How to clean this floor

[smallblock]

Hey guys I have this type of floor throughout my whole house pretty much and wanted to know if there is some chemical to clean it with. Is there some acid or something to use. I want to get it back looking like it was brand new. Also is there a way to seal this floor or clear coat it? If you look close the grout is supposed to be a bright gray and its now black. Lemme know if there is a way to do this. Thanks

 

[dakota9]

Go to Lowe's or HD and look in the flooring section. Both stores carry a professional line of cleaners.

You need to strip it before you put down a gloss finish, so you're looking at at least a two step process.

 

[smallblock]

lemme know a little bit more

 

[dvara78]

I believe you can use Sulfumic Acid to clean tiled floors.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100171510/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053">http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100171510/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053</a>

don't quote me on this though. As with any checmical - try it in a small area first and if it works then use it on the entire floor

 

[dakota9]

Actually, muriatic acid can be used to clean a floor, but the better way is to go to Lowe's and get the professional strength cleaner. It comes in a plastic bottle and pours out like water, no smell or mess. I think I remember it requires dilution (not full strength).

I had installed a Saltillo Tile floor in my old house, but didn't have the time to properly seal it once I grouted it.

A few months went by, and the traffic areas were black, the tile, the grout. I was concerned it was ruined, but went to Lowe's and got the cleaner and the gloss.

I poured the cleaner on the floor, and let it sit for a while as per instructions. I didn't see how it was going to really work, as the stuff looked like water, with virtually no smell. After 20 minutes or so, I mopped up all sorts of black crude, and had to mop like four times to get all the dirt residue off the floor. It looked new again like it did when I had first grouted it.

Then I used the gloss finished, which kind of reminded me of Elmer's glue, but not quite as thick. It had more smell to it than the cleaner did, but it was a light, clean smell.

Two coats of that stuff and you could see the faint reflection of your hand when you passed it over the tile.

The finish lasted well after I sold the house.....

Wish I could remember the name of the brand, but it's in the same colored bottles as the grout bags that Lowe's sells. It's all marketed by the same company.

Good Luck with it! Clean out the whole room if you can, don't leave big pieces of furniture to work around, if it's avoidable.

I owned a janitorial service for 13 years, and I know how to clean floors, and these are the products I would use to do this job.

Edit: I looked it up.....

I pretty sure the line of products I used is marketed by a company called Tile Lab. It's been a while, so I could be mistaken, but believe this to be the line.

Edit: Oh, and to clean the Reef Octopus, I'd soak it in vinegar and water..........

 

[gnashty]

Muratic all the way.....just be careful

 

[eagle9252]

remember its acid wear gloves plenty of fresh air

 

[smallblock]

I used Muratic acid, and it worked pretty good in most places, now what do I use to seal and polish?

 

[irahmatulla]

Is it a faux brick? I used to install a lot of tile. It looks like a ceramic 3x6 or 4x8 and laid in a brick pattern. It(if it is ceramic), in itself should not need any polishing or sealing, but the grout will need a sealer applied every 6 months. You can find it at any flooring department, and it is a real pain to do. We just suggested the Muriatic acid wash(10 to 1. Works wonders, gets mold out and a lot of dirt that settles in the cracks. However, if you ever get a "pet stain" it will turn black and never come out, you will have to take out the grout and redo it.

 

[fish scales2]

This a quarry tile and any harsh acid will etch it, thus creating a white film. A mild acid or even vinegar and water will work fine. Elbow grease is your friend. Do you know if a sealer was used. Definitely not a porcelain or ceramic tile.

a:link { text-decoration: none; }a:visited { text-decoration: none; }a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }a:active { text-decoration: none; }

alt="" /></a>
<p style="text-align:right">

alt="" /></a> http://www.tilestores.net/login.php"> [B] Login[/B]</a>




[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/index.php">Home</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/images/nav-divider.png alt="" />

alt="" />

alt="" />

alt="" />

alt="" /> http://www.tilestores.net/contact-us.php">Contact Us</a>

[B] [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/index.php">Home</a> &gt; [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/articles.php"> All Articles </a> &gt; Current Article
[/B] [B]How To Clean Quarry Tile Floors[/B] Posted on: Jul.29.2011 Quarry tile is a very porous, [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=63">unglazed tile</a>, made of clay, much like brick. It is a very durable yet inexpensive tile that is used in commercial bathrooms and kitchens. Considering they are very inexpensive and durable they are perfect to use in high traffic areas of your home. They will come in earth tones, mainly red, orange, and brown and create a very rustic look in any room. Since they are a very porous ceramic tile you can seal them to create a bond that will protect them from staining and make cleaning your quarry tile floor very easy. Cleaning your quarry tiles does not have to be a pain. Get ready to clean your quarry tile floor with ease!
[B]Vacuum or Sweep Dirt Off Quarry Tile Floor[/B]
You want to clean off all the loose dirt from your quarry tile floor. We do not recommend using a normal vacuum because you can starch the floor. Instead, we would use the attachment on the vacuum that connects a nozzle to the hose. They will typically have soft bristles on the bottom that will not scratch the floor. You can also use a canister vacuum, if you have one. If you have a soft bristled broom you can sweep the floor. Try sweeping in different direction to ensure you get all the dirt.
[B]Mop Floor To Clean And Stubborn Dirt[/B]
After you vacuum the floor you will notice some dirt is still on the tile. To get a deeper clean you should mob the quarry tiles. First try, mopping the tiles with warm water and if you the floor is still dirty try using a cleaner mixed with water. There are a lot of [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=77">quarry tile cleaners</a> but the best option would be an enzyme based cleanser. We recommend using an antibacterial cleaner to fully clean the quarry tile floor. Some brands to look for would be Green home, EnziBrite, Naturally Clean, and Aquamix.
[B]Rinse Quarry Tiles To Remove Tile Cleanser Residue[/B]
If you used a cleanser it is common to see a cleanser residue left on the tile. Do not worry, it is easy to remove. You should rinse out your mop to rid it of any excess cleanser. Next , mop your floor with water to clean off the residue. We recommend using soft water to avoid leaving mineral deposits on your tile.
[B]Dry and Polish Floor[/B]
Use clean towels to wipe your [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=59">quarry tile</a> clean. Once the tiles are dried, you can tell if it needs any re-cleaning, additional sealing, or polish. If you notice any discoloration, dullness, haze, or film on the tile you may need to re-mop or polish the tiles. First, try re-moping them with water and white vinegar, then dry. If they still appear discolored or hazed you may need to re-seal them and try using a quarry tile polish or wax on the affected areas after sealant is applied.
[B]Re-Seal Quarry Tiles[/B]
If you tile needs it, you should re-seal your tile. This is not a step you will need to follow with every cleaning but should be evaluated after every cleaning. Once you re-seal the tile you can use a tile or paste wax to finish. Remember that quarry tile floors could require up to 2 or 3 coats to properly seal them.
When looking for sealants, use a commercial sealant for terrazzo and slate. Seal the tiled floor according to the direction on the package and use an acrylic finished after you apply sealant. Use a paste or tile wax to finish off the re-sealing process.
For a tile that is similar to brick, it is commonly used in the home and commercial locations. Quarry tiles are a perfect tile to use on the floor due to their durability. This rustic clay ceramic tile comes in several earth tone colors and as long as it is sealed, can be a very easy tile to keep clean. Since it is very porous, keeping your quarry tile sealed is very important to avoid deep stains. Following our quarry tile cleaning steps will make cleaning your tile a breeze!
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/images/share.png alt="" />
http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&winname=addthis&pub=xa-4d3b9f703a4ab00f&source=tbx32-250&lng=en&s=google&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tilestores.net%2Farticle_detail.php%3Fid%3D68&title=How%20To%20Clean%20Quarry%20Tile%20Floors%20-%20TileStores.net&ate=AT-xa-4d3b9f703a4ab00f/-/-/4e956f57062f01b2/1/4e919ae72725b35b&frommenu=1&cr=1&uid=4e919ae72725b35b&ct=1&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcleaning%2Bcommercial%2Bquarry%2Btile%26ie%3Dutf-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26aq%3Dt%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26client%3Dfirefox-a&tt=0"></a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=68#"></a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=68#"></a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=68#"></a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/article_detail.php?id=68#"></a>


[B]Categories[/B]
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?tilestore=3"> Tile Installers and Contractors</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?tilestore=2"> Online Tile Stores</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?tilestore=1"> Tile Stores</a>
[B]Popular Categories[/B]
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=84"> Decorative Tile Installer</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=83"> Decorative Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=82"> Decorative Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=79"> Stone</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=78"> Stone Installer</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=77"> Quarry Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=76"> Brick Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=75"> Porcelain Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=74"> Agglomerate Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=73"> Mexican Tile / Terracota Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=72"> Clay Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=71"> Bluestone</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=70"> Concrete Tile</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=69"> Granite</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?sub_cat=68"> Marble</a>
[B]Popular Locations[/B]
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?city=Los%20Angeles">Los Angeles</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/search2.php?state=California">California</a>

[B]Pages[/B]
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/about-us.php">About Us</a>
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/video.php">Videos</a>
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/articles.php">Articles</a>
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/blog/">Blog</a>
[IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/contact-us.php">Contact Us</a>



Copyright [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/site-map.php">Site Map</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/contact-us.php">Contact Us</a> [IMG]http://www.tilestores.net/privacy-policy.php">Privacy Policy</a>

 

[smallblock]

Thanks Chris!!!, its not really the tile I'm worried about cleaning its the grout, its all black when its supposed to be like a light gray I think.