As with all flooring, the best care is regular care.  Sweep or vacuum your ceramic tile floors at least once a week, more often if it gets regular use.  Dust and lint can evolve into grime if they are not promptly removed, especially in areas where there is moisture.

Since ceramic tile is often used in “wet” areas of the home, it is likely that it will be subject to different spills and spots.  Simple washing or mopping with hot water and a mild household detergent should wipe away anything that finds its way to your ceramic floors.  The hot water helps loosen any dirt that collects in the spill, and the detergent lifts any oily substance on the floor.  If a “once-over” is not enough to remove all of the spill, try a second pass over the floor with a sponge or mop.  If the spill remains stubborn, you can use a soft brush or synthetic scouring pad to loosen the spot, but do not use steel wool or a metal brush, as these may scratch the surface of the tiles.

After washing a ceramic tile floor, be sure to thoroughly rinse the floor with clean water.  This will remove any detergent residue from setting and attracting more dirt to your floor.

Occasionally, a tough stain will appear on a ceramic tile floor, especially floors with unglazed tiles, but these stains can also be easily removed.  Prepare a paste of scouring powder and water, and firmly rub it onto the stain.  Allow the paste to sit for at least 5 minutes, and then scrub it away with a soft brush or synthetic scouring pad.  Repeat the process until the stain is completely gone, and then thoroughly wash and rinse the floor.

The incidence of difficult stains on ceramic tiles is rare; its durability and imperviousness to stains is one of its great appeals, and regular cleaning will eliminate most of the stains on your floor.  But should your tile or grout become a tougher cleaning problem, these simple methods should return your tile floor to its original beauty.