Tile Maintenance Guide
Renovating your kitchen can be very exciting, especially when you get to accessorise with new tiles!
Recently we met up with Leigh Nihill from Tile Warehouse, a Newcastle based Tile retailer, to get his expert knowledge on tile care. Now that you have that nice new modern kitchen, that is!
According to Leigh, if you want your new tiles to look great for many years to come, it's essential to care for them. After tiles have been laid and grouted, they'll require an extensive clean to remove all leftover residue.
For the best results, follow Leigh's easy steps below.
Remove Grout Haze after Tile Installation!
Leigh says after tile installation, grout residue commonly forms a white-coloured haze over the surface of the tiles. Your tiler should always remove grout haze, but follow the steps below if you still have grout haze leftover.
Beware, you'll want to remove this haze immediately but ensure to be careful to wait until the grout has cured. If you've left it a bit too long and it's already dried, you can still remove it with some good old-fashioned elbow grease, says Leigh.
To scrub away the residue, you'll need to:
Dampen a few tiles with a sponge and some warm water.
Use a nylon scrubbing pad to clean the tiles. If the residue doesn't scrub off fast, use some more pressure.
Use a dry terrycloth towel to dry and buff the tiles.
Repeat these stages and work your way across the tile surface.
If this doesn't work, you might consider purchasing a haze remover.
Tile Warehouse offers a range of Tile After Care products, including Microscrub, which is safe on natural stone and polished porcelain. Oxi-Treat is stronger and safe on glazed tiles, and Ardex Tile and Grout Heavy Duty Cleaner, a concentrated and effective water-soluble alkaline cleaner, degreaser and stain lifter.
After you've cleaned the haze from the tiles, you might want to use a Tile and or Grout Finishing Sealer. The sealer will maintain the surface's natural appearance and provide superior stain resistance to both oil and water-based stains. Most tiles don't need sealing, only the grout. If you are unsure, just give the team at Tile Warehouse a call to check.
Sealing your grout is the perfect way to protect your grout against dirt, grime and grease around your cooktop. Ideally, you would do this as soon as your grout is dry, but you can seal grout at any stage as long as your grout is clean and dry.
Leigh's Basic Tile Maintenance Tips
Once you've taken care of the initial cleaning of your tiles, it's time to start thinking about regular tile maintenance.
Ensure you sweep or vacuum to remove any dust or debris before using any cleaning products for floor tiles. You should damp-mop your tile floor at least once a week to decrease wear and abrasion from dirt, grit and grease.
If you have glazed tiles, you should clean them regularly with an all-purpose, non-oil-based household cleaner that won't harm the grout joints. An everyday multipurpose spray should be sufficient to remove soap scum and mildew on the wall tiles in your bathroom.
Concentrated tile cleaners like Ardex's Tile and Grout Multipurpose Cleaner for unglazed tiles will be better for everyday use. It will serve as a neutral cleaner that removes general household dirt, grime and oils on tiles and grout.
After cleaning your tiles, make sure you rinse the entire area with clean water to remove any cleaning solution residue so that it doesn't damage your tiles over time.
Be sure never to use any products containing bleach. Bleach will not only damage your tiles but your grout and sealer as well. Most grout comes with a mould shield built-in, and bleach will destroy this.
Tile Warehouse has provided quality tiles, tiling products, tools and advice for over 20 years in the Newcastle region.
Commencing on the Central Coast in 1981, recognised the need to provide high-quality tiles at great prices in the Newcastle and Hunter region and introduced the warehouse concept to Newcastle in 1996. They are a family-owned and run business (Leigh and Jane), dedicated to customers' needs throughout Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Hunter, Port Stephens, Central Coast and surrounds. Their mission is to deliver exceptionally friendly and helpful service, low prices, choice, convenience and expert technical tile knowledge.