Tile Cleaning for Porcelain and Ceramic: A Guide for DIYers

The traditional method of scrubbing the tiles on one's hands and knees has lost its appeal over time. Soiling would have penetrated the porous surface of the tile, and old coverings such as wax or sealants would have degraded and broken down, allowing dirt to penetrate the surface.

We will show you how to restore and clean your beautiful tile surfaces with this article. Continue reading to find out more!

If you are fortunate enough to have low-maintenance tile floors such as porcelain and ceramic at home, you have probably mastered your cleaning routine for the tiles and grout. Is a few times a week of dynamic vacuuming and mopping with your favourite scented tile cleaner enough?

Hmmm… The Truth is…

Whether you like it or not, your standard cleaning procedure will eventually fail. It may begin to show signs of gradual grime buildup, such as darker areas and marks on the tiles and dull, greyish-looking grout. The majority of the issues should be resolved with a thorough cleaning, but some dirt may become embedded with time which may proof to be difficult to completely remove, possibly requiring the assistance of stone care professional.

Expert Advice on how to clean tiles using effective solutions

How should you clean your porcelain and ceramic surfaces at home and in the workplace? this is one of the most frequently asked questions, particularly when the general aesthetics of the tiles do not look good!

To begin, examine and consider the material and location of your tiles. Grease splashes, food spillages, and sticky liquid stains are the most common problems for kitchen tiles on the walls and floors. Add a little honey to the mix, and you might find yourself with your tongs or uggs glued to the floor.

Then there is your bathroom, where soap scum, soapy deposits, and rust or mouldy spots are the main causes of the dirty-looking bathroom floor and wall tiles and grout. As a result, different types of stains and grime will smear different tile surfaces throughout your home as a result of daily use.

Cleaning tiles requires the following tools:

• A wet vacuum cleaner / broom & dustpan set
• Sponges
• Soft bristle brushes
• Microfibre Cloths
• Suitable Scrub Pads (To Select From Non-Abrasive To Abrasives Pads - Task Dependant)
• A mop & a bucket

As you can see, as a DIYer, you now have professionally designed products due to technological developments over the years has become practical products to use. Some of them are more all-purpose than others, or they have been designed specifically to target known issues.

Cleaning ceramic and porcelain tiles:

To deep clean unpolished porcelain tiles, avoid using strong acidic cleaning solutions. After cleaning, avoid air-drying unsealed or unglazed ceramic and porcelain tiles, as the moisture may cause water spots to appear on the surface. Using a microfibre cloth or another lint-free cloth, dry the tiles.

Basic Porcelain and Ceramic Floor Care Kit is an ideal kit to care for your porcelain and ceramic floors. We recommend you choose cleaning products that are compatible with your floors to avoid damage or discolouration. This special kit is a necessary add-on making sure dirt and spills do not have a chance to get comfortable on your floors. These things can happen anytime and therefore this Basic Porcelain and Ceramic Floor Care Kit helps you clean up spills or tracks as soon as possible.

To get your Porcelain and Ceramic Tile Grout Restoration Bundle, click this link. It is a specially bundled grout colorant kit that recolours, seals, and refreshes existing grout joints. This bundle aims to prolong the look, texture, and consistency of your grout and it prevents mildew and mould.

Cleaning Porcelain and Ceramic Countertops, Floor Tile & Grout Surfaces

Cleaning shower tiles:

 

 

To make your weekly maintenance jobs easier, use a shower-approved cleaner for maintaining the shower tile. These items are made to withstand the high levels of moisture found in the shower Also, acids are harmful to fixtures and tapware, so you need to use appropriate and safe cleaning products which can be used on porcelain and ceramic tile surfaces.

Cleaning grout on tile surfaces:

Even when the floor is vacuumed and mopped regularly, the extremely porous grout begins to accumulate grime. If the room is not ventilated regularly and mould issues are present, bathroom tile surfaces are especially prone to blackened grout in places.

Tip 101:

Always keep the specific properties of the tile material in mind when cleaning the grout on your porcelain and ceramic tile floor to avoid doing more harm than good. Maintain floor tile and grout and countertops with a cleaner that acts as a freshening agent which removes the dirt and stain that have accumulated on the surface.

The following products below can be used on a periodic basis.

Lithofin KF Grout Protector - 500ml protects grout against greasy dirt and spots in kitchen splash backs, bathrooms, showers, toilets and makes maintenance easier. Also, Lithofin KF Grout Protector - 500ml is an excellent product that allows you to prolong the lifespan of your grout, which turns protects your tiled surfaces from eventually failing.

Lithofin KF Mildew-Away Spray - 500ml removes black mould and mildew spots from cement and silicone caulking in bathrooms and kitchens as well as discolouration caused by plants. Lithofin KF Mildew-Away Spray - 500ml is suitable for use around ceramic and porcelain tiles only. Lithofin KF Mildew-Away Spray - 500ml works quickly and efficiently inhibits re-growth.

Lithofin KF Stain-Stop - 1 Litre is quite unique and will give a clean and uniform feel to ceramic & porcelain tiled surfaces. Lithofin KF Stain-Stop - 1 Litre is a low maintenance, non-film forming penetrating sealer for all types of ceramic & porcelain tiled floors and walls including its use on vitrified quarry tile. 

Lithofin KF Active-Clean - 1 Litre removes surface residues such as calcium, lime, and dirt deposits, soap scum and greasy residues & rust. Also, this product is designed for periodic maintenance care in wet areas that of bathrooms, showers, and toilets as well as other ceramic tiled kitchen areas which elevates both shine and hygienic cleanliness. It is suitable for ceramic tiles, grouting, chrome, stainless steel, etc. Not suitable for acid-sensitive surfaces.

Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover is ideal for all interior ceramic surfaces including porcelain tiles that are fully vitrified tiles, quarry tiles, clay pavers, etc. With this, it effortlessly removes cement and mortar residues, rust, lime, efflorescence, and other hardened dirt layers. The strength of this product gives a fast reaction that leaves the surface clean and free of all residues.

Lithofin KF Intensive Cleaner is a strong alkaline product based on highly active and biologically degradable components. Surfaces become more attractive and less sensitive with continued use. Lithofin KF Intensive Cleaner dissolves and removes stubborn ingrained dirt, oil, and grease, rubber, care product residues, etc.

Lithofin KF Vitra-Clean is mildly alkaline ideal for maintenance to create an optimum, streak-free cleaning effect without building up layers. Surfaces become more attractive and less sensitive with the continued use of Lithofin KF Vitra-Clean. A beautiful and extremely durable flooring option, porcelain tiles will retain their sparkling finish for years—so long as it is cleaned regularly and appropriately.

Read more on The Process for Restoring Engineered Quartz Countertops

Repair Tile and Grout:

Check for cracks and missing spaces in the grout before attempting to repair cracks and chips. Without repairing the missing or cracked grout, the restoration is incomplete. Grout cracks can also be repaired with a high-quality epoxy resin adhesive.

Moulding and staining are not a problem with this epoxy type grout because it is non-porous. For more information, you should speak with your trusted stone and tile care specialist.

Bonus Professional Tip:

Once the surface has been thoroughly clean and sealed, porcelain and ceramic  care and maintenance are essential. To remove the dust, dirt, and stains that accumulate on the surface, use approved maintenance cleaners once a week. Alkaline cleaners should be used to clean tile and grout because they remove stains and reveal a gleaming surface beneath without causing any harm.

Takeaway

Following a guide for restoring floor tile and grout will ensure that your surfaces retain their health and lustre for a long time. So, do not overlook the hidden mould and stains on your surfaces. To ensure better health and aesthetics, get rid of them right away and relocate to a healthy and lovely place.

Let us know if you need a professional service for indoors or exterior tiled areas in your home, and we will be happy to assist. Also, if you require assistance in restoring the natural beauty of any natural stone surfaces you may have in that of flooring, marble bench tops, etc.. kindly contact us at 03-9429 1223 and one of our onsite technicians will be happy to provide you with a quote.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you clean ceramic or porcelain tiles?
What is the best cleaning solution for porcelain tile floors?
Is porcelain or ceramic tile easier to clean?
What is the safest cleaner for porcelain tile?
What should you not use on porcelain tiles?
Can you use vinegar to clean porcelain tile?
How do you get the shine back on porcelain tiles?
How do you keep porcelain floor tiles shiny?
What is the best chemical to clean porcelain?
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