Owner Manual

Care & Maintenance
Cleaning Glazed Porcelain & Ceramic
Glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are among the easiest flooring materials
to clean. Due to their impenetrable glazes, their surfaces are resistant to
water, dirt, chemicals, oil, debris, and even germs and bacteria.
Always remember:
• Do not clean porcelain tile flooring with ammonia or with cleaners that
contain bleach and/or acid. Acid and ammonia-based cleaners may modify
grout color and product stability.
• Use a cleaner that is pH neutral. This ensures cleaning will not harm your
grout or surrounding surfaces.
• Do not use wax or oil-based cleaners.
• Use rugs at entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked onto the
tile flooring from outdoors. Tiles are scratch resistant but not scratch
proof.
• Do not use steel wool or other abrasive pads to remove tough debris or stains.
Steel wool scratch your tiles and loose steel particles may eventually create
rust stains in the grout over time.
• Although glazed surfaces are impervious, the use of a grout release will aid
in post installation clean up, especially if the glazed surface has a texture to
it where mortar, grout and other construction debris can get trapped inside
grooves during and after installation.
Standard cleaning guidelines of glazed products:
• Sweep or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the floor prior to washing with
water to prevent the tile from becoming muddy or leaving a residue after
cleaning. On textured surfaces sweep in multiple directions to ensure the
removal of all foreign material that might be residing in the textured
surface. For wall surfaces tile can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry
cloth or rag.
• Mop the floor with a mild detergent, degreaser, or tile cleaning solution.
For textured floors, the use of a medium bristle brush is recommended. A
sponge or clean cloth can be used to apply the cleaning agent to wall
surfaces.
• Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water to remove any left-over
detergents.
• Drying with a clean cloth or rag is recommended to increase the shine and to
prevent water spots or streaks.
Cleaning Unglazed Porcelain & Ceramic
Unglazed products are highly desirable due to their double loaded and through-body characteristics.
Polished finishes are typically protected by nano and/or wax coatings and are resistant to water,
chemicals, and scratching. Matte and textured finishes are generally unprotected and although
the surface is impervious, it may be more difficult to clean post install than a polished surface due
to the inherent surface characteristics of these finishes on a micro pore level.
Always remember:
• Do not clean porcelain tile flooring with ammonia or with cleaners that contain bleach and/or
acid. Acid and ammonia-based cleaners may modify grout color and product stability.
• Use a cleaner that is pH neutral. This ensures cleaning will not harm your grout or surrounding
surfaces.
• Do not use wax or oil-based cleaners.
• Use rugs at entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked onto the tile flooring from
outdoors. Tiles are scratch resistant but not scratch proof.
• Do not use steel wool or other abrasive pads to remove tough debris or stains. Steel wool may scratch
your tiles and loose steel particles may eventually create rust stains in the grout over time.
• Nano coatings should remain intact post install for added protection. However, if electing to
remove nano coatings, a nano scrub or poultice type product may be used. Ask a sales associate
for details.
• Although unglazed surfaces are impervious, the use of a grout release will aid in post install
clean up, especially if the unglazed surface has a matte or textured finish to it where construction
debris can get trapped during grouting. Sealing may also be recommended post install to aid in
day to day maintenance of these surfaces.
It is suggested that a breathable penetrating sealer be applied to matte unglazed surfaces
after grouting. This treatment provides an excellent defense against staining and may be
desirable in high traffic areas. Follow the sealing manufacturer’s guidelines for
recommendations on how often a sealer should be reapplied.
Standard cleaning guidelines of unglazed products:
• Sweep or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the floor prior to washing with water to prevent the
tile from becoming muddy or leaving a residue after cleaning. On textured surfaces sweep in
multiple directions to ensure the removal of all foreign material that might be residing in the
textured surface. For wall surfaces tile can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry cloth or
rag.
• Mop the floor with a mild detergent, degreaser or tile cleaning solution. For textured floors, the
use of a medium bristle brush is recommended. A sponge or clean cloth can be used to apply
the cleaning agent to wall surfaces.
• Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water to remove any left-over detergents.
• Drying with a clean cloth or rag is recommended to increase the shine and to prevent water spots
or streaks.