Porcelain tiles are popular for their extreme durability; this flooring also requires low maintenance to maintain its appearance over the years. Porcelain tiles are a type of ceramic flooring that is baked very hard, then coated with a glazed glass protective sealer that makes them impervious to staining, water damage, and scratches.
There are three types of porcelain tiles; matte, glazed and textured. This article will be discussing how to clean matte porcelain tiles as well as how to how to polish porcelain tile so you can maintain your floor’s lustre and beauty.
How to Clean Matte Porcelain Tiles
Table of Contents
Sweep the Floor
Using a dry dust mop, start removing any dirt and dust on the floor surface. Using a dry dust mop instead of a broom will help to avoid scratching the tiles.
Get into every corner of the room as well as between the tiles with the dust mop. It is imperative that you remove as much surface dirt and dust as possible, as this will make cleaning the tiles easier.
Mop the Floor
Using a mild cleaning solution, mop the floor to get rid of any stains and dirt. You can make use of a commercial cleaner, or you can make your own cleaning solution by combining water and vinegar.
Simply Combine ¼ cup white vinegar with two gallons of warm water, then Mop the floor with the solution and allow it to sit for five to ten minutes. The vinegar not only cleans your tiles it also helps to disinfect and deodorize them as well.
If you decide to make use of a commercial cleaner, you need to ensure that it is safe for use on matte or unpolished porcelain tiles.
Scrub and Rinse the Floor
After applying the cleanser of choice, you should allow it to sit on the floor for about 10 minutes before using a soft bristle brush to scrub away any stains using circular motions.
When the floor is clean and stain-free, wipe off any remaining cleaner solution on the floor and then rinse the area with hot water. It is advised to avoid letting the cleanser sit on the tiles for more than 10 minutes, as it could damage the tile.
Dry the Floor Completely
With a clean towel, dry the floor completely, making sure that there are no water spots or puddles of water left on the floor.
Also, ensure proper ventilation in the room by opening up the windows in the room, or you can place a fan in the room to dry the floor.
How to Clean Glazed Porcelain Tiles
Sweep the Floor
Remove any dust or dirt on the glazed porcelain tiles with a dry dust mop or a vacuum. You can also make use of a microfiber mop, as it is a more gentle option on tiles. Sweep every corner of the floor and between tiles to remove as much surface dust on the tiles as possible before you move on to more deep cleaning.
Scrub Away Any Dirt
With a nylon cleaning brush or an old toothbrush that has been dampened with hot water, scrub away any dirt or dark spots on the floor.
Scrub the tile in a circular motion; make sure the tile is damp when you scrub it because scrubbing your tiles when they are dry could scratch the tile.
If you have coffee stains on your porcelain tiles, baking soda can be used to remove them. Simply sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the stain and dampen it with a clean cloth. Then Gently scrub the area until the stain is completely lifted.
Apply A Cleaning Solution
If there’s any settled stain on your polished or glazed porcelain tiles, you can remove it by mopping the area with a cleaning solution. You can combine white vinegar and water to create a homemade cleaning solution, or you can purchase a commercial cleaning solution from home improvement stores.
Mop the floor using your homemade or store-bought cleaning solution and let it sit for five to ten minutes. Then, mop the floor again with clean water to rinse off the solution. If you made use of vinegar, it would help to disinfect and deodorize your tiles while also cleaning them.
If you are using a store-bought cleaning solution, you should make sure the solution is safe for use on glazed or polished tile before you use it. You should also do a spot test by using a small amount of the solution on an inconspicuous area of the floor to ensure it does not damage the floor.
Mop the Floor
With a floor cleaner of choice, mop the tiles. Make sure to use a mild cleaning solution that is safe for use on glazed or polished porcelain tiles.
Ensure to mop the entire floor with hot water before the cleaner dries on the tiles. Allowing the cleaner to dry on your porcelain tiles can stain or damage the tiles.
Dry and Buff The Floor
Dry the floor completely with a microfiber cloth or a clean towel. Ensure that there are no water spots or puddles of water remaining on the tiles. Opening up a window or setting up a fan in the room will ensure adequate airflow throughout the room and will quicken the drying process.
Once the floor is dry compared, use a piece of cheesecloth to buff it to a shine. Do this by rubbing the cheesecloth over the tiles in circular motions.
Read: How to buff tile floor
How to Polish Porcelain Tile
Your porcelain tiles can become dull; this isn’t usually due to a layer of dirt, but the residue from cleaning products and water leftover from the cleaning process.
That’s why it may seem impossible to get your floor to look clean even after multiple deep cleaning processes.
Polishing porcelain tiles will help to remove any leftover residue and watermarks from the tiles and give your floor a beautiful shine.
Although the required cleaning products for each type of porcelain tile may vary, there are some similarities in the methods used. Generally, this is how to polish porcelain tile:
- Start by vacuuming or sweeping the tiles to remove any dirt and loose debris.
- Use a mild cleaning solution to mop the floor and spot treat any area with embedded dirt with a sponge or soft-bristled brush.
- Rinse the floor with clean water to remove any cleaning product residue.
- Use a clean towel to dry the area or leave the floor to air-dry and ensure the room is well-ventilated.
- Finally, use a buffer or flat head microfiber mop to buff away water spots and dullness.
Conclusion
This article shows you how to clean matte porcelain tiles because although porcelain flooring is very durable, it still requires some amount of maintenance to keep it shiny and beautiful.
If you start to notice an unusual dullness on your porcelain tiles, it may require polishing; this article also discusses how to polish porcelain tile to keep your floor looking its best as long as possible.