Are you looking for the best way to clean your brick floors? Read on to find out the best tips on getting rid of that grit lodged into your floor's grout lines.
How to Clean Brick Floors (Indoors and Outdoors)
This is a step-by-step guide on how to clean brick floors indoors and outdoors.
Step 1: Remove Dust from Brick Floors
Take a broom and sweep away all the dust from the brick floors area where you plan to work. Sweep the entire room. If necessary, vacuum the whole house. Sweeping and vacuuming help get rid of tiny particles of dust stuck between the bricks.
Step 2: Prepare Your Mops and Bucket of Solution
Take two buckets; one for dirty water and another for clean water. Fill both buckets with hot tap water. Add two tablespoons of liquid dish detergent to create a thick paste. Make sure the liquid detergent is enough.
Stir vigorously using an old toothbrush. This will help dissolve the detergent so that can apply it evenly across the floor. Pour out the dirty water and replace it with fresh cold water.
Mix two tablespoons of the cleaning solution again, and stir vigorously. It's important to go thoroughly.
Step 3: Apply Floor Solutions Using a Wet Sponge
Wet sponges are ideal tools for applying solutions to use on brick floors. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and effective.
However, it would help if you used them while wet. Dry sponges do not pick up sufficient amounts of cleaning solution.
For best results, sponge the floor in sections rather than covering large areas. Work slowly and carefully. Move around frequently to avoid getting splashed. Wipe in circles, moving outward from the center.
Step 4: Dry the Area Completely
Use newspaper or paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Do not leave damp areas on the walls or furniture. And make sure there is no more grit.
How to Clean Brick Floors With a Mop?
We refer to this technique as "wet mopping" which uses any type of damp mop. It's one of the best cleaning methods that guarantee perfect brick flooring.
The first step in cleaning your floors is to prepare them properly. You need to remove all dirt and stains from the surface.
If there is too much dust on the floor, you'll end up spreading more dust onto the floor. So make sure that everything is cleaned off well before starting to wipe down the floor.
Now, you want to take some warm water and pour it into the bucket. Then add about one cup of liquid dish soap per gallon of water. Next, put the lid back on the bucket and shake it hard until the mixture becomes foamy.
Once the foam starts forming, you're ready to begin applying the solution to the floor.
To apply the cleaning solution, dip the mop head into the bucket. Now squeeze as much of the solution through the bristles as possible. Make sure not to drip any of the cleaning solutions directly onto the floor.
Can You Vacuum Bricks?
Yes, you can vacuum bricks! If your house has hardwood floors then you probably already know how to vacuum those. They are easy to clean.
The secret is to make sure there's no dust trapped between the fibers of the material. That is, when you try to vacuum it, all you end up doing is pulling more dirt into the machine. It makes cleaning hard.
Therefore, get down where the dust tends to accumulate. Then go back and forth until everything looks good. Carry on mopping until you're satisfied.
How to Steam Clean Brick Floors?
When steam cleaning brick floors, you need a good steamer. The most important thing is safety, especially if there are children around.
That's why it's recommendable using a commercial steam cleaner. This comes with useful accessories like beater bars and a dusting nylon brush. It guarantees safety when steam cleaning your brick floors.
Steam cleaners work well on grout lines. This is as long as the steam pressure isn't too high or the temperature is set too low.
How to clean unsealed brick floors?
What exactly is an unsealed brick floor? It refers to a type of flooring made by laying mortar-less blocks directly onto a subfloor. It's completed without installing a layer of adhesive underlayment. We do this using either ammonia or white vinegar.
White vinegar works great at removing grease, dirt, mildew, mold, odors, and bacteria. When two tablespoons are mixed with hot water, it dissolves oil spills quickly. But, if you combine it with cold water, it becomes cloudy.
Apply the mixture of a cup of vinegar to the entire affected area and allow it to soak in for 30 seconds. This is meant to act as a sealer to the affected area.
Now, rinse away all excess moisture with lukewarm water. Allow the surface to dry naturally. Once dry, buff lightly with a microfiber cloth.
You may use 1 part water to 2 parts ammonia to clean most types of unsealed brick floors. If you want to do deep cleaning, add 3 cups of warm water to 4 cups of ammonia.
Mix thoroughly and apply evenly across the area you're cleaning. Make sure the solution is well-sealed into the brick cracks.
Does Brick Floor Need to Be Sealed?
Brick floors are porous, so they need to have some protection applied over them. It helps prevent stains from getting sealed and lodged into the bricks.
Natural aging will cause your brick floor to darken over time. Foot traffic causes problems like cracking, chipping, peeling, warping, and discoloration. These issues need professional repair services.
The best way to protect your brick floor is to install an epoxy coating. It provides long-lasting protection against both weather conditions and foot traffic. Epoxies come in several different colors and finishes.
How to Clean Brick Patio Floors?
To clean the patio floor first:
- Brush it off to get rid of dirt, grit, and debris.
- Take the pressure washer and spray out the patio floor.
- Use a wide setting, and finally, use a pointed nozzle to get into tight corners.
When everything is dry, use a broom to do your sweeping all over the patio floor to pick up all the dirt and grit. After that, you can use an electric broom or vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and lose stains. Once everything is dry and removed, you can then wipe the patio floor with a damp cloth.
Weekly Cleaning for Brick Floor
For a clean brick floor, it's best to mop the floor every week. There are different methods to use. It can be a cleaning solution (e.g. baking soda), sweeping, or vacuuming.
The hard part of cleaning brick floors is the grout. To clean, use a soft nylon brush. You damp it using a cleaning solution of warm water and a small amount of dishwashing detergent.
Clean and dry the grout surface of your brick. A shiny surface and deep rich color are the results of years of natural patina aging. Use a damp mop for spills and to remove dust.
FAQs
How do you deep clean a brick floor?
When deep cleaning your brick floors, you need the right equipment. Then go with this with the best stain removal solution such as a baking soda or ammonia acid. You can start by mopping the bricks, then use cleaning solutions to wipe off the grit and stain. Then dry it up.
Are brick floors easy to clean?
It's easy to clean as long as you focus more on cleaning the grout lines. These are usually hard-to-reach regions on your brick floors where lots of dirt gets stuck.
Do a weekly mop cleaning to make sure your brick flooring is clean. Without proper brick floor maintenance, you risk having a patio full of dirt and grit.
Other than mopping your brick floors, you can use a commercial steamer. It is very effective in removing stains. Once your floor brick is clean and dry, you can seal the brick line by filling it with grout.
Will a Cup of vinegar damage bricks?
No. You need to use the right amount of vinegar solution. It's not as dangerous as using acid to clean brick floors. It also depends on how old your bricks are. If the bricks are too old, then it's advisable to use alternatives like baking soda.
Are brick floors hard to maintain?
If your house surfaces are made of bricks, you need the best floors how to clean them. The tricky part is always getting rid of grit lodged between the bricks.
Although using a damp mop is effective, you still need deeper cleaning ways to clean out the stains. For example, you can use vinegar, baking soda, and acid solutions to clean out the bricks.
What is the disadvantage of brick flooring?
The downside to brick flooring has to deal with lots of stain issues. It requires constant maintenance. To better clean the surfaces, you'll perhaps need a commercial steamer. The machine is very effective.
Other methods like using white vinegar, ammonia acid, and baking soda are effective.
Conclusion
Whenever you're doing brick floor cleaning, there are many methods to use. As you've read, you can use cleaning solutions (e.g., baking soda), ammonia acids, or steamers.
Also, it's always best to focus on grout sealer. It should come in handy once you've made sure the brick flooring is clean enough. This guarantees a long-lasting floor.