In cold countries, tiles are normally used in wet areas, like bathrooms, kitchens and entrances, because they are so easy to clean. But, in tropical and sub-tropical countries, tiles are the natural choice because of their beauty, versatility and cool appeal. Of course, whatever your reason to put tiles on your floor, keeping them clean is as important as if you had carpet or wood floor. The floor is your interface with the outside world and, through the floor, outside germs and bacteria find their way into our lives. This is especially true if you have small children and pets. They spend a lot of time on the floor; they are short and closer to the dirt, so they are most affected if the tiles are not clean. It does not matter that they are the ones that brought the dirt in the first place.

Why have tiles?

Tiles are beautiful. They are very pleasant to walk on bare foot; they are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They come in endless varieties, materials, sizes, patterns and colors. Most importantly, they are easy to clean.

Whatever material they are made of, tiles can be glazed or unglazed. The glazing not only affects their look, but their resistance and the way we clean them. Unglazed tiles are porous and the dirt and stains can penetrate them, changing their color and affecting them permanently. Glazed tiles are easier to maintain, but the shine is not to everyone’s taste, and they do get slippery when wet. So, they are not good for the floor, but they look great on bathroom walls, and they are a breeze to clean.

Tiles also can be textured, giving the impression of three dimensions, and look very classy and luxurious. They bring to mind old Spanish patios and colonnaded passages with a fountain in the middle. For the everyday homeowner, textured tiles mean cleaning problems. The dirt gets trapped in the indentations in the tiles, and there is no other way to clean them but on your knees, with a brush and a scrubber.

Grout is the space between the tiles, which keeps them together, working like a frame on the painting, but also as a dirt-collector. Fortunately, grout now comes colored, so it can be made to look exactly like the tile. It also can be sealed, so that the dirt does not accumulate in grout grooves.

Mosaic tiles are very fashionable option, although it has been around for thousands of years. Old mosaic floors are very valuable and need to be preserved just like a beautiful antique carpet.

Choosing the tile for your floor is very much a matter of taste and the intended use. But, before choosing the type of tiles to put on the floor, you have to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. The tiles might be easy to clean, but each type has its own needs and before installing them, it is good idea to learn the properties of your tiles and how to make them clean and beautiful for the longest time.

If you are interested in the professional tile cleaning and you live in Calgary, contact Oxy-Genie green cleaning. You will get the professional service from a reputable company that is using only natural product, to protect your home and the environment.