bottle of cleaning solution goes a long way. The bottles have a spout for easy pouring, and a single bottle can clean up to 250 squares of tile. That’s impressive, isn’t it?
If you’re planning to call professionals to clean the grout, wait a second. Give this tile floor cleaner a try, and you might end up saving hundreds of dollars.
Reviewers called it a ‘keeper for spring cleaning’ because of its efficiency at getting rid of the most stubborn stains. Although it’s particularly efficient on grease, the tile cleaner is also suitable for cleaning other ceramic tile floors in the house.
If you’re looking for a tile cleaner that will remove grease and grime without scratching tiles, IT JUST Works! should be on the top of your list.
However, it won’t be your ally for heavy-duty cleaning. But don’t worry, I have a product for that too.
Living in a large house is all fun and games until you realize that you have to clean it up. Luckily, with cleaners like the Mapei Ultracare, cleaning isn’t much of a hassle.
Designed as a floor cleaner for a large space, the Mapei Ultracrecan removes wax, soap scum, mildew stains, algae, and grease. Thus, it’s a reliable cleaner for everyday use, especially if you have different types of floors in the house.
Have you ever put off cleaning a certain room in your house because regular cleaners just don’t do the job? You can now tend to that space because this stone and grout cleaner doesn’t leave a single stain behind.
You can use it on terrazzo, ceramic tiles, stones, masonry surfaces, pavers, terra cotta, porcelain, and natural stones. Due to its versatility, the tile floor cleaner is a popular choice among owners.
That explains why the reviewers are singing praises of this cleaner. Most of them said that the cleaner will not restore 100% shine to your floors but will get around 95% cleanliness, which is one of the highest they have seen.
One reviewer said that this tile cleaner exposed the real color of his bathroom tiles. However, it makes the floors a bit slippery, so be careful while cleaning. I’d suggest you wear shoes with a strong grip to stay safe.
All in all, you can use this cleaning solution to clean high traffic areas, such as the bathroom and the kitchen. Along with being safe for everyday use, the cleaner is also gentle on your tiled floors.
Whether you’re looking for a grout cleaner to remove mold or a strong solution for floor cleaning, there are a few things to consider beforehand.
For instance, some cleaners can be used on tile and grout, while others are only suitable for tiles. Likewise, different cleaners are safe for different floor types.
Even some tile cleaners are not safe for natural tiles, so you have to be vigilant when purchasing a cleaning solution.
If you’re not careful in your purchase, you may have to spend thousands of dollars on floor restoration. This could be avoided if you take your time and factor a few important things when buying a tile floor cleaner.
Before I go into details, here’s a simple questionnaire to get started.
By answering all these questions, you can get a clear idea of what to look for in a tile cleaner. For further assistance, I’m discussing some important considerations below.
If a tile cleaner isn’t strong enough to get rid of the stains, there’s no point in wasting your money. When searching for a reliable tile cleaner, make sure you read the reviews to determine its strength.
While some tile cleaners are suitable for merely removing daily grime, others are strong enough to remove even the most stubborn mildew and calcium stains.
For instance, the Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner can get rid of mineral deposits from your tub. Even some more expensive tile cleaners cannot accomplish this.
So, you get the idea, right? Not all tile cleaners are made for cleaning every kind of floor or dirt. While some may be amazing at getting rid of mold, others can remove grease like it was never there.
Secondly, you have to factor the application of the tile cleaner. Two concerns are common in this regard. First, you have to ensure that the surface cleaner is suitable for application on your floors.
For example, in my list, Mapei Ultracare Heavy-Duty Stone, Tile & Grout Cleaner has the most versatile application. You can use it on almost any kind of flooring ranging from tile to terra cotta.
However, not all surface cleaners are so versatile. Thus, you have to check for their application beforehand. If you want to use the same cleaner for all floors in the house, opt for the option with a higher versatility.
On the contrary, if you want to buy separate cleaners for each floor type, a simple tile cleaner would suffice.
For application on grout lines, you can use Black Diamond Ultimate Grout Cleaner, which is ideal for the job.
The second concern in terms of application is the way you use a surface cleaner. Most cleaners come in spray bottles, so you can simply spray them onto the surface.
However, there are other application methods too. For example, you have to squirt the Method Squirt/Mop Lemon Floor Cleaner out of its bottle.
In contrast, IT JUST Works! tile cleaner bottles have spouts that allow convenient pouring and application. Some cleaners also come as concentrates that you have to dilute before using.
In this review, I tried only to include surface cleaners with naturally-derived ingredients as they are safe for everyday use. When looking for a tile cleaner, make sure that it does not have synthetic or toxic ingredients.
Cleaners with harsh chemicals are unsafe for your children, pets, and allergy sufferers. If you’re sensitive to strong scents, choose tile cleaners with subtle or no fragrance.
Don’t use oil-based cleaners on tile floors, as they can damage the material. With prolonged use, these cleaners can even diminish your floors’ shine.
Lastly, you have to choose the cleaner according to use. Do you need a cleaner for high-traffic or neglected areas in the house? Is there too much mold and grease in the area? Then, you need a heavy-duty cleaner like Mapei Ultracare.
In contrast, if you’re targeting the grout lines and mold growing in them, you should go for IT JUST Works! Grout-EEZ tile cleaner.
Depending on where and how you intend to use the cleaner, you can choose the ideal option.
To sum it up, I’ll say that choosing the perfect tile cleaner for daily use isn’t as easy as it seems. Besides the shine and finish, you also have to ensure that the cleaner is safe for your family.
In this guide, I discussed some of the best tile floor cleaners you can stock up in your cleaning closet. Also, I mentioned some common concerns regarding the use of tile cleaners and how you can avoid them by being cautious.
Now, you have to tell me:
Leave the answers to these questions and other feedback in the comments below.
About the Author
Jeneva has over years of passion for home decorating and cleaning. She is the founder and CEO of thehousewire.com where she provides honest and objective reviews on home and cleaning products.
