Cleaning and maintenance

Beauty of Porcelain tiles can be overshadowed by cement chunks and grout spots left after flooring installation. If these are not removed in time, they can prevent the floor from showing its perfect finished and thus affect the good appearance of the place .

Once the grouting process is finished and having left a prudential waiting time for the gripping material and the grouting to have dried adequately, a first cleaning should be carried out Since porcelain is resistant to chemical corrosion, it can be cleaned with strong detergents, concrete removers or descalers, but be sure you read the cleaning product’s label carefully to check that it does not contain hydrogen fluoride, since it damages porcelain tiles and other types of ceramic tiles. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ratio suggestions.

Before applying the product on the whole floor, try it on a small area or on one of your extra tiles. Leave it for a while and see the final result. ALCALAGRES S.A. has tested and recommends DETERDEK from FILA for the first cleaning of your tile flooring.

ALCALAGRES integral porcelain tiles do not require special maintenance. Use hot water and a neutral detergent in everyday cleaning. For anti-slip finishes it is recommended to dilute hydrochloric acid with water in a proportion of 10 % to facilitate the cleaning process. Use a hard-fiber brush on unfinished or textured and anti slip tiles to remove dirt from rough surfaces.
Industrial cleaning machines that use hot water are ideal to clean large surface areas. Avoid wax polish, or oily or colored soap and follow the machine manufacturer’s instructions on what detergent you should choose.

Polished porcelain requires more careful maintenance, especially plain and light colored tiles, as polishing increases slightly the tiles’ porosity as compared to natural, matt tiles.

ALCALAGRES polished porcelain tiles are sealed at the factory to protect staining during job process .For everyday cleaning, use a wet mopping, which will immediately show its characteristic brightness.

Clean any spills immediately to avoid permanent stains.

To clean tiles installed in workshops, bars, industrial kitchens, etc. you can always buy commercial cleaners that remove rubber, grease, paint, etc. Knowing the origin of the stain helps to decide which solvent you should apply to remove it.
Although acid products –except those containing hydrogen fluoride– do not affect ALCALAGRES porcelain tiles they can be unsafe for both people and decorative or structural objects. Use them with caution, following the manufacturers’ instructions. Concentrated caustic soda on floor tiles can affect the look of the polished surface, even if it does not alter its basic properties. ALCALAGRES shall not be liable for any damages resulting from the use or application of products on materials other than recommended for porcelain tiles.