Instructions

Step 1 Tile and natural stone floors continue to grow in popularity due in large part to their durability and ease of maintenance. Proper cleaning and maintenance will extend the life of your floor and protect your investment. While all surfaces should be periodically cleaned by a professional, there are a number of things that the home or building owner can do to improve the appearance of the surface and reduce the frequency of professional cleaning.



First place walk off mats at entry areas. This will reduce the amount of dry soils tracked onto the surface from outside the building.



Step 2 Regular mopping will also improve the appearance of the surface, but there are a few things to consider prior to mopping. First, all dry soils should be removed from the surface with either a broom, or a vacuum cleaner prior to mopping. When mopping, it is important to use the proper cleaning solution, or you may damage the surface. The cleaning solution should be properly pH balanced so that it will not damage the surface or compromise the integrity of any protective sealers that may have been applied previously. The safest tile and stone cleaning solutions should be neutral ("7" on the pH scale). There are several neutral stone and tile cleaners available, and they are found at most janitorial supply firms or home improvement centers.



Step 3 Cleaning solutions that are too acidic, such as vinegar, lemon juice, or other more acidic tile cleaning agents may break down protective sealers prematurely. It is especially important to avoid acidic formulas when cleaning calcium-based natural stone (e.g. marble, limestone) as the acid will react with the calcium in the stone and etch the surface, which will alter or "dull" the surface.



It is also best to avoid highly alkaline cleaning agents such as bleach in your cleaning solution. These agents will also break down your protective sealers prematurely. When mopping, replace your cleaning solution as soon as it becomes cloudy. Mopping with soiled, cloudy solution is counterproductive.



Even if you maintain your tile and stone surfaces diligently, the surfaces will become soiled over time and will periodically require professional cleaning to restore their appearance. The professional cleaner typically utilizes a multi-stepped process, but generally begins by applying an alkaline cleaning solution. This solution is then agitated either manually or with a floor scrubber. This loosens the soils and suspends them in the cleaning fluid. The professional cleaner then utilizes equipment which simultaneously rinses, and extracts the soiled solution. The extraction cleaning equipment extracts, or vacuums the soiled solution to a waste tank for proper disposal. This removes all of the soiled solution from the tile surface and grout lines, which is impossible to do with the traditional scrubbing/mopping approach.



Certain deeper stains may not be completely removed with the alkaline cleansing. In these areas, the professional cleaner may apply an acidic agent to etch the grout lines. (Note: Acidic agents should not be used on calcium based natural stones like marble or limestone as they will etch the surface and change the appearance). The etching process is a more aggressive way to attack stubborn stains in the grout lines. The solution would then be rinsed and extracted to a waste tank for proper disposal.



Once the tile has been cleaned, it is best to apply a protective sealer. This sealer impregnates porous surfaces (i.e. fills in voids in grout lines or stone surfaces) and helps to prevent future spills or soils from deeply penetrating these porous surfaces.



Proper maintenance will extend the life of your floor, and protect your investment. When considering professional cleaning firms, we strongly recommend using a firm



Tips & Warnings

Cleaning solutions that are too acidic, such as vinegar, lemon juice, or other more acidic tile cleaning agents may break down protective sealers prematurely. It is especially important to avoid acidic formulas when cleaning calcium-based natural stone (e.g. marble, limestone) as the acid will react with the calcium in the stone and etch the surface, which will alter or "dull" the surface.