Cleaning Kitchen Floor - Help!

0james0

When we renovated our house we made the stupid decision of getting a really good looking kitchen floor, without thinking about the practical side. It is quite a large kitchen 8m x 6m which only adds to the pain. We went for sparkly black granite floor tiles, complete with nice white grout, even writing it i'm wondering what the hell we were thinking, but here we are, we are stuck with it now. We have two kids and a dog. Stuff gets messy.

The floor has two main problems, the black tiles don't stay black because of the water residue that is left on top after cleaning.

The grout does not stay white because dirty water collects in it and it is then a nightmare to clean.

So far we use a steamer mop to clean the surface and then every few weeks get on our hands and knees and scrub the grout. It's not viable to continue like this!


I have the following at my disposal, I just don't know how best to use them!:

A steamer mop with various attachments
A pressure washer
A commercial cleaner/ buffer machine (picture those massive machines they use to clean school halls with) - although this may need a better "pad" that is more appropriate for what I'm trying to do, we currently have a scrubber which will scratch the tiles and a soft cloth buffer for polishing.


Any ideas as we are going crazy!

camNolliesMUMMY

How about a tile and mirror cleaner? I use astonish brand at my customers house and it's streak free, I think it may have a vinegar ingredient in it which should keep the grout looking clean? I'd spray the floor and then run a dry microfibres mop over the top?
You could possibly try vinegar in a spray bottle instead or window cleaner if you have it in and try an area first using a microfibres cloth simulating a mop. Saves buying one if it doesn't work?
Might be worth a go?

rustyboy21

Different scenario, but I use Glass cleaner on Black granite fireplace surrounds. It comes up a treat and no streaks.

I have a simmilar problem as we have dark chocolate coloured tiles in the kitchen and 2 bathrooms. No matter what we do, they end up marked in minutes, especially with little pu55ycat paw prints, from when she comes in from the garden.

One option re grout, would you be better to colour it black?, at least one less thing to worry about.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grout-Pen-Black-Revives-Restores/dp/B006MCRIA0

0james0

Great advice, thanks.

I think you are right, we could regrout the floor ourselves and if we went over the current grout it would be less of a dip for water to collect in. Will go for grey or black this time!

From what you've said and the research online, a vinegar type wash will be best to keep the tiles shiny, the key trick seems to be do it in sections, so that after you have washed a part, you can immediately dry it. Apparently a strip of carpet buffs it up well and I could cut a circle out and attach to the buffer machine.

Either that or sell the kids and pets and then it would stay clean forever! Tempting!