How to Clean Porcelain Tiles

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: February 25, 2023

Keep porcelain tiles spotless isn't difficult, but it can get tricky when the tile is stained or hasn't been protected or sealed property. Thankfully, there are several cleaning options at your disposal to clean the porcelain tiles. You may have polished or glazed porcelain tiles, unpolished or unglazed porcelain tiles, or textured porcelain tiles. You will need to use different approaches depending on the type of tile you are cleaning. With some patience and discipline, you can make sure your tiles are clean and stain-free.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Cleaning Polished/Glazed Porcelain Tiles

1
Sweep the floor with a dust mop. Start by sweeping the floor to remove any dust on the porcelain tiles. You can use a dry dust mop or a vacuum. You can also use a microfiber mop, as it will be gentle on the tiles. Brooms with straw or plastic bristles will be too harsh on the floor and could scratch the tiles.
- Make sure you sweep in the corners and between tiles. You want to try to remove as much surface dust on the tiles as you can before you move on to more intense cleaning.
2
Use a soft, nylon brush to remove any dirt. You can use a nylon cleaning brush or an old toothbrush to remove any dirt or dark spots on the floor.
- Wet the floor with hot water and use the brush to remove surface dirt. Scrub the tile in a circular motion, making sure the tile is damp when you scrub it.
- Do not scrub any tiles that are dry, as this could scratch the tile.
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3
Apply a cleaning solution for stains. If you notice any stains on your polished or glazed porcelain tiles, you should apply a cleaning solution using a mop. You can use a home solution of white vinegar and water or a professional cleaning solution.^{[1]
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- Make a home solution by combining ¼ cup white vinegar with two gallons of warm water. Mop the floor and let it sit for five to ten minutes. Then, mop the floor again, rinsing off the solution. The vinegar will help to disinfect, deodorize, and clean the tiles.
- For a professional option, use a cleaning solution from your local home hardware store or the cleaning supplies aisle. You should make sure the solution is safe for use on glazed or polished tile before you use it. You may want to do a spot test by using a small amount of the solution on the floor to ensure it does not damage the floor.
- If there are coffee stains on the tiles, you can use baking soda to remove them. Apply a sprinkle of baking soda on the stain and then dampen it with a clean cloth. Gently scrub the area until the stain is removed.^{[3]
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4
Mop the floor. Finish your cleaning by mopping the tiles with a floor cleaner. You should use a mild cleaning solution that is safe for use on glazed or polished porcelain tiles.^{[4]
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- Make sure you mop the floor one more time with hot water before the cleaner dries on the tiles. This will ensure the cleaner does not stain or damage the tiles.
5
Dry and buff the floor. Use a microfiber cloth or a clean towel to dry the floor completely. Make sure there are no water spots or puddles of water remaining on the tiles.
- You can also open a window or set up a fan to dry the floor. Place fans in the room and open any windows to ensure an adequate airflow throughout the room.
- Once the floor is dry, you can buff it to a shine with a piece of cheesecloth. Rub the cheesecloth over the tiles in circular motions to buff them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cleaning Unpolished/Unglazed Porcelain Tiles

1
Use a dry dust mop to sweep the floor. Start by removing any dirt and dust on the surface of the floor. You should use a dry dust mop instead of a broom, as the broom could scratch the tiles.<
- Make sure you use the dust mop in any corners of the room and between the tiles. Removing the surface dirt and dust will make cleaning the tiles easier.
2
Mop the floor with a mild cleaning solution. You should then use a mild cleaning solution on the floor to get rid of any stains and dirt. You can use a commercial cleanser or make your own solution using water and vinegar.
- Combine ¼ cup white vinegar with two gallons of warm water to make a home cleaning solution. Mop the floor and let it sit for five to ten minutes. The vinegar will help to disinfect, deodorize, and clean the tiles.
- You can look for commercial cleaner at your local hardware store or in the cleaning aisle. Make sure the cleaner is made for use on unpolished or unglazed porcelain tiles.
3
Scrub and rinse the floor. Once you apply the cleanser, you should let it sit on the floor for about 10 minutes. Then, use a soft bristle brush to scrub at any stains. Scrub in circular motions at the stains until they are removed.
- You should wipe away any remaining cleaner solution on the floor and then rinse it well with hot water. Do not let the cleanser sit on the tiles after 10 minutes, as it could damage the tile.
4
Dry the floor well. Use a clean towel to dry the floor. Make sure you dry it thoroughly, with no water spots or puddles of water on the floor.
- You can also open windows in the room and use a fan to dry the floor.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Cleaning Textured Porcelain Tiles

1
Start by sweeping the floor with a soft-bristled broom. Sweep the textured porcelain tiles in two directions. This will better remove any dirt or debris in the texture of the tiles.
- Start by brushing in the direction or texture of the tile. Then, sweep diagonally across the tile to remove any dirt or debris.
2
Mop the floor with a mild cleaning solution. Once the floor has been swept, you can saturate it by mopping the floor with a mild cleaning solution. Combine the cleaning solution with hot water. Mop the floor and then allow the cleaning solution to sit on the floor for five to ten minutes.
- Textured porcelain requires more maintenance than other types of porcelain and you will need to clean it more frequently to keep it looking good. To maintain the textured tiles, you should try to mop and scrub the floor daily, especially if it is walked on constantly throughout the day.
3
Scrub the floor with a soft, nylon brush. Once the cleaning solution has been on the floor for ten minutes, you can use a soft nylon brush to scrub at any dark spots or stains on the floor. You can also use an old toothbrush to scrub the floor.
- Use the same two direction method that you used for sweeping the floor. Start by scrubbing the floor following the direction of the textured tile. Then, scrub in the opposite direction of the texture on the tile.
4
Rinse the floor with clean water. Do not let the cleaning solution sit on the floor and dry, as it can damage the floor. Make sure you rinse off the cleaning solution with clean, clear water.
- You can then dry the floor with a clean microfiber cloth. Check that there are no water spots or puddles on the floor.
- You can also open windows in the room and turn on a fan to dry the floor more quickly.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Keeping the Porcelain Tiles Clean

1
Sweep or vacuum the tiles at least twice a week. Maintain your porcelain tiles by getting into the habit of sweeping your tiles at least twice a week. Use a dry dust mop or a broom with soft, nylon bristles.
- Never use brushes with hard bristles or a broom with stiff bristles, as this can damage the tile.
- You can also vacuum the tiles twice a week to remove any dirt or debris. Use a flexible, multi-surface vacuum cleaner to suck up the excess dirt. Be sure to vacuum in corners and areas where the tiles touch the wall. These spaces are often forgotten,leading to a build up of excess grime. ^{[5]
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2
Clean up any spills right away. If there are any spills on the porcelain tile, you should make sure you wipe them up right away. Use a microfiber cloth to clean up spills with hot water. You may also use a water and vinegar solution to clean up big spills on the tile.^{[6]
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- Never use steel wool on the tiles to clean up spills or to remove stains. The steel wool can cause rust stains to develop in the grout between the tiles.
3
Do not use bleach or ammonia on the tiles. Make sure you do not use cleaning products that contain bleach or ammonia on the tiles, as this can stain the grout and damage the coloring of the porcelain tiles. You should also avoid cleaners that contain coloring or dye, as this can stain the tiles.
- Stay away from oil-based wax cleaners and detergents, as these can also damage your porcelain tiles.
4
Use rugs and floor mats. You can protect your porcelain tile floors by putting down floor mats and rugs. Rugs and floor mats are also good for keeping dirt and debris off the floor.^{[7]
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- You should also make sure there are felt pads on the bottom of the legs of any furniture. This will ensure the furniture does not scratch or damage the porcelain tiles.
- Get in the habit of using coasters on any porcelain tile counters to protect the surface from water rings due to glasses sweating water.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Can I use a steam cleaner on slightly textured porcelain floors to help clean the grouting?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes, it is perfectly safe to use a steam cleaner on your porcelain floors to clean the grouting!
Question

Does it help to buff porcelain tile floors with an electric buffer?

Community Answer

If you use an electric buffer, use soft cotton pads (no brush bristles). Do not stay long on one spot, as this could damage your tile.
Question

Can you recommend a mild commercial cleaner for unpolished/unglazed porcelain tiles? I was told not to use vinegar because it would hurt the grout.

Community Answer

You could try something like Fila Tile and Stone Cleaner. You are absolutely correct about the vinegar too.