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Some
simple steps will maintain the beauty of your tile.
Handy
Guide to Easy Tile Care
| Type
of Tile/Usage |
Routine
Cleaning |
Heavy
Duty Cleaning |
| Glazed
walls/countertops |
Wipe
with damp cloth or sponge using all-purpose cleaner. Use
window cleaner for glossy surfaces. Wipe dry with cloth. |
Clean
with scouring powder, commercial tile cleaner, or all-purpose cleaner
using non-metallic scouring pad or very fine grade stainless steel
pad. Rinse and wipe dry. |
| Glazed
tile floors |
Vacuum
regularly to remove gritty particles. Damp mop using solution
of water and "soapless detergent. |
Use
a commercial tile cleaner or a strong solution of water and "soapless" detergent. If
stained, use scouring powder paste. Let stand for five minutes,
brush and scrub. Rinse and dry. For large areas and for areas that
are difficult to clean, a power scrubber is recommended. |
| Glazed
Tile Showers |
Use
all-purpose or bathroom cleaner. Allow to stand for five
minutes rinse and dry. May also use a mixture of equal parts
water and white vinegar or a commercial tile cleaner. |
Use
chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide1. For stubborn
stains, use scouring powder containing a bleaching agent. Let
stand four to six minutes, then scrub and rinse thoroughly. To
remove mildew, use a commercial tile cleaner, chlorine bleach or
ammonia(1). DO NOT MIX. |
| Unglazed
tile walls |
Sponge
with a diluted solution of water and "soapless" detergent. |
Use
scouring powder paste. Let stand for five minutes, then scour
with brush. Rinse and wipe dry. |
| Unglazed
tile floors |
Vacuum
regularly to remove gritty particles. Damp mop or sponge with water
and/or a diluted solution of water and "soapless" detergent. |
Use
scouring powder paste. Let stand for five minutes, then scour
with brush. Rinse and wipe dry. A small brush is suitable
for small floors; consider a scrubbing machine for larger areas. |
| Natural
Porcelain/Semi-Polished Porcelain* |
Vacuum
regularly to remove gritty particles. Damp mop using a solution
of water and "soapless detergent", rinse and then wipe
dry. |
Use
scouring powder paste. Let stand for five minutes, then scour
with brush. Rinse and wipe dry. A small brush is suitable
for small floors; consider a scrubbing machine for larger areas. |
| Commercial
Applications |
For
smaller commercial areas, vacuum regularly to remove gritty particles. Using
a "soapless detergent", scrub with an inexpensive nylon
brush (such as a "Doodle Bug"). Follow by using
a dry/wet vac to remove water and soap residue. Note: After
initial cleaning, replace nylon brush. Replace thereafter
as it becomes worn. A clean scrubber makes for a clean floor. For
large commercial settings, consider the use of a commercial floor
scrubbing machine. |
With
colored grout, test a small inconspicuous area first or follow grout
manufacturer's instructions. *A note
on Semi-Polished Porcelain: Porcelain tile is virtually impervious
to stains and wear. However, the polishing process opens microscopic
pores in the surface of the tile. Therefore, it is recommended
that a penetrating sealer (such as Aqua
Mix "Penetrating Sealer", "Sealer's Choice" etc.)
be used 2 hours prior to grouting. Penetrating Sealers need only
be applied once, following the manufacturer's instructions. Remember,
prompt clean-up of spills and regular cleaning will keep your ceramic
tile surfaces looking their best. DO's
and DON'Ts of Ceramic Tile Care Do not combine
ammonia and household bleaches. Do not use
harsh cleaning agents (such as steel wool pads) which can scratch or
damage the surface of your tile. Do test
scouring pads in a small area first.
Do use a
sealer on grout joints if continuous staining is a problem. Do read
and follow label directions for all cleaners. Do keep
this brochure and refer to it when necessary. Care
and maintenance of Tile Grout Grout may
present a special cleaning problem because it is susceptible to many
staining agents. Apply a silicone sealer to grout joints several times
a year for maximum protection. In addition
to keeping the grout clean, be sure to keep grout joints in good repair.
Scrape out loose, cracked or powdery joints and refill with a good
grout. One common
grouting trouble spot is the joint between the tub and and the wall
in your bathroom. As the house or tub settles, the grout may crack
and crumble. It's relatively simple to remedy. Remove the old grout
with a sharp pointed tool, watching out that you don't scratch tile
or tub. Then dry the joint thoroughly and fill with a flexible caulking
compound, such as silicone rubber caulking. A
Word about Cleaners There are
many excellent household cleaners on the market today. They should
all do a good job for you, so use your favorite. Remember, read and
follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommended usage. They
will perform as promised, if you use them as directed. Here is
some general information about the cleaners which are mentioned in
this brochure. All-purpose
cleaners included such products as Soft Scrub, Scrub Free, Mr. Clean,
Top Job, Fantastik, Ajax Liquid, Liquid Comet and Dow Bathroom Cleaner.
You can find them at your supermarket. "Soapless
detergents" are also commonly found on supermarket shelves. They
include such cleaners as Spic & Span and 409. Scouring
powders which are readily available include Comet, Bon Ami, and Ajax.
Nylon scouring pads may also be used (such as Scotch Brite), but steel
wool pads are not recommended. Commercial
cleaners such as Aqua Mix or Hilliard's "Assurance", are
suitable for heavy duty cleaning in commercial applications. These
products are available from your Florida
Tile distributor. Stain
Removal Guide
| Stain |
Removal
Agent |
| Grease
and fats |
Soda
and water or commercial spot lifter |
| Inks
and colored dyes |
Household
bleach |
| Blood |
Hydrogen
Peroxide or household bleach |
| Coffee,
tea, food, fruit, lipstick, juices |
Neutral
cleaner in hot water followed by hydrogen peroxide or household
bleach |
| *Caution:
Vinegar may damage some tile glazes. Be sure to test
this solution first in a small area to see if it etches
the tile or erodes the grout. |
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