Tile | Maintenance
Sooner or later time, traffic, and life will take its toll on any floor covering and ceramic tile is no exception. But take heart, keeping your tile as clean and beautiful as its first days in your home just takes know-how. In fact, understanding the best methods to care for your ceramic flooring will help maintain its beauty and keep it close to its original condition. Knowing how to care for and maintain your ceramic floor will help keep your investment beautiful, durable and a source of pride for years to come.
Protecting Your Tile
Protect your tile by affixing felt or similar pads to the legs of any metal, iron, wood, or plastic furniture that could scratch and dull the surface.
Exterior metal furniture which rests on tile floors or patio areas may rust and cause staining.
The use of good, quality entry mats will help protect your tile floor from wear by collecting dirt, sand, grit and other foreign substances such as oil and asphalt that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor.
Routine Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Maintenance
You should allow your tile and grout at least 72 hours to dry before any type of maintenance occurs. Cleaning your new floor with a damp mop once a week is the best thing you can do to maintain your tile floor. A simple sweeping or vacuuming of your new tile floor prior to mopping will remove any dust or debris. Make sure that any cleaner you have selected is compatible (meaning it has a neutral PH), and will not stain the grout. Heavy traffic areas should be mopped more frequently than once a week. Never use detergent or soap as it may dull the tile surface.
When cleaning, the entire area should be cleaned or scrubbed with the recommended cleaning solution, through the use of a cotton mop, cloth, sponge, or non-metallic bristle brush. The entire tile flooring should then be rinsed with clean water to remove any remaining cleaning solution residue.
VERY IMPORTANT: Cleaning non-glazed tiles should be done on a regular basis using cleaners that have a neutral pH for safe regular use; these cleaners are better suited at removing grease, oils, and normal spills from non-glazed products. Routine cleaners should never contain acids, vinegar, chlorine, or ammonia as these chemicals can damage and discolor the grout and the surface of the natural stone or tile.
Routine Natural Stone Maintenance
You should allow your stone and grout to dry for at least 72 hours after installation, before any type of maintenance occurs.
Cleaning your new floor with a damp mop once a week is the best thing you can do to maintain your tile floor.
A simple sweeping or vacuuming of your tile floor prior to mopping will remove any dust or debris.
VERY IMPORTANT: Cleaning natural stone should be done with cleaners designed specifically for natural stone. These cleaners contain no acid and are of a neutral PH.
The stone needs to be damp prior to cleaning. The cleaner can be applied through light misting and agitated according to the cleaning manufacturer’s recommendations.
Routine sealing is recommended. Some stone products may require additional protection after cleaning.