Care & Maintenance of Tile & Stone

Tile and stone floors are perhaps the easiest type of floor to keep clean. Dusting, vacuuming & sweeping the tile floors keeps accumulation dirt or girt that can cause surface to scratch.

Recommended Maintenance of Tile & Stone:

• Use protective mats at all of your entrances. It is a good idea to use them at heavy traffic areas as well, such as your stove or sinks. Good quality mats will help shield your ceramic floor from premature wear and also trap dirt and other substances that can get tracked inside.
• Use protective pads on furniture. You can protect your ceramic tile by attaching felt pads to the legs of any wood, plastic, metal or iron furniture that touches the tile. Not only can furniture legs be the cause of scratching, but metal furniture outside, on patios or tile floors, may rust and also cause staining.
• Mop ceramic floors at least once a week, depending on the amount of traffic in that area. Use a damp mop and an approved ceramic tile cleaner or a mixture of 2 gallons of water with 1 cup of white vinegar. Do not use detergents or soaps because they can support mildew growth or dull the tile surface. *Caution: New tile and grout needs to dry for at least 72 hours after installation before you use a damp mop.
• Only recommended cleaners and sealers should be used. You should use approved floor care products or the vinegar solution described above. Any cleaners or sealers not approved for your flooring type may cause unnecessary damage to your grout and tile.
• Grout should cure for at least 28 days before applying a sealer, unless a different curing time frame is specified on its packaging.
• Quarry tiles need a penetrating sealer, they are the only tiles that need this. Penetrating sealers are absorbed into the tile, creating a stain resistant guard right below the surface. The majority of sealers will darken or modify the appearance of the tile, and resealing your tile is usually needed every 12 to 18 months.