In this blog, we will focus on man-made porcelain tiles and how best to clean them, so here we go. Keeping porcelain tiles clean on a day to day basis isn't the most difficult thing to achieve, but it can get tricky when they get stained or when they haven't been protected properly.
Fortunately, there are several cleaning methods we can all use. You may have polished or glazed porcelain tiles, unpolished or unglazed porcelain tiles, or textured porcelain tiles. You will need to use slightly different techniques and approaches depending on the type of tile to be cleaned, but with patience and a little bit of work, you will see that your tiles will be back looking clean and stain free.
Cleaning polished or glazed porcelain tiles:
Always start off by removing dust and dirt from your porcelain tiles using a dry mop or vacuum cleaner. Brooms with straw or plastic bristles are usually too rough for the floor and can scratch your beloved porcelain tiles. Try to remove as much dust and dirt as possible from the tiles before doing more intense cleaning and don't forget to sweep/vacuum in the corners and between the tiles themselves.
Dampen the floor with warm water and use a brush to remove any surface grime and dark patches from the floor by using a soft nylon brush or an old toothbrush by scrubbing in a circular motion. Do not scrub the tiles when they are dry as you then risk scratching them.
Rinse and dry with a soft towel or a microfibre cloth.
Apply a cleaning solution.
If you have any stains on your polished or glazed porcelain tiles, you can apply a cleaning solution using a mop. You can make up your homemade solution of white vinegar and water or use a professional cleaning solution.
Prepare a homemade solution by mixing ¼ cup of white vinegar with 7.5 L of warm water.
Apply to the floor using the mop and leave to work for 5 to 10 minutes. Vinegar especially will allow you to disinfect, deodorize as well as help clean your porcelain tiles.
Using a soft nylon brush or an old toothbrush by scrubbing in a circular motion.
)Rinse and dry with a soft towel or a microfibre cloth.
If you're looking for a professional option, there are many products for you to use from major companies like LTP. The main thing to ensure with your selected items is that the solution is safe to apply to the glazed or polished porcelain tiles before using it. You can test it first by applying a small amount of the product to the floor to make sure it doesn't cause any damage.
If you do not have enough time to read our article, you can watch our video.
Coffee stain cleaning:
If there are coffee stains on the tiles, you can use baking soda to remove them.
Sprinkle the area to be treated with baking soda then moisten with a clean cloth. Rub gently until the stain is gone.
Finish your cleaning by running the mop soaked in a suitable floor cleaner over the tiles. Use a mild cleaning solution suitable that can be applied to your specific type of porcelain tiles.
Rinse away using your mop again with warm water before the cleaner dries. This will prevent it from staining or damaging your porcelain tiles.
Use a microfiber cloth or clean towel to completely dry the floor. Make sure there are no water spots or puddles left on the tiles. You can also open a window or use a fan to dry the floor. Place fans in the room and open all windows to allow good air circulation.
Once the floor is dry, you can polish it with a piece of muslin. Rub the muslin against the tiles using circular motions. To get rid of any haze left behind from the cleaning process.
Cleaning unpolished or unglazed porcelain tiles:
The first process is the same as cleaning any polished or glazed porcelain tile so always start by using a dry mop. Then clean dust and dirt from their surface to avoid scratching your porcelain tiles making sure to mop all corners of the room and between the tiles.
For more stubborn stains, once your chosen cleanser is applied, you should leave it on for about 10 minutes. Then, use a bristle brush to scrub the tiles. Rub in circular motions until the stains are gone.
Wipe up any leftover cleaning solution and then rinse the floor thoroughly with hot water. Do not leave the cleaner for more than 10 minutes on the tiles (please follow bottle instructions). Any instructed time should not be exceeded as it could damage your porcelain tiles.
Always dry your tiles well using a clean towel or a microfibre cloth. Make sure there are no stains or puddles left behind after the cleaning process.
Clean textured porcelain tiles:
Textured porcelain requires more maintenance than other types of porcelain and you will need to clean it more often to keep it in good condition. Maintaining textured tiles can require you to sweep and scrub the floor daily, especially if you walk on it constantly all day.
Using a broom with soft bristles for textured porcelain tiles, wipe in multiple directions as this will better remove grime and debris from their textured surface. First, begin by brushing in the direction or following the texture of the tile. Then sweep diagonally to help remove dirt and debris.
Once the floor has been swept, you can cover it with a mild cleaning solution using a mop. Mix the solution with hot water. Clean the floor then let the product act for 5 to 10 minutes.
After the cleaning solution has been left on the floor for 10 minutes, you can use a soft nylon brush to remove any black streaks or spots. You can also use an old toothbrush to scrub the floor. Apply the same 2-way method used to sweep the floor. Start by rubbing in the direction of the textured tile. Then, rub in the opposite directions to its texture.
Do not let the cleaning solution dry, as it may damage your porcelain tiles. Rinse it with clean, clear water.
You can then dry the floor with a clean microfiber cloth. As always, make sure there are no water spots or puddles on the floor.
In most cases, the processes of cleaning any range of porcelain tiles are very similar with only a few tweaks however, it is extremely important to use a suitable solution for each type of porcelain whether it is polished, glazed, textured etc. matt finish.
Some important key points and handy tips:
Stay away from cleaners and detergents that contain oil-based wax. They could also damage your porcelain tiles.
Make sure to wipe away any spills immediately.
Maintain your porcelain tiles by getting into the habit of sweeping them at least twice a week. Use a dry mop or a soft nylon fibre broom.
Never use brushes or brooms with hard bristles as this may damage your tiles.
Vacuum twice a week to remove dirt and debris.
Use a flexible, multi-surface nozzle to suck up excess dirt.
Don't forget the corners and the places where the tiles touch the wall. These spaces are often forgotten, which generally has more accumulation of dirt.
Never use steel wool to clean spills or remove stains. It can cause the appearance of rust spots on the joints between the tiles.
Wipe away any leftover water and dry your tiles
Make sure there are felt pads under your furniture legs. This will also prevent them from scratching or damaging the porcelain tiles.
Use floor mats:
Simply by using some mats you will protect your porcelain tiles by preventing tiles from being exposed to dirt and debris in the first place.
