Having a smooth and glossy finish, being flexible and durable, and most of all very affordable, tile flooring is now a huge flooring trend for homes. But to maintain its shine and smoothness, you must need frequent clean-ups. Although we all know that a vacuum cleaner is the best cleaning tool to clean anything from hardwood floors to clean rugs and carpets, the biggest question that comes to mind is: Do Vacuums Work on Tiles?
Yes, you can definitely use a vacuum cleaner on tiles. But wait, using a too harsh vacuum can damage your tile floor. So, here we are with this guide to help you figure out whether a vacuum cleaner will be effective in cleaning tile flooring and how to use it properly. Let us know everything in detail…
Firstly,
Why Do You Need a Vacuum Cleaner for Cleaning Tiles?
To begin with, if you have the option of using a broom, steam mop, or regular floor cleaning mop to clean tile floors, then why would you need a vacuum cleaner.
Your tile floor is a statement of style and sophistication that is seldom given the attention it deserves. But there is a fact too, that tile floors grab mud, dust, debris, and stains, fairly easily than rugs, carpets, or other floor types. That’s why they need to be cleaned more frequently.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to stay dirty and grungy – the best way to take care of it is with a vacuum cleaner as the regular floor cleaning mops and brooms will not give the best cleaning results. Moreover, there are other reasons too, why you opt for a vacuum cleaner for cleaning tiles.
So, the next question comes,
Is It Better to Sweep or Vacuum Tile Floors?
Vacuuming is far better than sweeping tile floors. Here are the reasons:
Vacuuming is Easier And Faster
Why do you need to lift your finger if a machine can do it effortlessly for you? Sweeping and mopping can take a lot of manual effort, but vacuuming makes it easier. Vacuuming can wipe away the dirt off more effectively than normal sweeping and brooming. Even more, emptying the dust container of a vacuum is far easier than using a dustpan. So, isn’t it convenient?
Similarly, vacuuming is quicker and faster than sweeping. It is due to the vacuum’s suction power, which pulls dirt into the vacuum instead of pushing it away. Additionally, dust is collected in the dirt cup of the vacuum, so you do not have to scoop it up.
Vacuuming Offers Cleaning Versatility
A broom is always just a normal broom, no matter what bristles, design, or length it has; just used for simple sweeping.
But, since there are different types of vacuums, each with different functions and cleaning versatility, suction capability, and power, so you can choose preferably that works best for your cleaning needs.
For exp, they come with adjustable suction power settings, so you set the desired setting according to your cleaning needs.
Even though some vacuums are designed to remove dry dirt only, there are wet and dry vacuums to handle wet and dry messes on tile floorings.
Vacuuming is More Effective
The suction they use is typically more stronger than your manual effort. It can even clean the places where your regular broom can’t reach.
Vacuums can also clean dust embedded in corners and tiles grouting more perfectly. They also come with specialized attachments and accessories to give you an impeccable cleaning experience.
Lastly, the vacuums come with special filters; some even come with advanced HEPA Filters that trap dirt and allergens and reduce the chances of their releasing back into the air.
Pro-Tip
Make your work easier by using a lightweight vacuum. Lighter and more powerful vacuums will require less effort on your part.
What Type Of Vacuum is Best For Tiles Cleaning?
Vacuum cleaners should be used cautiously on tile because these floorings are delicate. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right type of vacuum cleaner for tile cleaning.
Upright Vacuums
In general, upright vacuums are the most popular and can work well on hardwood floors as long as they have soft bristles or have the option to turn off the brush roll.
Keep in mind, the vacuum with a too-harsh brush can lead to scratches on tile, stone, or wooden flooring. So, before choosing an upright vacuum specifically for cleaning hardwood floors, make sure it has a brush roll-on/off switch or is specifically designed for cleaning tile floors.
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums work fine on tile flooring as long as you use the right attachment with it. Make sure to choose the one that comes with a soft roller brush if you want to use it for cleaning tile floors.
Stick Vacuums
Stick vacuums are another best choice for cleaning hardwood floors. The reason is their self-adjusting heads and handy attachments that allow you to use them accordingly for different cleaning needs. Some stick vacuums are available in cordless variants too, so you can easily clean the tiled area where you lack the power source.
Handheld Vacuum
A handheld vacuum is also best for cleaning tiled areas, but it needs much more time to clean than the above-mentioned variants of vacuum cleaners.
Robotic Vacuum
Robotic vacuums are very trendy nowadays due to their self-driven features. Well, they are multi-floor machines that work best on different types of flooring, including tile, ceramic, granite, carpet, etc.
The best part is that they come with brushes that adjust to your floors accordingly. It automatically senses your tile flooring and switches to a softer brush and less intense suction to clean them.
What to Keep in Mind While Choosing The Best Vacuum for Tiles?
You may not get tile-only vacuums as the appliance is meant for different cleaning purposes. Choosing the right vacuum is fairly not easy. Whatever vacuum you choose, make sure to consider the following factors to clean tiles specifically.
Brush Roll ON/OFF
Brush roll plays an important role in cleaning different surfaces. However, keep In mind that a spinning brush roll with stiff bristles is not good for tile floors as it can cause scratches or damage your tile flooring.
To clean tile floors, make sure that the vacuum has a soft roller brush that cleans the tile flooring smoothly without any damage. Many smart vacuum cleaners also have the adjustable brush control option, so you can choose the soft mode for hardwood floors or stiff mode for cleaning rugs and carpets.
Some models also have the ON/OFF switch to control brush roll, so you can switch it off when cleaning tile floors or other hardwood floorings.
Tile Type
Tile flooring comes in different varieties, including glazed and unglazed. Glazed tiles are coated with glass-forming minerals and come in a matte, semi-gloss, or high-gloss finish. Therefore, cleaning them is too easy. So, you don’t need to buy a vacuum with too much high suction power, as only simple vacuuming can remove dirt and debris lying on its surface.
On the other hand, unglazed tiles soil easily and require strong suction to remove dirt from their surface. So, for cleaning these types of tiles, you may need a vacuum that offers powerful suction. These types of tile floors also require wet mopping often for best cleaning results. In such a case, we recommend you invest in a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
Grout Lines
Cleaning the grout line is one of the toughest parts of tile flooring. It is because they accumulate a large amount of dirt, which firmly settles on them. Therefore, you need a vacuum with high suction that can efficiently clean the settled dust on the grout lines.
Cleaning Versatility
Whenever you choose a vacuum for cleaning tile floors, ensure that it comes with enough accessories to improve your cleaning reach. It may also fulfill the cleaning needs of challenging spots like crevices, narrow gaps, edges and corners, under furniture, etc. In addition, if you have pets, choose the best pet hair vacuum that can easily pick up their fur.
Wheels
To avoid scratching or damage to your tile flooring, it is best to choose a vacuum cleaner that comes with rubberized wheels. These are soft and gentle on the tiles and won’t scratch or damage them. Another thing is that tile flooring is usually slippery; therefore, non-rubber wheels would make moving your vacuum around difficult.
Steaming and Mopping
The vacuum with steam and mopping function allows vacuuming and sanitizing the floor with the same appliance. It prevents dust from spreading around and makes your floor fully clean and hygienic.
Read Next: Vacuum Vs. Broom – Which Is the Best Cleaning Tool?