Cleaning and maintaining natural stone tiles.

Aug. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Tiles need regular cleaning in order to maintain their appearance and keep the tile material in good condition. Ceramic tiles are incredibly durable, strong and can withstand most cleaning solutions but always check the manufacturer’s guidelines. Natural stone tiles however need extra care and attention and there are certain cleaning solutions that should never be used on certain natural stone tiles.

Natural stone tiles are natural products that develop as a natural product of the Earth and although they may be subjected to other treatments such as sealant, they still need extra care and attention to maintain their appearance and material.

Marble tiles are beautiful tiles and can be used in kitchen and bathrooms, there is no doubt that marble tiles will create an elegant presence but they are a higher maintenance tile that needs extra care and attention to keep them looking good.

Cleaning solutions that have acidic substances should never be used on marble tiles as this can break down the tile and mild soapy water is often adequate enough to keep marble clean, all marble tiles should be properly dried after cleaning as they can absorb moisture and always remove any extra dirt before adding water as marble can scratch quite easily.

Slate tiles are incredibly popular and are great solutions for kitchen floors which are busy traffic areas. Slate tiles are easy to clean and a mild detergent can be used to remove light dirt and grime, for heavier soiled areas, a cleaning solution with mild acid based solutions can be used but always check guidelines on the instructions before use. If the area is not heavily soiled and the grout is clean then no heavy solutions are needed but one problem that occurs over time is grout staining and there are some great products out there that will bring up the grout beautifully. Always remember that slate tiles come in different finishes, some are shiny whilst some are matte and this will make a difference to the cleaning solution you use.

Granite and travertine tiles are also popular beautiful tiles commonly used in kitchens and some areas of the bathroom. Granite tiles and travertine tiles are very often sealed if they are installed on countertops but for granite and travertine floor tiles, stains can cause a problem as the tile material is porous. If there are stubborn stains, a specialist cleaning solution will be necessary but for light dirt and general cleaning, warm soapy water will suffice, always remember to dry tiles to prevent any slippery surfaces.

Tiles installed on backsplash areas and around baths and showers are always prone to more dirt and scum and the grout and tiles can become discoloured over time. Selecting a suitable cleaner for your tile material and using a small clean toothbrush can help remove any stubborn grime and scum but always read all manufacturers guidelines on any cleaner before use.
Keeping your tiles clean from the beginning will help prevent dirt and grime from building up and then you will not have the problem of stubborn discoloured tiles that will spoil the look of your tiles.

# # #

Tile choice supply a wide range of tile choice for the walls and floors, we also supply underfloor heating systems. http://www.tilechoice.co.uk