Cleaning Golden Rule
Do not use a cleaner or cleaning technique that you are unsure about. Damage caused by the wrong cleaner or technique can be irreversible. Always check product labels and test in an inconspicuous area.
Tile maintenance should always begin with pH-neutral cleaning methods and progress to heavy-duty cleaners. Never start with a heavy-duty cleaner. Glazed tile does not need sealing or any special cleaning.
Cement-based grouts can benefit from sealing. If your grout darkens when wet, it can benefit from a quality sealer. Please see the section on sealing for more details.
Tile maintenance should include a few basic steps. The following instructions are focused on residential homes. Commercial and high-traffic locations may require different maintenance.
Primary Cleaning
Frequent sweeping or vacuuming is crucial in keeping your grout clean. If dirt and dust don’t accumulate on the grout, they will be less likely to be absorbed into it.
It is also important to immediately wipe up any spills or dropped food. The longer they sit on the floor, the more difficult the clean-up will be.
Secondary Cleaning
A quick pass with a lightly moistened towel or mop will pick up any dirt and dust your sweeping may have missed. This can be done as often as needed. The mop or towel should barely leave any signs of moisture on the surface of the tile. Any missed spill residue should be taken care of with a lightly moistened cloth.
My favorite tool for floor cleaning is the “Sh-mop.” You should be able to purchase a Sh-mop at a home improvement store in your area. If you have trouble finding one let us know.
Spill Clean-up
Immediately wipe up the spill. Use a lightly moistened cloth to remove any residue. A pH-neutral grout cleaner may be needed to help remove the stain. Apply the cleaner to the affected area and allow it to stand for a few minutes so the cleaner can penetrate the stain. Gently agitate the area with a soft-bristled brush. Follow this with a rinse of clean water and thoroughly dry. If the results are unacceptable refer to the Heavy-Duty Cleaning Section.
Periodic Cleaning
A periodic cleaning with a quality pH-neutral grout cleaner may be required. In many cases, this only needs to be done a couple of times a year. Working in manageable sections, apply grout cleaner to the grout and tile when necessary. Allow it to stand for a few minutes so the cleaner can penetrate and loosen the accumulated dirt. Gently agitate with a soft-bristled brush. Follow this with a rinse of clean water and dry thoroughly.
Heavy-Duty Cleaning
Prior to a heavy-duty cleaning, another attempt should be made with a quality pH-neutral cleaner. If the desired results still aren’t achieved, move on to an alkaline cleaner. These cleaners are typically labeled as “heavy duty” or “deep clean.” Make sure to follow the directions exactly.
If the alkaline cleaner didn’t produce the desired results a professional should be contacted. The next line of attack is acidic cleaners. They can be harmful to you and your floor if not used correctly.
Resealing will probably be necessary after a deep cleaning.
Grout Haze
Grout haze is grout residue left on the tile face. Generally, grout haze can be cleaned off by simply rubbing with a dry towel. The next progression would be a cleaner designed to remove grout haze. As a final step, an acid solution may be required. If your grout haze isn’t easily removed by a dry towel, please feel free to contact us.
Stone Cleaning and Maintenance
All stone should be sealed. There are two types of sealer that can be used, topical and impregnating. Topical sealers are more likely to change the look of the stone.
Most stone will require more frequent scrubbing to remove surface buildup of dirt. Follow the periodic cleaning instructions above. Rough stones like slate tend to require a little more scrubbing. Good penetrating sealers will help with the cleaning.
Stone requires more frequent applications of sealer. It is best to use the same sealer for each reapplication. It is good to follow the sealer manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and maintenance.
If you have any questions about cleaning and maintaining your tile or stone please give us a call. We would be happy to help.
Grout and Stone Sealing
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the specific sealer being used.
It is very important that a high-quality sealer is used. Low-quality sealers will not offer the protection needed and can actually reduce the life of your floors.
There are two basic types of sealers - penetrating and topical.
Penetrating sealers—allows the surface to breathe and can, in many cases, be applied within 72 hours after grouting. Penetrating sealers generally won’t change the look of the grout or stone.
Topical sealers—totally seals the surface and shouldn’t be applied until 14-28 days after grouting. Topical sealers can change the look of grout and stone and, in many cases, give it a wet look.
There are several methods to apply sealer to grout and stone tile. Refer to the specific manufacturer’s instructions for their recommendations.
For grout sealing—typically works well using a sealer applicator bottle. This is a bottle with a brush or a wheel on top. It just runs along the grout lines. Care should be taken to wipe any remaining sealer off the tops of the tile before it dries.
For stone sealing—a grout sponge works great, which can be found in the tile section of most home improvement stores. For large areas, there are larger applicators that can really speed up the process. The sealer should be applied to the entire surface, and a clean cloth should be used to buff off any excess.
Ceramic and porcelain tile—typically does not need to be sealed. Most of these types of tile are glazed and impervious to stains.
Sealing doesn’t replace regular and routine maintenance. A specific maintenance and cleaning schedule should still be followed.
If you have any questions concerning sealing or feel you aren’t up to doing it yourself, we would be happy to include the price of sealing in your tile bid.