Floor tiles are a great floor for hard service areas, such as kitchens, foyers, bathrooms, patios, and sunrooms. You might find, however, that the joints and grouting between them easily cracks or gets full of dirt. For this reason, it is a good idea to coat these joints with surface filler once in a while.

If you are concerned about the slippery qualities of tile or the effects of water, you can buy waterproof and slip-resistant varieties that will make them an easier type of flooring to use.

For all the same reasons that you may buy tiles for the floor, you may also be interested in a stone floor. One of the most popular, natural stone floors is marble. This soft stone may be prone to scratches, however, so it is a good idea to use an effective stone sealer to protect it. Again, stone floors come in all different natural colors, giving any room a cool, Mediterranean flavor.

So how do you keep tile or stone floors clean?

First of all, there are the substances that should be avoided. Although marble is a hardy kind of material, certain substances, such as lemon juice, acid, vinegar, or ammonia can cause damage. So you should avoid using any kind of cleaning fluid containing these ingredients. In fact, one of the best ways to keep stone or marble floors looking clean is to use nothing more abrasive than warm water and a drop of a neutral pH detergent or even liquid soap.

Apart from washing the floor, another way to look after it is by adopting clean habits. You can prevent damage to the floor by sweeping every day and using a vacuum cleaner. However, try to make sure that your vacuum cleaner is not the kind that would scratch the floors and has the right kind of attachments. Also be very careful when moving furniture around that you don’t drag it, as this can also cause scratches. Whenever something gets spilled on the floor, wipe it up quickly. Waiting till dirt dries and gets crusty will make it harder to clean and could also cause scratches if it is something that is difficult to remove.

There are many advantages to having a stone or tiled floor. As we have seen, it is not so difficult to keep clean. In fact, adopting the habits mentioned above will only help you hone your housekeeping skills, making your home a more tidy and pleasant place in general.