Honey on the floors? Something worse? A mess that sticks is a mess that stays, but don’t worry—we got you covered. Answering the question of how to clean sticky tile floors has never been easier, and cleaning it goes about the same!
Spot cleaning can work for some (if not most) instances, but there is still a chance to leave behind residue that can fester and overtime—stick to the floor.
When spot cleaning a mess, know that using a cleaner with an opposing PH level (of the mess) is the tried-and-true method of disposing of sticky stains. If you’ve spilt lemon juice (which has an acidic PH level) using an alkaline cleaner or baking soda mixture is more than enough to get that stain out.
Even swiping clean of a sticky stain can leave room for residue. That awful feeling you get when something feels stuck to your sock and now, you’re dragging it across to every other tile in the room. We’ll need a staple of DIY cleaning, Vinegar, to make sure that this mess stays gone.
If you have the usual tiles (commonly found in bathrooms and other parts of your room), you’ll need the following:
- Rag
- Vinegar
- Mop
- Mop Bucket
- Soak your clean rag in warm water and wring it out til’ it’s damp.
- Place the rag on the sticky spot and allow it to sit there for 15 minutes.
- This helps loosen the residue and allow for an easier transition into the next steps.
- Mix one cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water in your mop bucket.
- Mop the floor with your new solution.
- Vinegar helps disintegrate through the residue as well as cleaning any dirt or mud also trapped underneath the mess.
- Mop the floor with clear water to remove all remnants of the Vinegar.
- Wipe dry with a new clean rag.
If the stain has nestled its way deep into the lining of the tiles, it’ll be time to bring out a soft bristled brush—or even your toothbrush, to get the job done. Using an opposing PH or even a mixture of warm water and dish soap can be enough to not only rid the lining of stickiness but give back your grout lines their shine.
For Linoleum, Vinyl or Rubber tiles (though they don’t quite match the layman’s mind when thinking of the word tile) you will need the following:
- Rags
- Mop Bucket
- Vinegar
- Dishwashing Detergent (any mild detergent)
- Mop
- Combine two tablespoons of the detergent with a gallon of water in your mop bucket.
- After doing so, soak your rag in the bucket once your solution is mixed.
- Lay the rag over the sticky spot.
- Make Sure the rag does not overlap any seams or lining between the tiles. Failure to do so can lead to your tiles curling up and be more of an eyesore than a stain.
- After you’ve let the rag soak in the spot for 5-10 minutes, mop the floor.
- Once you’ve finished mopping with the solution, rinse the mop with water then go over the mopped area again. This is to ensure that water/solution does not seep into the flooring and possibly ruin it.
- Wipe the floor dry with a clean rag.
- Do this IMMEDIATELY after you have mopped, as moisture is a common cause for warped tiles among Linoleum.
