All rights reserved. I have a Ho

All rights reserved. I have a Hoover electric cleaner for flat floors. That said, there are different types of porcelain tile (unpolished/ unglazed,polished/ glazed, or textured) and for each type, a different set of specifics applies: While porcelain tile boasts exceptional durability, there are few products and techniques you should take pains to avoid: Regular cleaning and polishingwith a soft cotton or microfiber cloth will ensure that porcelain tile retains its like new shine for many years. It requires you to clean it more frequently and do it in a specified manner. To clean porcelain tiles, start by going over them with a dust mop or vacuum to remove any dust and debris. Go over the clean porcelain tile floor with a damp mop. Garage Floor Resurfacing: Fix a Pitted Garage Floor, How to Remove Paint from Concrete and Other Stains, Clean Garage Floors Remove Oil Stains From Concrete, How to Clean Carpet: Cleaning Tips for Long Lasting Carpet, How to Get Red Wine, Coffee & Tomato Sauce Stains Out of Carpet, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), North American Tile Cleaning Organization. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. When heavy-duty grout cleaning is required, you will need to use a professional strength tile and grout cleaner that is capable of removing grease, soap scum, oils, mildew stains, algae, and synthetic or acrylic waxes from the grout joints. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Grout stains are epoxy-based products that are specifically designed to penetrate into the grout and seal the surface with a permanent color. Do not use agents that contain any dyes or colors on unglazed porcelain til. Never use steel wool to clean porcelain tilesmallparticles of steel can become embedded in the tile and grout, eventually causing rust stains. Vacuum and sweep the area thoroughly to remove dust and dirt. Picking the right tile should not be difficult. If you have pets or a large family, you may need to sweep more often to keep the floor clean. All Rights Reserved. To clean polished porcelain tiles, follow these steps: Textured porcelain tiles have a slightly uneven surface, giving them a more natural stone look and feel. First of all, follow the instructions above and find the best method to clean the particular stain. Mop the floor and let it sit for five to ten minutes. Never use steel wool on the tiles to clean up spills or to remove stains. Sealers should be reapplied regularly to grout (glazed tile does not need to be sealed). Porcelain tiles offer a resilient, hard-wearing finish for your floors. You can also try a steam cleaner if you want a more thorough clean. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Never use bleach since it can affect the color of your grout. Please contact an installation product manufacturer directly, prior to usage, to obtain proper handling instructions, application instruction and warnings concerning potential health hazards for any product contemplated for use. Knowing these technical details can help you make the best choice when selecting tile. That way, you can make sure you've picked up all the dirt from all the cracks and crevices. Rinse and dry thoroughly. It requires more specialized cleaning and maintenance than tile. Reapply if necessary until sealer softens and can be removed by wiping off with a cotton towel or sponge. For these and other important issues, here are steps to clean porcelain til surfaces. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. How to Clean Ceramic Tile Floors With Vinegar, How to Clean Grout With Hydrogen Peroxide. This article was co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH. Troy Cantini is also the owner of Prestige Tile Care based in Seattle WA. You can also open windows in the room and use a fan to dry the floor. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Amy won the Digital Journalist of the Year award at the AOP Awards in 2019 for her work on womanandhome.com. Rub the cheesecloth over the tiles in circular motions to buff them. Heres why you can trust us. I was told not to use vinegar because it would hurt the grout. Do not use steel wool pads, because the loose steel particles may cause rust stains in the grout. Spread the cleaning solution across the entire floor. You should also make sure there are felt pads on the bottom of the legs of any furniture. You can look for commercial cleaner at your local hardware store or in the cleaning aisle. Do not use ammonia, bleach or acid-based cleaners on unpolished porcelain tile, as this can cause discoloration. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. % of people told us that this article helped them. If porcelain surfaces are exposed to permanent marker or dye, rinse the area with water as soon as possible then apply approved cleaning product. Rinse the area with hot water and dry it with your towel or microfiber cloth. Make sure you follow the correct method for cleaning your floor, so you don't damage the porcelain in the process. Make sure you sweep in the corners and between tiles. We have outlined key information to help. Only clean the affected area. To remove sealers, waxes and other floor finishes from porcelain tile or countertops, use a tile sealer and adhesive remover. For that reason, Cantini says its critical to test a cleaning product on out-of-the-way tiles before using it to make sure your scrub pads dont scratch the tiles and the cleaners wont damage or discolor them., Cantini recommends starting with a soft, nonabrasive scrub pad and a good-quality alkaline cleaner like StoneTechs KlenzAll to emulsify and dissolve dirt, grease and grime. Choose products that are compatible with your grout to avoid damage or discoloration of the grout. Why should you choose porcelain tiles for your home? Thank you! Apply a stone and tile cleaning solution combined with hot water to any stains on unpolished porcelain tile. For stains, use a vinegar-and-watermixture (or a commercial cleanser diluted to half strength). This can be done daily by using a vacuum cleaner, or it can be swept away. Check that there are no water spots or puddles on the floor. Keep working in small areas until your entire floor or wall is sparkling clean. 5 - Get rid of stubborn stains with gentle chemical use Following the above guidelines will give your porcelain tiled floor the best protection it can get, and keep it looking its best. For everyday cleaning of porcelain tiles, just use warm water and a mop. Regular use of corrosive chemicals can erode the surface of the tile, and increase its water absorption rate. For floors, place rugs near doors or high traffic areas to protect your floor and keep dirt at a minimum. Any suggestions? This will prevent dirt and grit from being tracked inside, and possibly ground into the tile. If you still see smudges, swipe marks or a hazy appearance, its probably a grout haze leftover from the tile installation. In that case, he suggests using an acidic cleaner, such as StoneTechs Restore, which will safely remove grout haze from tiles that are not sensitive to acid. For a more natural approach, mop unpolished porcelain tile with a solution made of ¼ cup white vinegar to 2 gallons water. Glazed porcelain typically has a complex design or veining pattern that only happens with a baked-on glaze finish, says tile cleaning expert Troy Cantini. Do not use cleaning products that contain acids or ammonia (and other harsh chemicals) as these can damage grout and glazed surfaces of the tile. Sand and feldspar are added to create a denser tile, which is stronger and absorbs less moisture. You will need to use different approaches depending on the type of tile you are cleaning. You can cleanporcelain til with a damp sponge mop and a solution of 1/4 cup of white vinegar to 2 gallons of water. Do not stay long on one spot, as this could damage your tile. Did you know, you can now order full-size samples of our porcelain paving? If you want to learn techniques for cleaning textured tiles, keep reading the article! Haze is a film that is left behind on the tile after it has been grouted. For porcelain tile floors, consider adding floor mats near doors or heavy traffic areas, so you have less mess to clean up. For cleaning textured surfaces, follow these instructions: To keep your porcelain til floors in tip top shape, also follow these tips: Hi, We just purchased a home with VRD08 Retro Bianca Porcelain floor tiles 24 x 24. Rinse with plain water, then dry the surface completely with a clean towel or a microfiber cloth. This will also prevent dirt from being ground in, which makes it more difficult to remove. This can be purchased from most home centers or through your local professional floor covering dealer. Troy Cantini has been in the tile and grout cleaning and restoration business for over 20 years. Donna Boyle Schwartz, Bob Vila, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, Looks Like Luxury: Imitate Any Material with Tile, Just Floored! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Clean-Porcelain-Tiles-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Porcelain-Tiles-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Clean-Porcelain-Tiles-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid6785833-v4-728px-Clean-Porcelain-Tiles-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"