Cleaning Porcelain Tiles

gaz wac

Hi,

Just wondering what people use to clean their tiles? We just got the kitchen / dining room cover and after I clean the tiles, there is still a cover of dirt from the mop, ie it looks dull and you can write your name in the chalky residue left behind !! at the mo, im using flash multi purpose cleaner direct onto a flat mop. Any ideas ?

Cheers

builditwell

Hi Gaz

You need to change the water quite often and it need to be scalding. I use flash dilutable gel reall thick concentrated version. But I still have to buff up the floor to get a good shine.

If the floor has been recently finished then just put up with it for a little while till the grout settles. It will be worth it honest


B

mad m

I have polished Porcelain tile, do these need to be sealed with some sealer to prevent from general staining?

gaz wac

What do you buff it with? is it a hands and knees job ? ( why does that sound dirty ) tiles were put down about a week ago?

builditwell

just buff the floor with a rough rag on the end of a brush save being on your hands and knees. They will get much easier to clean as the grout completly dries.

As for sealing porcelain. You must use a sealer for polished porcelain unless they have been already factory sealed. This prevents staining and brings up the shine on them.


B

ctrl-alt-delete

If anyone is considering sealing the tiles too, make sure the tiles are spotless,

worst thing you could do, and iv'e seen it done is seal the dirt under.

gwhiz

Hi Gaz

I have exactly the same problem with my black porcelain tiles. I have them in my kitchen and hall and they are a total nightmare. I bought them pre-sealed (well thats what the shop told me!) Have tried everything to clean them. They look fantastic when the floor is wet, then when they dry, there is a residue left on the top of the tiles and as soon as you walk on them there is all foot prints and streaks left in the residue and I might as well not have bothered washing them at all. Its like as if I have washed my floor with a dirty mop. I have tried the boiling water tip and that doesnt work either. At this stage, im only short of taking a trip to Des Kellys and getting some cheap lino and covering up the tiles. Had lino on my floor before the tiles and always looked clean.

Cheers....

gaz wac

I know it a pain, but I do what Builditwell said....rag around the sweeping brush and scrub !! at this stage its.."do I go to the gym tonight or will i clean the floor !! Its a huge area so I just dont clean the floor so often now

Joey the lips

Just keep cleaning the rag buffing will have it normal eventually....

PirateShampoo

Sounds like ur tiles wherent sealed properly. One u get them clean the way u want i would suggest in finding a sealer and applying it.

gaz wac

They came as sealed porcelain tiles when bought and even when I got the tiler I asked again and he said there was "no need as they are sealed" !!!

PirateShampoo

Im just saying mate, not so long ago we ripped up a whole new floor in a shop because the Sealed tiles wherent sealed properly when they left the factory.

gaz wac

thanks buddy, but how will I know ?? like, all I can say is that they are as shiny as f*** when I buff them but it's alot of hassle should I get another tiler in to confirm ? could i even bring a spare tile to a different shop and ask him are they sealed?

PirateShampoo

Is there any water stains on any of them? Scuff marks from shoes that u cant get out?

gaz wac

no....there was one mark that was made from the builder dragging the washing machine but that is under the presses so I cant see it, but other than that, as soon as the mop comes out..they are spanking !!

PirateShampoo

Ok, maybe they are sealed. They could just be a bitch to clean lol.

Nice Day

We used a solution from Doramics Tiles in Santry. Cant remember the brand but it was the best we tried. BnQ do good cleaning products

caseyjones1

Try some vinegar in the water.

sopjimenez

gaz wac wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering what people use to clean their tiles? We just got the kitchen / dining room cover and after I clean the tiles, there is still a cover of dirt from the mop, ie it looks dull and you can write your name in the chalky residue left behind !! at the mo, im using flash multi purpose cleaner direct onto a flat mop. Any ideas ?

Cheers

Take some dry unsanded grout and rub it into the tiles. While it is still dry, rub it in and remove the grout. Afterwards, clean as usual and there will be no more foot prints left on your tile.

Porcelain tiles are shipped with a coating to keep the tiles from scratching and the coating needs to be removed after it's installed. I had the same problems with keeping it clean. finally, i contacted the manufacturer and was told that the coating needs to be removed. It doesn't take the shine off. My floors are now beautiful. But, with black, you can still dirt easily, but at least it doesn't show footprints and dullness once they are cleaned.

caseyjones1

For general cleaning, if you want them streak free, the best thing is a steam mop, dries in 30 seconds, no smears, and spotless clean floors with no need for detergent. I got a Bionaire 3 in 1 steam mop from Power City and it has reduced what was a time consuming ordeal involving mops/buckets etc to a five minute job that can be done several times a day with no major hardship if needed. The steam mop makes short work of the likes of weetabix with no scrubbing or detergent.

maynoothman

Can this steam mop be used on porcelain tiles?

caseyjones1 wrote: »

For general cleaning, if you want them streak free, the best thing is a steam mop, dries in 30 seconds, no smears, and spotless clean floors with no need for detergent. I got a Bionaire 3 in 1 steam mop from Power City and it has reduced what was a time consuming ordeal involving mops/buckets etc to a five minute job that can be done several times a day with no major hardship if needed. The steam mop makes short work of the likes of weetabix with no scrubbing or detergent.

caseyjones1

Yep, I have high gloss porcelain tiles and it does a wonderful job. Anyone I know who went for high gloss has major problems with streaks and water splashes etc and a lot of people recommended I didn't go for them, and I think if I hadn't got this mop I'd crack up, it does a smashing job on them, I never buff them or anything. I found the covers that came with it were a bit rubbish though and I bought some generic microfibre ones on ebay that are much better, they work out a couple of quid each, but are well worth it.

mark17j

hot boiled water with cif floor cleaner (red) 'no residue' does the trick for mine, I used several top of the range floor cleaners in the past and was left with sticky residue most of the time, the cif does the job for me.

millhouse

Guys, I have only just come across this thread. I am having the same issue with my porcelain tiles. I wash them with hot steamy water and they clean very well but the drying and polishing of them is an absolute nightmare. Currently I am on my hands and knees drying them with a tea towel and then doing my best to get a shine using a second dry tea towel. To be honest they do come up great but it is an absolute nigthmare of a job. I avoid it as much as I can and only tend to do the same area all the time, basically what people see when they come into the house. Does anyone know of a decent polisher/buffer that will do the job for me. The large industrial ones they use in hospitals would be too big. I have read reviews on some Karcher & Hoover ones and they appear to vary greatly so not convinced. If anyone has some real genuine experience of a decent machine please let me know