Use and Care Manual

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CERAMIC TILE

CERAMIC TILE - ROUTINE CARE

Contaminants and spills on a glazed ceramic tile are,

generally, easier to clean then other surfaces. Glazed tile

products should be cleaned routinely with an all-purpose,

low VOC household or commercial cleaner. The product

chosen should also be grout joint cleaning compatible. The

type of product may vary depending on the tile application

and use. A multipurpose spray cleaner, which removes

soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew designed for

every day use, can be used on wall tile areas in residential

baths and showers.

The entire area should be cleaned and scrubbed with

cleaner solution through the use of a cotton mop, cloth,

sponge, or non-metallic brush. The entire area should be

rinsed with clean water to remove any cleaning solution

residue. Remember that you should sweep or vacuum

ﬂoor areas prior to cleaning to remove any dust or

debris. Routine cleaners should never contain hazardous

or polluting products including, but not limited to acids

or ammonia. Acids can damage the grout and the glazed

surface of the tile, and ammonia can discolor the grout.

Unglazed tile should be cleaned routinely with

concentrated tile cleaners that have a neutral pH for

safe regular use. These cleaners are better suited at

removing grease, oils and normal spills from unglazed

products. Again these products will vary depending on the

application, amount of trac and the use. The product

chosen should also be compatible with cleaning the grout

joints at the same time.

Removal of Sealers/Waxes/Floor Finishes:

If you need to remove a topical sealer or ﬂoor wax from

a ceramic tile you should use a Tile Sealer & Adhesive

remover. Always test a small area ﬁrst. Apply a liberal

amount of undiluted sealer & adhesive remover to a

manageable area. Allow setting without drying until coating

or residue softens. Reapply if necessary until sealer softens

and can be removed. If necessary, agitate with white nylon

scrub pad. Wipe up the residue with a cotton towel or

sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Do not use on

natural stone products.

Glass Tiles:

For routine cleaning, use any non-abrasive cleaning

compound recommended for either glass or tile

Metal Signatures/Metal Ages/Urban Metals:

• To clean, use a liquid non-abrasive household cleaner.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

• DO NOT use scouring pads, steel wool, sandpaper or

other abrasive products.

• Avoid cleaners containing ammonia, bleach, abrasives, or other

hazardous/polluting compounds.

• Always test in small inconspicuous area while using a new cleaner

to ensure compatibility.

CERAMIC TILE - GROUT CARE

Grout is the material used to ﬁll the spaces between the individual

tiles. Grout comes in many colors. While color is important to

the ﬁnal ﬁnished look of the tile installation, it has little eect on

the functionality of the grout. The purpose of grout is, simply, to

ﬁll the joint between the tiles and becomes a permanent, integral

component of the ﬁnished installation.

Penetrating/Impregnating Sealer:

Most tile installations use cementitious grouts. This type of

grout should be sealed after installation to prevent the color

from staining. The grout should be sealed with a penetrating/

impregnating sealer (often called grout sealers) which does not

contain silicone, as silicone can shorten the useful life of the sealer.

Epoxy grouts, conversely, are chemically cured and acid resistant

and, as a result, do not require a sealer. The application of a good

quality penetrating/impregnating sealer into the grout joints of a

cementitious grout will not change the natural color of the grout,

but will prevent the penetration of moisture, simplify maintenance,

and help prevent staining or discoloration. Only the grout needs

to be sealed, not glazed ﬂoor or wall tiles. Grout can be sealed

seventy-two hours after installation.

There are dierent grades of penetrating/impregnating sealers,

therefore the useful life and price will dier between a low quality

and high quality sealer. You may need to reapply the sealer on an

annual basis depending on the sealer quality, trac patterns, and

maintenance routine. Some sealers have multiple year warranties

for useful life. Refer to the manufacturer warranty, technical &

product information for speciﬁc details on product installation,

useful life, and product applications (including any warnings) before

use.

Grout Maintenance:

Neither sealing the grout nor using a 100% Epoxy Grout will

guarantee against surface build-up or discoloration of the grout.

Grout needs to be cleaned on a periodic basis to remove any

surface build-up. Routine grout cleaning can be done with a daily

concentrated household or commercial cleaner depending on

the application. When heavy duty grout cleaning is required, you

will need to use a professional strength Tile & Grout Cleaner

that is capable of removing grease, soap scum, body oil, mildew

stains, algae, and synthetic or acrylic waxes from the grout joints.

However, such a product should contain non-polluting chemicals

and low VOC levels. This type of product can be purchased from

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
CARE AND MAINTENANCE CERAMIC TILE CERAMIC TILE - ROUTINE CARE Contaminants and spills on a glazed ceramic tile are, generally, easier to clean then other surfaces. Glazed tile products should be cleaned routinely with an all-purpose, low VOC household or commercial cleaner. The product chosen should also be grout joint cleaning compatible. The type of product may vary depending on the tile application and use.
PAGE 2
most Home Centers, or through your local professional Floor Covering Dealer Grout Color Restoration: When grout has been stained to the point that it cannot be maintained or returned to its natural color, you can return the grout back to its original color or any other color through the use of a “grout stain”. Grout Stains are epoxy-based products that are specifically designed to penetrate into the grout and seal the surface with a permanent color.
PAGE 3
Heavy-Duty Stone Cleaning: When some areas have been neglected, you will need to use a heavy-duty non-hazardous and non-polluting stone cleaner and degreaser to effectively remove dirt, grease, grime, waxes and floor finishes. An optimal heavy-duty cleaner should contain low percentages of volatile organic compounds. These cleaning products are concentrated and designed to deep clean the stone without damaging it.
PAGE 4
finish may change the appearance and performance of your stone, so always test a small area first. Application of topical sealer or wax should never be done as an attempt to add a shine to a honed, scratched or non-polished stone product. This will only create maintenance and/or slip resistance problem. SALTILLO SALTILLO TILE - ROUTINE CARE Soft clay tiles are categorized as specialty use products, and as such they are generally not governed by the same requirements as glazed or unglazed ceramic tile.
PAGE 5
• For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of mild soap. Once clean, rinse and dry surface thoroughly. • For stubborn or dried spills, use a nonabrasive cleaning pad such as a white 3M Scotch-Brite® scrub pad combined with a small amount of mild soap or specialized stone cleaner. One Quartz Surfaces floors in high traffic areas should be cleaned daily with a clean, dry dust mop or soft bristle broom.