Tiles are usually used in high traffic areas of homes such as kitchens, corridors, sitting rooms etc. They look pretty while at the same time being practical and elegant. But in order to keep them that way, you have to take care of them regularly. Tile floors should be swept in order to remove the dirt and to prevent the dirt from adhering to the surface of the tiles. For that purpose you can use a vacuum cleaner but be careful not to scratch the tiles. The next step should be damp mopping. You should use tile and grout cleaners recommended by the manufacturer. Textured tiles should be scrubbed with a soft brush. After using a detergent, you should rinse the area with clean water and then dry it. The cleaning products you use should be compatible with the type of your tiles. Take into consideration that ammonia based cleaners and bleaches can discolor the grout.
Tile and grout can be cleaned by mixing together a cup of Borax, two cups of baking soda and water enough to prepare a thick paste. The paste should be applied to the tile and grout and scrubbed with a soft brush. After scrubbing it should be rinsed and dried. In order to clean your tile floor properly, make sure that you are using the right mop. For tile floors it is preferable to use chamois floor mops. You can use a solution of one gallon warm water, a tablespoon of Borax and two tablespoons of ammonia. Using the mop, wipe down your tile floors. While cleaning, the water in the bucket should be changed frequently (when it becomes dirty) and the mop should be rinsed. Bear in mind that by using a dirty mop you just contribute to dirt and bacteria to build up on the grout joints. The solution then should be left to dry on the floor completely and then it can be cleaned with a clean rag. A ceramic tile floor can be cleaned also by scrubbing it with a polisher-scrubber or floor washer (electric). You can prepare a mixture of one gallon of water and one or two table spoons of tri-sodium phosphate. The solution should be rinsed well. If the grout still needs some treatment, you can use a solution of chlorine bleach and water (equal parts), apply it on the grout and let it stay for 20-30 minutes. Then it should be rinsed well and dried.
Be extra careful when using Borax as it is a very strong chemical. Not only is it used for heavy duty cleaning, but its also used for pest removal, lawn treatments, parasite cleansing and other unsavory tasks.
In case your tiles and grouts still look dirty and discolored, you should hire a professional. Tile wet saws can create a large mess, so even immediately after tile installation you may need professional cleanup assistance. Professionals are using many and different cleaning methods, latest cleaning technologies and they know what type of method to use in order to clean a certain type of tile and grout without damaging them. Besides, they have different machines like high temperature and high pressure machines that dissolve the dirt and take it out (extract) of the tiles and grouts. After a professional cleaning, your tiles and grouts will look pretty and elegant again. You may also consider using a tile and grout sealer in order to protect your tile floor and grout.