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Cream floor tiles-big mistake! How to clean?

(88 Posts)
Skydancer Mon 23-Dec-24 14:25:56

Fortunately our kitchen is tiny. We made the mistake of putting down cream porcelain floor tiles thinking it would make the space look larger which it does. But they just look dirty all the time. Today I have been down on my hands and knees trying to clean them but they still don't look good close up. Two questions: does anyone know of a really good way to clean them? Alternatively is there something I can put over them? I could use a rug but it would need to be washable and cut to shape? Despairing and wish I'd bought the black/grey/white patterned ones. Too late now. No wonder these were on special offer!

Allira Mon 23-Dec-24 17:57:58

The vinyl in our bathrooms is slightly textured so it's non-slip.
It's also not easy to clean!

I don't know what the best flooring is.

J52 Mon 23-Dec-24 18:17:55

I feel your pain. We bought our house with kitchen floor tiles that are riven beige. They do hide a certain amount of stains, but the riven texture gathers dirt and to add insult to injury the grouting is recessed, so every little bit sits in it!
I use the Flash floor wipes mop on a daily basis and get down on my knees with a scrubbing brush every so often.
We would replace them, but there’s underfloor heating, so not an easy job. I hate them.

merlotgran Mon 23-Dec-24 18:45:14

Have you tried a scoop full of soda crystals in whatever liquid cleaner you are using? Combined with white vinegar it is a very effective cleaner on most surfaces.

I would test a section first though to make sure it doesn’t make the tiles slippery.

Nannytopsy Mon 23-Dec-24 19:00:38

We have dark grey tiles in all the bathrooms and have exceptionally hard water. We have spent this weekend scrubbing the white marks off with limescale remover and they still need redoing.

Casdon Mon 23-Dec-24 19:31:27

I’d be asking Santa for a robot floor washer I think, at least then you wouldn’t have to do it yourself every day.

LoobbyLoo Mon 23-Dec-24 19:37:00

Have you tried Flash magic sponge or Elbow Grease magic sponge gets all sorts of marks off floors.

MissAdventure Mon 23-Dec-24 19:47:23

I had heavily textured, cream coloured tiles in my kitchen, and I hated them.

They never looked clean.

Skydancer Mon 23-Dec-24 20:53:05

Hmm... well I will certainly try some of the recommended ways that some of you have suggested. I hadn't thought of Soda Crystals but do use them for other things and they are very good. Then, if still not satisfied, I think I'll go for the vinyl option as suggested by a couple of people. Someone asked how often do I clean them. The answer is pretty much every day otherwise they look grubby. Thank you all so much. I can always rely on GN for answers to problems.

Allira Mon 23-Dec-24 20:55:49

Skydancer

Hmm... well I will certainly try some of the recommended ways that some of you have suggested. I hadn't thought of Soda Crystals but do use them for other things and they are very good. Then, if still not satisfied, I think I'll go for the vinyl option as suggested by a couple of people. Someone asked how often do I clean them. The answer is pretty much every day otherwise they look grubby. Thank you all so much. I can always rely on GN for answers to problems.

The trouble is, our ceramic tiles may have to come up before the new flooring goes down.
☹ I shall leave it to the experts to decide.

Whethertomorrow Tue 24-Dec-24 08:54:56

I’ve bought a new rechargeable floor mop. Comes with scouter pads, microfibres pads and a polisher set. Charge lasts for ages. I use any kitchen cleaning spray I can find at the time.

I sit like a lady on a stool directing my ‘maid’ to scrub. I’m disabled and it’s taken out the stress of cleaning my white wood effect tiles floor. I have two cats and it cleans their mess up beautifully.

nanna8 Tue 24-Dec-24 12:28:01

Not my style but one of my daughters makes everyone remove shoes before going into her house. It always looks spotless, including her white tiles.

Allira Tue 24-Dec-24 13:23:27

nanna8

Not my style but one of my daughters makes everyone remove shoes before going into her house. It always looks spotless, including her white tiles.

I remember visiting family in Australia, they had a lovely big house (we'd call it a bungalow here in the UK) and it had pale cream tiles all the way through. She said she was always mopping! They've moved since.

escaped Tue 24-Dec-24 13:30:31

Similarly my friend's mum in France made us all walk round with cloths under our shoes when we visited the house as children. So we were buffing the tiles as we walked about and making them shine. Cheap labour, just a chocolate baguette for payment! 🥖 + 🍫

crazyH Tue 24-Dec-24 13:47:38

I don’t want to rub it in, but I think my kitchen floor tiles are the best ever. It’s matt, it’s got dominant grey with hints of all sorts They’re certainly not gloss - the most dangerous finish for a kitchen floor 😫

crazyH Tue 24-Dec-24 13:50:09

skydancer if your kitchen is tiny, why don’t you have them retired ? I believe you can tile over the existing tile. Just a thought.

crazyH Tue 24-Dec-24 13:50:32

Retiled

Witzend Tue 24-Dec-24 14:00:42

Since it’s a small space, I’d just call it a day and put a cushioned vinyl on top.

Witzend Tue 24-Dec-24 14:01:43

Witzend

Since it’s a small space, I’d just call it a day and put a cushioned vinyl on top.

Oops, one like mine - quite light but the cunning markings mean it never looks dirty even when it’s not exactly pristine!

MissAdventure Tue 24-Dec-24 15:20:23

I put vinyl down over mine.
It was making my life a misery, and becoming an almost unhealthy obsession.

Luckygirl3 Tue 24-Dec-24 16:08:00

Just don't look at them close up ... problem solved. Honestly life is just too short to be crawling round the floor looking for dirt. Chill man...

Luckygirl3 Tue 24-Dec-24 16:09:33

I've got cream floor tiles ... I doubt they are perfectly clean. That get a bit of a clean once a week ... in between I live my life and just let it be.

rafichagran Tue 24-Dec-24 16:23:01

I have light kitchen flooring, I use a steam mop and they look clean. I think they add light and a feeling of space to the kitchen which is quite a good size.

karmalady Tue 24-Dec-24 16:42:28

Have the tiles been sealed? Many floor tiles are porous and will absorb dirt, look dirty ever after

Skydancer Tue 24-Dec-24 18:57:12

karmalady

Have the tiles been sealed? Many floor tiles are porous and will absorb dirt, look dirty ever after

No, Karmalady, they haven’t been sealed. We are planning to do that in the hope that things will improve!

Skydancer Tue 24-Dec-24 18:58:37

Witzend

Since it’s a small space, I’d just call it a day and put a cushioned vinyl on top.

May well do this, Witzend. Yours looks good.