Tile and Stone Maintenance

Category: FAQ\’s (Page 1 of 3)

The Dangers of Using Cillit Bang on Natural Stone and Tiles

A blog reader submitted the following question to us: “After removing the grout from our natural stone polished tiles, and before sealing, they were a couple of small stains which were probably water. We used Cillit Bang to remove this but has made worse. Are there any products that could remove this?” Continue reading

Copyright Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog.co.uk, 2013. See copyright notice above.

Visitor’s Question – How Do I Remove Splash Marks From Black Granite?

Michelle asks: “I had black granite floor tiles put down in my bathroom recently and they were sealed after they were put down but i have just noticed several splash marks that will not wash off. The only cause I can think of is that when my husband was painting he washed brushes out in the sink and this splashed onto floor. Could this have caused it and can they be restored or will I need to replace the damaged tiles.”

Here’s our response:

Without knowing the precise nature of the splashes it is difficult to advise, but any impregnating sealer will be beneath the surface of the stone, so it will not stop splashes from getting onto the surface and a fraction of a millimetre into the surface itself.  In fact the sealer will hold a splash at the surface longer than it would be there if it were not sealed, allowing the water to evaporate and leave behind what ever was dissolved ion the water (e.g traces of paint). It could equally be hard water deposits from plain old water, or if your husband used a spirit/solvent based paint brush cleaner then it could have got deeper, through the sealer.

I would first try a basic high alkaline cleaner like Xtreme Clean with the addition of some Microscrub to help it get into the surface. If is it is hard water deposits, then a slightly acidic cleaner like Phosphoric Acid Cleaner may be required. Hope this helps

Copyright Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog.co.uk, 2013. See copyright notice above.

FAQ’s – How Should I Clean An Original Victorian Tile Floor

These days, a lot of people do come across a fantastic and original Victorian tiled floor when they move into a new house. They may discover it when taking up an old carpet or any other floor covering. Now Victorian tiled floors can be characterised by the small and  unglazed clay tiles in earth-like colours such as black, red, buff and often with white, blue and green shades incorporated. The floors themselves are typically laid in geometric repeating patterns with elaborate borders in many cases.The main challenge with these kinds of floors is to remove many years worth of polishes, waxes, dirt and grime. One product that will work wonders on such a floor is Aquamix’s Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner. This will be sufficient in most cases. However, should you find that the floor has deeply ingrained dirt, residues of adhesive, grout haze or paints then a product like Sealer and Coating Remover will remove these stubborn elements completely.

Copyright Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog.co.uk, 2013. See copyright notice above.

FAQ’s – How Do I Clean Away Mildew And Mould From My Tile Grout?

The answer to this is relatively straightforward and there are two ways to go. First, if you have a small coating of mould, algae or mildew on your tile grout then you could use a simple tile cleaning product like Shower Tile Cleaner. This should more than do the job for you.

However, if you have a thicker coating of mildew, algae or mould on your tile grout then we’d suggest spraying some diluted household bleach onto the stained areas and leave the bleach on there for at least an hour – always test on a small area first to be safe. Then, rinse it off well using plenty of clean water. This will certainly clean off all the mould for you. If you still have stains left remaining then perhaps you should consider recoloring the grout with Grout Colorant.

Copyright Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog.co.uk, 2013. See copyright notice above.
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