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The Cleaning of Ceramic Tiles

This paper has been written with the aim of providing advice and recommendations?for all parties in the process of designing, fixing and using wall and floor tiles in?domestic situation and commercial installations. The document should be read in?conjunction with current and forthcoming British, European and International?Standards.

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Table of Contents

1 Foreword

2 History and Scope of Document

3 Considerations

4 Health and Safety

5 Cleaning and Maintenance of Ceramic Tiles

5.1 Unglazed Ceramic Tiles

5.1.1 Fully Vitreous Porcelain

5.1.2 Vitreous Quarry and Extruded Quarry Tiles

5.1.3 Terracotta Tiles

5.1.4 Geometric and Encaustic Tiles (e.g Victorian)

5.1.5 Polished Tiles

5.1.6 Semi Polished Tiles

5.1.7 Partially Polished Tiles

5.2 Glazed Ceramic Tiles

5.2.1 Glazed Ceramic Floor Tiles

5.2.2 Glazed Ceramic Wall Tiles

6 Cleaning and Maintenance of Natural Stone

6.1 Limestone

6.1.1 Pre-clean

6.1.2 Pre-seal

6.1.3 Grout Removal

6.1.4 Final Seal and Surface Coatings

6.1.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.1.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

6.2 Granite

6.2.1 Pre-clean

6.2.2 Pre-seal

6.2.3 Grout Removal. Polished and Fine Honed

6.2.4 Final Seal and Surface Coatings

6.2.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.2.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

6.3 Basalt

6.3.1 Pre-clean

6.3.2 Pre-seal

6.3.3 Grout Removal. Polished and Fine Honed

6.3.4 Final Seal and Surface Coatings

6.3.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.3.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

6.4 Marble

6.4.1 Pre-clean

6.4.2 Pre-seal

6.4.3 Grout Removal

6.4.4 Final Seal and Surface Coatings

6.4.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.4.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

6.4.7 Crystallisation and Polishing Powders for Polished Marble Floors

6.4.8 Crystallisation

6.4.9 Powder Polishes

6.5 Quartzite & Sandstone

6.5.1 Pre-clean

6.5.2 Pre-seal

6.5.3 Grout Removal

6.5.4 Seal and Surface Coatings

6.5.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.5.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

6.6 Slate

6.6.1 Pre-clean

6.6.2 Pre-seal

6.6.3 Grout Removal

6.6.4 Seal and Surface Coatings

6.6.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.6.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

6.7 Travertine

6.7.1 Pre-clean

6.7.2 Pre-seal

6.7.3 Grout Removal

6.7.4 Seal and Surface Coatings

6.7.5 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

6.7.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

7 Cleaning and Maintenance of other Tiles

7.1 Agglomerate Tiles

7.2 Metal Tiles

7.3 Glass Tiles

8 Cleaning and Maintenance Programme

8.1 Ceramic Tiles

8.1.1 Installation

8.1.1.2 Ceramic Tiles

8.1.1.3 Quarry, Encaustic, Geometric, Victorian Tiles

8.1.1.4 Polished Ceramic Tiles

8.1.1.5 Terracotta Tiles

8.1.1.5.1 Daily and Weekly Maintenance

8.1.1.5.2 Monthly/Annually Maintenance

8.1.1.5.3 Deep Cleaning and Top Up

8.1.1.5.4 Spot Cleaning

8.1.2 Initial Cleaning after Fixing of Tiles

8.1.3 Routine Cleaning

8.1.3.1 Manual Cleaning

8.1.3.2 Mechnical Cleaning

8.1.4 Periodic Deep Cleaning

8.1.5 Renovation of Tiles

8.2 Natural Stone

8.2.1 Installation (pre-cleaning)

8.2.2 Installation (pre-sealing)

8.2.3 Installation (grout removal)

8.2.4 Installation (final seal and surface coatings)

8.2.5 Routine Maintenance

8.2.6 Deep Cleaning and Renovation

9 Cleaning and Maintenance of Wall and Floor Tile Grout

9.1 Initial Cleaning

9.1.1 Ceramic Tiles

9.1.2 Natural Stone

9.2 Routine Maintenance Cleaning

9.3 Renovation of Grout

10 Removal of Stains

10.1 Ceramic Tiles

10.1.1 Red Wine/Strong Coloured Staining

10.1.2 Urine

10.1.3 Effiorescence

10.1.4 Limescale

10.1.5 Paints

10.1.6 Rust and Iron Staining (oxides)

10.1.7 Rubber Marks, Oils, Fats, Tea and Coffee

10.1.8 Mould and Mildew (black and green algae spores)

10.1.9 Soot and Fire Damage

10.1.10 Other types of Stains

10.2 Natural Stone

10.2.1 Rust and Iron Staining (oxides)

10.2.2 Oil, Tea, Coffee and General Food Staining

10.2.3 Acidic Staining/Damage including Wine/Vinegar and Fruit Juices

10.2.4 Mould and Mildew

10.2.5 Soot and Fire Damage

10.2.6 Effiorescence

10.2.7 Limescale

10.2.8 Flood Damage

10.2.9 Red Wine

10.2.10 Urine

10.2.11 Other types of Stains

12 References and Bibliography

13 Members of the Working Group