Customer Service: Maintenance Tips Ceramic Tile Maintenance Ceramic Tile General Information Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials that have been subjected to heat treatment. Tiles used in the home are set in a thin plaster-like substance called grout. Care & Cleaning Glazed tile should be treated like porcelain enamel. Avoid using harsh abrasive powders, which will scratch the finish. Occasional bleaching will clean the grout. The easiest way to clean a ceramic tile floor is to scrub it with an electric floor washer or polisher scrubber. This thorough cleaning action should brighten the tile and joints. Use a solution of 1/4 cup low-sudsing detergent or 1-2 tablespoons of washing soda, tri-sodium phosphate or a commercial floor cleaning powder in 1 gallon of water, then rinse well. Sealing tile grout will aid in its longevity and beauty. Old English lemon oil in a bottle (not the spray) works well. Let the oil sit on the tile deck for two hours and then buff off with a cloth. This will not discolor the grout and will work as a sealant for up to a year, and even longer with minimal water exposure. Even if tiles have been sealed, there may still be white or gray dust tracked over both the tile surface and onto carpeted floor areas. The whitish dust is from the grout used in laying the floor. You may use muriatic acid to clean up the floor surface. (Dilute the muriatic acid, 1 part acid to ten parts water). If the floor is not flushed thoroughly with water after clean up, the muriatic acid will continue to leach lime from the grout causing the whitish dust. Remove soap scum by sponging with a mixture of a 1/2 cup packaged water softener, plus 2 tablespoons of rotten stone plus 1 cup of hot water; or use a solution of 1-2 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate in 1 gallon hot water. Rinse. Remove mildew by cleaning with a dilute solution of chlorine bleach in water, following label directions on bleach. Rinse. Mildew retardant household spray can also be used. A rough white coating is a buildup of minerals from hard water (like you get in a teakettle). Dissolve it with a commercial tile cleaner and wipe off. Occasionally a dark varnish-like stain may build up in a tile shower that has not been cleaned regularly. It is a build-up of body oils and soap scum and is very hard to remove. Cover the spot with full strength liquid laundry detergent and let it stand for a couple of hours. Then sponge with water. If it still doesn't come off, leave detergent on longer and scrub with a brush. Don't use this on porcelain enamel tubs, fiberglass or plastic surfaces as it may damage them.