Flooring & Stairs > How To: Clean Porcelain Tile A beautiful and extremely durable flooring option, porcelain tile will retain its sparkling finish for years—so long as it's cleaned regularly and appropriately. Porcelain tile consistently ranks as a preferred flooring choice among homeowners, partly due to its beauty—the material comes in a veritable rainbow of hues—and partly due to its stain- and moisture-resistance. Though it loses luster over time, anyone can learn how to clean porcelain tile and restore its original shine. Related: Top Tips for Cleaning Grout Lines Clean porcelain tile regularly, as often as two times per week, to keep it in tip-top condition. Simply sweep with a soft-bristle broom before vacuuming (with the brush attachment). Then, once a month, mix 1/4 cup white vinegar with two gallons of water (or purchase one of the many suitable commercial cleansers), applying the solution to the floor with a sponge mop. Rinse with plain water, then dry the surface completely with a clean towel or a microfiber cloth.

There are different types of porcelain tile (unpolished/unglazed, polished/glazed, or textured) and for each type, a different set of specifics applies: Cleaning Unpolished/Unglazed Porcelain Tile • Vacuum and sweep the area thoroughly to remove dust and dirt. • Taking one section at a time (two or four feet square), saturate the tile surface with a vinegar-and-water mixture or a commercial cleanser. • Allow the cleanser to soak into the tile for five to ten minutes, but do not allow it to dry. • Scrub stained areas with a soft-bristle brush. • Wipe away the dirty cleaning solution and rinse the area with clean, hot water. • Dry the tile with a clean towel or a microfiber cloth. Cleaning Polished/Glazed Porcelain Tile • Sweep and vacuum debris and dirt, then go over the area with a dry dust mop. • Now use a hot water-dampened mop, never allowing moisture to puddle or pool on the tile. • Loosen heavier soil with a soft nylon-bristle brush (or an old toothbrush).

• For stains, use a vinegar-and-water mixture (or a commercial cleanser diluted to half strength). • Mop with your chosen cleanser, mopping again with hot water before the cleanser dries. • Dry the tile surface with a clean towel or a microfiber cloth, being sure to rub out any water spots. • Once dry, buff the clean porcelain tile to a high shine with a piece of cheesecloth. Cleaning Textured Porcelain Tile • Sweep the area twice with a soft-bristle broom, first in the direction of the tile, then on a diagonal. • Vacuum to remove all dirt. • Saturate the tile with a vinegar-and-water solution, allowing it to soak for five to ten minutes. • Scrub the floor with a soft-bristle brush, again working in two directions. • Rinse the floor with hot water in order to thoroughly remove the cleaning solution. • Go over the clean porcelain tile floor with a damp mop. • Dry with a clean towel or a microfiber cloth.

While porcelain tile boasts exceptional durability, there are few products and techniques you should take pains to avoid: Never use a product containing ammonia or bleach (or any type of acid-based cleanser); these can alter the tile color and/or stain the grout. Never use oil-based detergents or wax cleaners. On unglazed porcelain, never use any cleaners that contain dye or coloring.cheap carpet cleaners east london Never use steel wool to clean porcelain tile—small particles of steel can become embedded in the tile and grout, eventually causing rust stains.best pool vacuum robot Never use hard bristles or scrub brushes, as they can scratch the tile surface.carpet cleaner for nail polish

Regular cleaning and polishing with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth will ensure that porcelain tile retains its “like new” shine for many years. There’s no way around it: Keeping the house clean demands your time, your energy, and even some of your money. Fortunately, this arsenal of cleaning tips can help you finish the housekeeping more quickly—and with fewer commercially sold products.carpet cleaner machines amazonEnvision watching your brand new porcelain tiles getting installed.  best 12v auto vacuum cleanerWatching them put the finishing touch on the installation, and seeing for the first time your brand new floor in all of its glory.  carpet cleaning supplies riverside caNew, pristine, and virtually untouched. 

Then picture someone coming in out of the rain and tracking mud and grime all over your new floor. Cleaning your porcelain tile is not like cleaning other surfaces.  This is because porcelain tiles fire at a much higher temperature than the average ceramic tile (2,300°F apposed to 1,800°F) which drives out more water, making a stronger structure.  Also, because of the unique ingredients used to make porcelain, it will form into a low-order glass, making it extremely water resistant (Read more about it here).  Because of this porcelain will absorb less than or equal to 0.5% of moisture, helping the tile become more stain resistant, as well as not allowing dirt to penetrate the surface; however, it is still necessary to remove the dirt and grime from the top of the tiles.  Here are five things you should know before cleaning your porcelain tiles. 1)      Start with a clean slate Often overlooked, a great deal of construction dirt and grout haze can be left over from the installation. 

Having a thorough cleaning after the initial install will ensure the ease of future daily maintenance. 2)      (Water) Resistance is few-tile Because porcelain tile is generally water and stain resistant, the daily upkeep is quite easy.  Use warm water to keep your tiles looking neat and eliminate the need for chemicals and cleaners. 3)      Brush the dirt off your tile If there is loose dirt on the tile, consider using a soft, natural bristle broom, or simply vacuum the debris off the floor.  If the soil is a little more caked on, try using a nylo-grit brush.  You will want to brush and scrub slowly in an overlapping figure eight pattern.  If this still doesn’t do the trick, try a 175 rpm rotary scrubber to get the proper results. 4)      Stain in the back If you happen to get a stain, we recommend the use of an ordinary floor cleaning product diluted with warm water (3-4 capfuls per 5 gallon bucket, or per manufacturer).  Using oily products can produce an oily layer over your porcelain tiles, which you don’t want.

5)      Avoid the Acid Trip We do not recommend the use of acid washing, especially if you have colored grouts.  This is because the use of acids can cause discoloration of the grout joints, and in severe cases the color pigment can actually affix itself to the surface of the tile, in turn making it more difficult to clean. However, if you do go this route, have several rinse buckets with clean water available before attempting to pick up the scrubbed solution.  Use a wet vacuum to pick up the liquid and immediately rinse the surface with clean, cold water.  Pick up the rinse water and repeat until the surface is completely free of any foreign substance. Although there are many ways to properly clean your floor, you can’t be too careful.  Knowing these five steps will serve you well as you keep your investment nice and clean. Having a clean floor will help you achieve the maximum life-cycle of your floor. Take a look at our Porcelain Tile Collections!!