There are many myths and old wives tales about the best ways to keep your tiles clean. However, many of these “tips” can contribute to the build-up of grime on the surface or sometimes even damage the tile itself. These guides will give you the expert’s tips on the best ways to keep your stone or tiles clean.
It’s important to note that these guides are intended for maintenance of a good-condition surface. These tips will not help you to recover damage or badly stained stone or tiles, which will generally require the services of a professional company such as Slique.
If you are unsure of how to use this guide, or are concerned about particular problem you may have, please use the online help tool, or phone or email us with your information. We’d be pleased to provide no-obligation advice for you to do it properly, with no sales pressure!
The three golden rules of stone and tile cleaning:
1. Don’t use too much water
Flooding a surface with water when cleaning is the biggest source of tile and grout staining. The surface dirt is collected into the detergent / water solution and can be absorbed into the grout lines or pores of the tiles if not lifted from the floor. Excess water and heavy wet mopping is the ‘enemy’ of domestic tile cleaning!
2. Always rinse off chemicals
Overuse of chemicals (not following dilution instructions) can leave chemical residues on the floor which become sticky and collect dirt. Rinsing off with clean water to remove any chemical residue is strongly advised. About 75% of daily-use tile cleaning can be done without chemicals.
3. ALWAYS read the label
Abrasive and/or acidic cleaning products are NOT suitable for use on stone, and should be used with caution on tiles and grout. Often this warning will be in the small print at the bottom of the label. Acid or abrasion damage cannot be recovered by daily cleaning, and restoration will most likely be required by a specialist such as Slique. Polished stone surfaces will show more marks than honed or matt.
