Something that will SCRUB the floor clean

[MerryGrimaceShake]

When we moved into our new place a couple of months ago it was clear the Landlord had done the bare minimum cleaning, and we didn't have time to get a cleaner in to gut the place. One of my biggest problem spots is the kitchen floor. The tiles are shite and have uneven markings by design where crap seems to love collecting, and don't get me started on the bogging grout. I have a vileda spin mop and a steamer but until the decent "groundwork" clean is done all these do is move dirt around, no matter how many "Mop the foor, change the mop head" rounds I do.

I've gotten on my hands and knees and scrubbed some of the problem areas but my kitchen is huge and my back is old. I need something that will do all of the hard work for me while I swish it around. I've looked at the electric mops that promise to scrub to like-new but I always prefer real world recommendations to random, possibly fake/paid reviewers.

It doesn't even have to be electric, I just want something that works.

Nothing that you haven't already done. Hands n knees is always best with multiple cloth changes. The electric rotating mops are useless. Standard mops are good only for a swipe round and a freshen up. Steam mops are OK but you still have to keep changing and rinsing out the pads. The only other thing to try is a Bissel crosswave or the new Dyson submarine but that's £800!!

Get some astonish degreaser. Wet the floor with the mop then spray it all over. Leave for 5 mins then mop again. Works like magic!

If what you have already tried hasn't helped I think it will have to be hand scrubbed I'm afraid. I wouldnt bother buying another device. My kitchen floor is a nightmare too. It's big, uneven cream tiles and cream grout! With a big family and pets, it takes a beating. I've tried every device going! I now use a spin mop daily and a steam cleaner once per week. I also use a Mr Siga long handled grout brush. Even with that routine, I still have to hand scrub it a couple of times a year. You can buy long handled floor scrubbing brushes to save you being on hands and knees.

There are companies who clean and seal the floor for you. If might be worth phoning around and getting some quotes.

Hire a cleaner to do a one off hands on scrubbing deep clean?

Scrub but with a stiff broom to save your back.

No personal recs but I'd ask at a tool hire place. I bet they'd have some sort of commercial floor scrubber machine.

A long handled scrubbing brush is what you need. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Newthinking-Scrubbing-Squeegee-Adjustable-20-49inch/dp/B09Z6F5331/ref=ascdffB09Z6F5331/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5864109970069576253&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9193969&hvtargid=pla-2281435178818&psc=1&mcid=34036c298ef93e18aef4955e30c2347d&hvocijid=5864109970069576253-B09Z6F5331-&hvexpln=74&gadsource=1#immersive-vieww1729425690334

We have a similar issue, Kardean floor so not supposed to use a steam mop.
It is wood effect so has ridges and the dirt goes in despite mopping twice a week
We've had the crosswave - meh, maybe if you use from new but it didn't lift the dirt for us
We now have the submarine and it's great for keeping on top, not for a deep clean

All I can say is nail brush and doing small bits at a time. It sucks

Bleach. A professional cleaner did a similar situation in 30 mins with neat bleach and a mop and buckets of fresh water.

Test the neat bleach first, though should be fine on tiles.

Get a professional in as they will have the machinery to do the grunt work

Haven't rtft but you can buy a grout brush on a long handle (like a sweeping brush), much easier on the back, got mine off Amazon

Totally agree. I have a slate kitchen floor and I had the same problem getting it totally agree. Then ds2, who works part time as a kitchen porter, cleaned it by wetting it with tile cleaner and then scrubbing it with a stiff brush. What a difference! He said that's how they cleaned the floor at work.

Professionals sweep away or vacuum off all loose dirt first. Then, assuming the floor is waterproof, they flood the floor with diluted cleaning product - protect adjacent floors first, old towels make a good "dam" - then they agitate (scrub about a bit) the cleaning solution, then they remove the now dirty water with a wet and dry vac or mop, and repeat as necessary. If you've ever had a washing machine or dishwasher flood, you'll know how well this method works!

Thank you all for the feedback, especially around the electric mops. I won't waste my money in that case!

I'm just sick of my socks sticking to the floor a day after i've scrubbed the place, and the grout just makes it look disgusting. I am going to give the whole kitchen a proper deep clean this week so I Will grab a scrubbing brush and grout brush, some bleach and try the flood method. If that fails i'll get the degreaser you suggested @whoami24601 and give that a go, and if nothing works i'll a proper cleaner in to the job.

@TheNuthatch your floor sounds just like mine, with lots of kids and pets roaming through all the time too 😁I am thankful mine isn't cream though, the black at least matches the grim looking grout.

I have a stone tiled cream floor all throughout downstairs, with a light grey grout. Plus two dogs.

Every six months I do the floor deep clean, it's hard but it does last, and just requires a surface clean with a mop regularly.

For the deep clean I buy a good few bottles of Astonish Mould Spray, and empty them out on the floor, leave it to soak in for 15 mins, then I use a cordless drill with a cleaning brush head attached and whizz over the floor, then I have two buckets of water and a mop. Mop up the grim and liquid, wash the mop in one water and squidge it out, then use the clean water to do a proper mop after to make sure all the chemicals are up so the dogs are safe.

It's a back breaker and takes me 1-2hrs but the space is huge and it's worth it in my opinion.

I've had all the cleaning brushes, electric brushes and none of them work like my drill and cleaning bit attachment.

I've had all the cleaning brushes, electric brushes and none of them work like my drill and cleaning bit attachment.

I can recommend this but I'm up for someone's suggestion as to how to reduce the spin out of grime as this is what stops me from using this method more.

I'd say a stiff broom and some industrial strength cleaning solution. Then one of those brushes you attach to a drill, on your knees but at least you don't have to scrub.

I find it good when using on the floor but terrible on wall tiles, all the solution just disappears and you're basically polishing dirt.

If it's an issue on the floor I guess you could cut a hole in a small tub to put over it, or just a towel in a u shape that you move along with you.

There is no substitute for good hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush on your hands and knees, then maintaining it with a steam mop. Be careful of bleach on some times.

Personally I would have a cleaner do a one off deep clean.

I have a shark scrub and steam mop, which is great for getting up stubborn marks off hard floors, the heads rotate and you feel it does do a proper good clean, but my floors have never been hugely filthy to begin with, so it depends what you're working with! If it's that bad, I'd say you need to just get down with a stiff bristle brush and maybe just do section by section, knowing once it's done, it will be worth it and then a regular clean will keep on top of it.

A scrubbing brush attachment for a drill works well if on hands and knees but it's still back breaking but does it faster than by hand

It is for all the reasons above that I %@ing hate tiles. The only solution I have found is to do a hands and knees job every month and lower my standards for the rest of the time using an electric spin mop. I have found Everbuild Forever White good for reviving the grout but it does wear off after a few months on areas that get a lot of mopping.

My cleaner got a big tub of bicarbonate & sprinkled everywhere, then sploshed white vinegar all over. Then mixed it all.
then She filled a bucket with very hot water & Savon de Marseille & scrubbed with stiff bristled brush. & left it to soak.
She scrubbed hard on the joints.
Then she mopped hard. & rinsed using plenty of buckets new hot water.
She did this once a week.
It got every single mark out including the black joints
(My terra cotta floor had been treated with oil, & washed with linseed oil soap, it went from dark brown to pale red !)

Dampen
Sprinkle with biological washing powder
Hands and knees and scrubbing I'm afraid

Scrub with Ciff cream cleaner then mop with really hot water and washing up liquid like Fairy or whatever.