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Expert Answers
How do you keep unglazed mosaics clean?
QUESTION
How do you keep unglazed mosaics clean? - I Have a mosaic unglazed porcelain floor. Since day one it's been a nightmare to get it cleaned and we never really managed to. Some of the tiles seem very dirty like gray (The floor is white). Some sheets seem to be different in color. In desperation I tried to sand some of the tiles with 120 grit and they do get clean although the color is different. I would like to know if we can actually grind the floor with diamond pads. I have A marble specialist in house and he is very professional. I would like him to test an area and see what we get. Anything I should know or can I go ahead?ANSWER
ANSWER - The key to maintaining unglazed mosaics is to properly seal it, and properly maintain it.There are penetrating types of sealers such as Miracle 511 Impregnator that works well over unglazed mosaics. The sealer doesn't make the tile or grout waterproof or stain proof, but it will make them resistant to moisture and staining. The sealer will make the tile easier to maintain if the sealer is maintained. Normally you have to reapply every 6 months or so depending on the degree of traffic and wear and tear that it is subjected to. The spills need to be cleaned timely and properly to prevent staining. e.g. can't use water to clean up oil stains. Must use a detergent; thus use the appropriate cleaner for the respective type of spill or stain. For a list of manufacturers who make tile cleaners and sealers with links to their website go to our Cleaners and Sealers Resources on our website.
Key to applying sealer is to first make sure the floor and grout is perfectly clean and dry or you will trap in stains and moisture. When you apply the sealer make sure that within 5 minutes you wipe the surface dry with a lint free cloth. Otherwise the sealer can leave a sticky residue that can cause the floor to pick up dirt and can peel off.
To maintain a floor tile it should be cleaned daily with a detergent cleaner using a brush on an extended handle and not a mop that most of the time just moves the surface dirt around. Use a wet and dry vacuum to pick up the dirty water and then rinse the floor with clean water and pick it up with the vacuum. You can then let it air dry. When water doesn't bead up from the surface of the tile our grout to some degree, it is time to reseal.
Unglazed porcelain tiles can be, and are, polished just like a natural granite stone with the same tools and methods. Since you have the mosaics installed you might be able to grind and polish it to a satisfactory condition. With all the grout joints and eased edge of the tiles it might not polish well at the edges, but you can try. I would test it out first to make sure you are happy with the results. Beware that the tile surface will be a lot more slippery particularly when wet afterwards. Good luck.
