From an IT and Telecoms background Sean Wheller is both an avid writer and passionate property investor. Amongst the many websites he founded is the first Property Investor Community based site in South Africa PropertyInvestorNetwork.co.za. On the IT front his passions include open source software and community. He chiefly supports Joomla and the future of self managed content websites. Through his web development company [TheWebDesignCompany.co.za], he helps small and medium size companies take control of their website content while significantly reducing costs of development. To learn more about Seans’ interests and businesses you can go to www.SeanWheller.co.za.

Porcelain tiles are known for their very low porosity value and therefore do not absorb. This means that traces of cement and grout will remain on the floor surface and sometimes remain invisible to the naked eye.

These deposits may retain dirt, acting as an anchorage point and making tile cleaning difficult. This is more evident on dry rustic and mineralized surfaces. However, the large variety of polished porcelain tile available has created several cleaning problems for the end user.

The general problem is knowing what type of chemical cleaner should be applied to maintain their original appearance. The same can be said of Rustic Glazed porcelain or Ceramic Tiles.

Immediately after tile installation, it is best to use an acid-based scale remover called Cem-Free. This is a once off application and will effervesce and raise any cementitious residue off the surface of porcelain tiles and glazed monocottura tile products.

Cem-Free should be diluted in a ratio 1:5 to 1:10 depending on the degree of soiling. Apply the solution with a brush/applicator, scrub with a good body brush, leave to soak for 10-15 minutes for activation, and before rinsing, vigorously scrub again to ensure all traces of cement have been removed. Use the wet/dry vacuum or squeegee method to remove the soil and rinsing water is best as this avoids leaving some of the soil or residue on the surface of the tiles.

Re-apply to areas that may appear as a white/grey residue when tiles have dried. This will mainly apply to the dry mineralized porcelain surfaces. Most importantly, ensure the ratio of mix is correct.

In the event of heavy soiling or large areas, the use of a single disc pad machine can prove more successful and quicker. If the tile has a carborundum or quartz surface with non-slip of R-11 or higher, avoid the single disc pad machine as the pad  will be destroyed.

Because Porcelain tiles are acid resistant (except Hydrofluoric), paint stains, wine, fat, vinegar, nail polish etc are easily removed with the appropriate diluents such as Turpentine, Thinnes, Benzine, Acetone, Chloric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Bleach, Sodium Hydroxide, etc.

Due to the low porosity of Italian porcelain, sealants are normally not required in the home environment if tiles are cleaned from inception with the correct non-ammonia cleaning products. Gres Porcellanato products have a 1% or more porosity due to less firing and pressing time. It may be more necessary to seal these types of porcelain if polished.

Because of price, Asian products have found their way into a lot of Commercial applications, and for this reason, extra care should be taken when cleaning as it appears the micro-pore is more prone to absorption, possibly due to the firing, pressing and polishing process in their manufacture. This is why consideration can be given to sealing these types of porcelain. Sealers should have the correct Polymer make-up to be successful. Once again, if cleaned from inception with the correct non-ammonia based products, there should be no need for sealing.

Incorrect local cleaning liquids, such as Handy Andy, Sunlight Liquid or Domestos often render a porcelain tile hard to keep clean. Too much ammonia in a cleaning liquid or too strong a concentration of pH and residues containing flaxens, will build up on the surface acting as an absorbent pad or even give a dull film image on the surface of the tile (i.e on black polished porcelain).

Should this occur, and the tiles are of a lighter colouring, it is advisable to initially strip all soap build up with White Eezy. The quicker method, being the Single Disc machine, and using the Red pad. In this process, we recommend removal of all dirt with the wet vacuuming method.  If this is not possible, then it is best to use a squeegee to drag away the dirty soap from cleaned off areas.  Thereafter, maintain and clean with Clean-Eezy which is a non-ammonia based cleaning liquid (environmentally friendly – safe on all metals):

Method of use: on a regular basis 1 part to 20 parts water.

It is also an excellent degreaser and will cut the fat in barbeque areas and remove light grease on workshop floors. Once again, if a floor is badly soiled, it is advisable to use an industrial single disc cleaning machine with a red pad.  Consultation on these matters may be necessary. Before cleansing is commenced, the area should be vacuumed or swept well to remove all excess dust.

In the event that your polished porcelain floor has a protective wax coating on the face of the tiles, then Wax-Free should be applied, undiluted with an applicator, giving time for the wax to soften before agitating with a brush and once again remove with a squeegee. The area can then be cleaned and maintained using the alkali based Clean-Eezy.

It should be noted, the use of rubber gloves is advised when using alkali based products  (The degreasing action removes the natural lanolin in our hands and will leave them very dry and rough).

Designers and Architects often specify the use of various colours in their tile layouts and design work, or even combinations of porcelain and granite. For instance Black porcelain is often used as a contrast, but this should be avoided due to the fact that while an 8.5 pH is required for light coloured porcelains, this can result in the dulling of the black where an acid with a low pH of 3 or 4 should be applied.

Acid cleaners such as Cem-Free are not recommended for use on Granite and Marble floors as this will remove all shine. Thus, design work with combos of natural products with porcelain should also be avoided if future cleaning is to be considered.  To maintain Granite and Marble we recommend Natural Stone-Wash.

For Black Polished Porcelain floors, we recommend the use of Black-Eezy . This environmentally friendly, biodegradable cleaner can be diluted 1 part to 20 parts of water for general purpose cleaning.

For the cleaning of porcelain tiles in hospitality/hotel kitchens Kitchen-Eezy is a heavy duty degreaser & cleaner specifically SABS 1828 approved.

For general purpose tile cleaning of heavily soiled areas dilute 1 part to 25 parts of water.

For cleaning of garage floors, walls, equipment etc dilute 1 part to 50 parts of water. For light cleaning such as painted walls, windows, mirrors etc., dilute 1 part to 200 parts of water.

For steam cleaning machines and high pressure washers Scrub-Eezy is quick acting, low foaming, safe on most metals, non-flammable, easy and free rinsing, effective in soft and hard water areas and will not  corrode parts of these types of machines.

General purpose cleaning of heavily soiled areas, dilute 1 part to 25 parts water. Garage floors, walls, equipment, etc., dilute 1 part to 50-parts water. For light duty cleaning such as painted walls, windows, mirrors, etc dilute 1 part to 200 parts water.