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How to clean film off of porcelain tile?
QUESTION
How to clean film off of porcelain tile? In October, I had wood look porcelain tile laid in the den and kitchen-smooth finish. Having lived with tile in Italy, I used Pine Sol as cleaner once a week. Now the tile has a semi shiny film all over. It resembles varnished wood where the varnish is wearing off. Have used vinegar and then ammonia. But what really gets it off is friction... Lots of scrubbing with scrubby-sponge. Is there a cleaner that will take the film off?ANSWER
ANSWER - I’m surprised that Pine-Sol would leave a shiny surface on your wood looking glazed porcelain tile. Looking at Pine-Sol’s ingredients it shows that it is water soluble. The glazed porcelain tile is impervious so whatever is on it should only be on the tile surface.I would not use vinegar or any other acid as they can do more harm than good. I would use a detergent in water and scrub it with a 3m type pad. Test this process out first before you do the entire floor to make sure you are satisfied with the results.
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I have brand new porcelain matte glazed wood look tiles that I’m having a hard time cleaning. I vacuum then mop with microfiber mop but after it dries you can see a layer of film, every foot and shoe print shows, every drop of water shows even right after I clean.
I have tried plane water, water with vinegar, water and a little detergent (Myers and dawn), water with a little detergent and vinegar and also ran my hover floor mate but no improvement. What’s the best way and product to clean the tiles?
First you need to determine what caused the film? Was the film on the tile before it was installed? Or did the film only show up during the tile installation? Or was there something done to the tile after the tile installation that left a film?
Some tiles do come with a coating over the tile to protect the tile during shipping, but it will normally clean off during the water cleanup after grouting. It should be water cleanable.
If you sealed the tile after it was installed, then sometimes when sealers are used and if you don’t buff the surface dry then the tile surface will be come tacky and pick up foot prints and dirt. If that was the case you have to strip the sealer off the tile. With some penetrating sealers you can take more sealer and apply to break down the sealer on the tile and then buff dry it with a lint free cloth.
It is more likely that the film is from the tile installation. Sometimes the polymer modified thin-sets and grouts can leave a latex haze. If that is it then you should buy a latex haze remover from the tile store.
The film could be a cementitious grout haze, but it would normally come off with a mild acid. You can go to the tile stores and buy a cementitious grout haze remover.
If the film is from cleaning the tile during normal maintenance then cleaning the floor properly should remove it. To properly clean the floor you should get a scrub brush on an extended handle. Mix a floor cleaner detergent to add to the water. Wet the floor with the solution and let it sit for 10 minutes or so. Then scrub the floor with the scrub brush. Then pick up the dirty water with a wet vacuum. Then rinse the floor with clean water. Then pick up the dirty water with a wet vacuum. You can air dry or buff dry the floor with a lint free cloth.
Hi, thanks for the advice. I’ve read that white vinegar is safe to use for cleaning tiles. It is thought to be a natural disinfectant that removes any built-up dirt or grease on the tiles. I have tried it a couple of times and it seems to work fine. Is it likely to ruin the surface of tiles in the long run? Thanks.
Historically old time tile installers would use a diluted solution of vinegar to remove the cementitious haze off of the tile installation after it was grouted.
The vinegar is only good for cleaning cementitious haze soon after the installation. It should not be used as a daily cleaner as it doesn’t do anything to clean petroleum or organic based residuals.
For most glazed tiles the diluted vinegar would not etch the tile surface causing permanent damage. Although I only recommend using store bought tile cleaners to ensure the solution isn’t too acidic that could cause damage.