Porcelain tiles are a fantastic flooring option for homeowners due to their incredible resilience and hard-wearing properties. Manufactured with different materials to regular ceramic tiles such as sand and feldspar, porcelain products are a far denser, stronger material that absorbs less moisture. This offers a stylish flooring product that not only resists stains, fades and scratches but is also far easier to maintain, meaning more time can be spent enjoying and showing off your floor rather than cleaning it.
However, despite less effort required to maintain porcelain paving, there are still a few important things you need to remember to ensure your porcelain paving is cleaned in the correct way. Here we take a look at five things you should know to clean your porcelain paving.
Pictured: Cotswold Ivory Paving
Sweep/Vacuum Dust & Dirt Away
When first attempting to clean your porcelain paving, you should aim to remove any dust or dirt that may have gathered. You can do this easily by using a vacuum cleaner or by simply sweeping it up. A dry mop is a perfect thing to use to sweep up rather than a broom as this will provide a far better day-to-day protection for the surface of the tile.
Stay Clear of Chemical Cleaners Containing Ammonia, Bleach or Acids
For regular cleaning of your porcelain paving, it is important to avoid using chemical cleaners that contain the above ingredients. During the manufacturing process, porcelain paving is heated up to fuse its unique materials together, resulting in water-resistant properties that are similar to glass. As a result of the regular use of corrosive chemicals, the surface of porcelain paving can become eroded, leading to increases in water absorption. Corrosive chemicals can also result in the grout laid between each tile eroding, which will loosen the tiles and allow water to get beneath your tiles which creates dampness. For daily cleaning of your porcelain tiles, you can simply use warm water and a mop! If your floor requires a slightly deeper clean, however, you can use a mild detergent mixed with warm water. This will help to remove any stubborn stains that your floor may have.
Wash Away Detergents
When deciding to use a detergent, it's important to make sure that it is of a low concentration. Textured porcelain tiles may need a slightly greater concentration than other tiles to ensure an adequate clean. To clean your porcelain paving with detergent, cover an area of your floor with the cleaning solution and let it stand for approximately five minutes. Then, with a mop, gently clean the area that you have covered. It's important to remember not to let the solution dry on top of your paving. The next thing to do is to mop the area again with clean, warm water. This will help to remove any detergent residue that remains and prevent water spots or powdery marks from appearing.
Removing Stains
When it comes to stain removal, we tend to use the same method regardless of how they occur, which is not the correct way to do things. Each stain should be treated individually in the most effective way possible in order to minimise any potential long-term damage to the paving or surrounding grout. When attempting to remove stains, only deal with the affected area rather than cleaning the entire floor.
Use Gentle Chemical Use to Remove Stubborn Stains
The above guidelines offer you the best way to protect your porcelain floor by keeping it looking its best while minimising the risk of damage to individual tiles and grout. Unfortunately, from time to time accidents do tend to happen where major stains may need to be treated with a more rigorous approach that requires the use of chemicals, which may lead to a change in the colour of surrounding grout. Firstly, be sure to follow the above steps to find the best method to clean the particular stain. Next, ensure you are wearing suitable PPE including a mask, gloves and eye protection whenever possible as well as ventilating the area by opening windows and doors that lead outside. Again, it's important to remember to only clean the affected area and not the entire floor.
By following these guidelines on how to clean porcelain paving, you will ensure that your porcelain floor remains sparkling clean and is always looking good. To prevent having to clean more often, be sure to place a doormat near the entrance of your room to catch the majority of the dirt being carried in.
For more information on how to clean your porcelain paving, be sure to get in touch with a member of the AlfrescoPlus team today. Our porcelain experts will be more than happy to help with any enquiry you may have! If you are interested in purchasing porcelain paving for your home or property, click below to browse our full range. We have styles and designs to suit all needs and budgets.
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