Use and Care Guide

Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE PAGE 5 OF 6
TILE CARE &
MAINTENANCE
POLISHED PORCELAIN
General Cleaning
Tile, whether glazed ceramic or porcelain, should be maintained on a
regular and frequent basis to prevent build-up of soil, grease, residue,
soap detergents, sealers, dampness, liquids, etc., to keep the surface
clean and lessen slippery conditions.
Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles require minimal maintenance.
Either can be cleaned with clear water and/or a pH neutral liquid
cleaner (soapless). Follow with a clear water rinse and wipe dry
to prevent film formation. As with most porcelains, spilled liquids
may stain light-colored products if not promptly removed.
Neither sealing nor acid cleaning is recommended for any of
American Olean glazed ceramic or porcelain tile.
Fully polished impervious porcelain tile is achieved by mechanically
changing the surface from matte/natural to a honed or high polished
finish. Polished Colorbody™ porcelain is achieved by mechanically
changing the glaze surface from matte to light, honed or high
polish finish. This process creates a microporosity on the face of the
tile. The tile itself is still technically sound porcelain with the same
characteristics expected of high quality impervious tile.
The surface, however, may possibly require added protection to
assure cleanability and ease of ongoing maintenance under a range
of conditions including but not limited to:
• grout haze removal
• construction chemicals and dirt
• maintenance/solvent based cleaning materials
• exposure to rubber containing solvent
based materials
• acid based materials
All of the above can result in hazing, spotting, etching or general
staining of the polished tile surface. We recommend the use of a
sealer on fully polished, impervious porcelain and polished glaze
porcelain tile prior to grouting. We strongly caution against the use
of acid based or solvent based chemicals for cleaning or construction
maintenance on fully polished impervious or polished glaze porcelain
tile. The use of such products may damage the tile surface.
With proper installation techniques, preventative care and eective
maintenance procedures, fully polished impervious porcelain and
polished glazed porcelain tile is a durable, high value, long lasting tile
floor and wall option for most commercial and residential spaces.
UNGLAZED/MATTE/TEXTURED PORCELAIN
Porcelain tiles with a matte or textured surface may contain
structure or micro texture for slip resistance and visual enhancement.
We recommend the use of a grout release prior to grouting for these
products to enhance the ecacy of removal of the various types of
grout, latex modified grout, epoxy grout used in the market today.