The Best Way to Clean Porcelain Ceramic Tiles

Porcelain ceramic tiles come in many different colours, sizes and finishes. Each one is slightly unique in how best to clean and maintain them. What is important is to keep the tile clean. Dirt, over time, can abrade a tile, change the feel, and make it look dirty even when it has just been cleaned. Because of this, these are the recommendations for different types of ceramic tiling. For most cleaning jobs, a solution of one part vinegar to 100 parts water, or about 2 gallons of water and a quarter cup of vinegar, is an ideal and very mild cleaning agent. There are tile-specific cleaners out there as well, which can stain or colour the tile slightly, so care must be used to properly dilute them down per the cleaner's instructions.

Cleaning polished porcelain ceramic tiles

A polished tile is by far one of the most common types of tiling that a homeowner could have. It is beautiful and the shine is one of the reasons it is often chosen. However, because of the shine, it appears dirty quicker and things such as wet shoes will really affect the tiles look more than other types of tile. The best way to clean it is to first clean the worst of the dirt by sweeping or vacuuming the surface. Then, use a mild soap or detergent solution diluted down to half what is recommended for other tile surfaces. Apply this cleaner using a mop and if need be, use a scrubbing brush or tile-safe scrubbing pad for any spots that need extra attention. Finally, rinse the floor clean with water only and carefully dry the tile using a towel to make sure it shines and has no water spots.

Cleaning Unpolished and Textured porcelain ceramic tiles

Unpolished and textured ceramic tiles require a little more work to get completely clean. Because they are not completely sealed and smooth, they have pockets to trap dirt and grime, which a quick mop will not get at. After sweeping or vacuuming any loose dirt from the floor, saturate the floor with either homemade or commercial cleaner diluted with hot water. Let this work for five to ten minutes. If need be, work in small sections to prevent the solution from evaporating off. Use a nylon bristled brush to scrub the tile to get into and pull out any dirt that is trapped. Afterwards, wipe away the dirty cleaning solution and water, then rinse with clean water applied with a mop.

Things to avoid

While it may be tempting to use a stronger cleaner thinking that stronger is better, cleaners that contain harsh chemicals really should be avoided. Acids, bleaches and ammonia can all do damage to the tile and grout and should not be used on porcelain ceramic tile surfaces. Waxes and sealants as well as oil-based cleaners should all be avoided as well because they can affect not only the colour, but also the amount of traction. Even the smoothest sealed tile will become even more dangerously slick when wet if wax has been applied to the surface. Finally, unglazed porcelain tiling should never have any cleaner or other liquid applied that has dyes or colouring of any kind in it. From a child's fruit punch to a cleaner with dye, it can stain the surface permanently.

Porcelain Ceramic Tiles is a perfect way to make you house a home. Porcelain Tiles is a London based company that will be able to help you. For more information on the company please visit the website at http://www.porcelain-tiles.co.uk/