Tile Maintenance

All spills should be cleaned up as quickly as possible. Most stains can be removed with water if treated quickly. Use only the recommended dilution of neutral PH detergent. More is not always better; a higher concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution can make rinsing more difficult. This, in turn, leaves a residue on the tile (which is more apparent on gloss or polished tiles). Try the ‘Footprint Test’. If you can see your footprint on the tile after cleaning then there is a good chance too much cleaner was used. Other reasons could be the applicator (e.g. mop) is dirty or the water and cleaning solution needs to be changed.

Sealed porcelain tiles can be cleaned with hot water or a steam mop. This regular routine is usually all that is required to keep them clean. If there is a build up of grime then use a neutral PH cleaner with hot water which will break down the oil and grime from everyday use. The method is outlined below:

To effectively clean the tiles you require a neutral PH tile cleaner (e.g. Solutions brand ‘Natural Clean’), very hot water and a clean mop or equivalent. The cleaner is to be used sparingly, as per the instructions (1 capful to a 10 litre of bucket of hot water). The mop may have to be cleaned before and during the cleaning. If the water in the mop bucket is dirty, change it as you will be putting the dirt back onto the tiles.

For heavy stains, ‘Natural Clean’ can be used as a more concentrated ratio, scrubbed with a light brush, and then residue can be sponged off.

Some porcelain tiles are presealed in the factory. Beware that some of these tiles are susceptible to strong cleaning products which will leave hazing or ghosting within the tile which cannot be removed.

Stone products should only be cleaned with hot water or neutral PH based cleaners. Do not clean the tiles with an applicator which has been used previously on other surfaces with acid based products. This may etch the surface of the tile. This is a common complaint is the tile always looks dirty, or the surface is not as shiny as it was.

Under no circumstances should abrasive cleaners or scourers pads be used for cleaning your tiles, as this will harm the surface of polished limestone, travertine and marble. If you have a stain or mark in your stone tile contact Tile Envy for advice.

If the floor is exposed to excessive spills, large amounts of traffic, or if the floor is textured, a stronger cleaning agent may be necessary. These stronger cleaning agents should be on the alkaline side of the PH scale and generally have a PH rating of 9 or higher in the concentrated form. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation at all times when using these products.

Allow the proper dwell (remain on the floor) time. The detergent solution must be given time to act on the soil load. Generally five to ten minutes is sufficient, although some products require twenty minutes

Rinse thoroughly with clean, clear water to remove the dirty detergent solution and emulsified soil. Rinsing is a critical step in the maintenance procedure This step may need to be repeated several times to remove the residue. If dirty detergent solution is not removed and is allowed to dry on the surface, a coating will form which is difficult to remove.

It is worth noting most limestone, travertine and marble have the following tendencies:

• Absorbs oils and liquids.
• Easily scratched.
• Extremely acid sensitive.
• Easily stained

It is important to know most stone is susceptible to even light acid products, for example, citric cleaner and vinegar and water. Limestone, travertine and marble should only be cleaned with neutral PH cleaners specifically designed for natural stone (i.e. ‘Natural Clean’).

Some stains like rubber or metal will be difficult to remove and will generally need professional cleaning and advice. Contact Tile Envy in these circumstances.