Expert Answers
My Tile Looks Dirty and Won't Come Clean
QUESTION
My Tile Looks Dirty and Won't Come Clean - I do have a question concerning ceramic tile. We just moved into a new home with ceramic tile floors and have noticed that the luster of the tile on the floor when compared to the luster on tiles from an extra box is gone. The floor tile looks dirty and the flooring installers/builder have done an acid wash (sulfamic acid solution) without any impact. We have tried to clean it with water only and again no luck. Can anyone shed an insight as to potential causes?ANSWER
ANSWER - There are many types of ceramic tile that have different physical properties and different limitations. Not sure if your tile is glazed or unglazed or polished, or what the body type is of the ceramic tile e.g. porcelain, vitreous, etc.You indicate it is a new tile, so I am going to assume you have a glazed tile (clay body tile with a glazed impervious surface) or a polished surface tile. You say the luster (sheen) of the unused extra tiles has much more of shine than the installed tiles on the floor, and the floor has a dirty look. You used sulphamic acid to try to remove the apparent haze and it didn't work. I assume you also tried a cleaning detergent to clean the tile surface that did not work.
If there was a cement film/haze on the tile left over from the tile installation the sulphamic acid should have worked. Sulphamic acid is a very mild acid and generally safe acid, unlike muriatic acid. If the floor had previously been cleaned with a strong solution of muriatic acid, or some type of acid cleaner, it could have etched the glazed or polished surface of the tile. This would permanently left a type of haze on the glazed tile surface that can't be remediated. It would have left a haze on the polished tile surface, but it can be remediated by repolishing the tile. Unglazed tiles normally do not etch from being subjected to acids.
It is possible that a sealer was applied to the surface of the tile and grout to make it easier to keep clean and avoid staining in the grout joints. Certain types of sealers can trap moisture in the tile and develop a cloudy look. Or sometimes if the sealer isn't buffed dry on dense tiles it can become tacky and pick up dirt. In this case you have to strip the sealer off with a sealer stripped as provided by many tile and stone cleaner and sealer manufacturers. You can go to our website in the Resources section to see a list of manufacturers with links to their websites.
The other possibility is that the polished or glazed tile has an optical haze. An optical haze is cloudy mottled look that can only been seen under certain conditions and angles when light is reflecting off of the surface of the tile. It may occur when certain lights are turned on due to how they are positioned in the house or it may occur at certain times of the day near windows that allow sunlight that comes in. Other than when the tile is subjected to those conditions the haze isn't noticeable. The haze is the result of how the tile is either polished or glazed during the manufacturing of it. In these cases, you need to control the source of the light to prevent the haze from being noticed by closing curtains at certain times of the day or moving your lighting inside of the house.
You need to experiment in order to determine what is causing your tile to appear as it does, and then to determine how to remediate the problem.
29 thoughts on “My Tile Looks Dirty and Won’t Come Clean”
Comments are closed.
I just installed matte or unglazed penny tiles. I’m dealing with the same situation. You clean them but when they dry they look dusty.
I’m having the same issue. I just washed mine 3x & then went over it w just hot water. It looks so dull & if you walk on it w bare feet or even socks, you can see even the tiniest mark’s EVERYWHERE! It constantly looks dirty. My heart is sad as we layed this throughout the whole house-Ughhhhh. & yes, the Sunlight is plentiful so you CAN REALLY see it!!! Any insight is appreciated.
As stated above it depends on what type of tile you have to determine what are your options. Also what does the tiles that have not been installed look like. If they have the same condition then I would assume the manufacturer intended to have that look. If it doesn’t have the same dull look then you have to determine what has the tile been subjected to during or since the installation. If it is a grout or thin-set haze there are cleaners for removing those. If it is some other type of residual on the tile then you have to determine what it is in order to know how to remove it.
If it is a glazed ceramic tile you should use a neutral detergent with a bristle scrub brush on an extended handle to see if it is clean able. If the tile is intended to look dull then you could always use a wax product to give it a sheen, although that will create more maintenance in maintaining the tile.
I am dealing with the same issue, and it drives me crazy. Glazed porcelain travertine tiles, I think, installed with new house. No matter how much I clean, the tiles look dirty and esp show foot traffic from bare feet, socks. etc. I’ve read about the “lighting” and this seems like a no-win situation. I would never had selected these tiles, had I known that no cleaner will improve the situation. Infuriating.
The question is whether your tiles are dirty and you can’t clean them or if they have polishing marks. If it fact you have a glazed tile, then they would not have polishing marks.
There are sealers that can be applied to the tile surface that will help keep the tiles from picking up dirt and foot prints. The porcelain tile is very dense, so when you apply an impregnating sealer it won’t absorb much so you have to buff it dry right away with a dry lint free cloth or the surface will become sticky.
Before you seal the tile you have to make sure it is clean to your satisfaction or you will trap the dirt or stains on the tile. I have heard some say that Miracle 511 impregnator sealer worked well for them. Their contact info and others is listed on our site at https://ctasc.com/category/resources/cleaners-sealers/.
To properly clean the tile floor, you should use a neutral based detergent in water. Get a scrub brush on an extended handle. Wet and soak the floor for about 10 minutes and then scrub. Use a wet vacuum to pick up the dirty water. Rinse the floor with clean water and pick it up with the wet vacuum. Let the floor dry over night and seal with an appropriate sealer to act as a bond breaker so things won’t tend to stick to it.
I have had tile installed in my bathroom and is always dirty. I clean it and the next day there is dirt on it. I cant keep it clean. I think it was not finished or glazed. I called the contractor and he was suppose to call the tile supplier, however no response.
Some tiles have finish or texture on it that might be more slip resistant, but gets dirty faster and you have to clean it more frequently.
To help diminish the tile surface from picking up dirt and foot prints, you can apply a penetrating sealer over it like Miracle 511 Impregnator. For porous tiles they will readily absorb the sealer. For less porous tiles you have to immediately wipe the floor dry with a lint-free cloth after applying the sealer or if it dries on the tile surface it will get tacky and be a bigger problem.
Donato, do you recommend using a floor scrubbing machine like those by Oreck or Prolux? I have textured wood grain porcelain tiles that are very difficult to clean well. I was thinking of using a floor cleaner such as what you recommend with detergent then a floor scrubbing machine. Followed by shop vac.
If you have a large enough area and you aren’t concerned about the flooring scrubbing machine flinging water on walls and adjacent furniture or appliances then you could use a commercial scrubber.
Normally the best way to clean a tile that has dirt or grease is to add a cleaning detergent to clean water. Apply the water on the floor and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then scrub the floor with a bristle brush on an extended handle. Use a wet vacuum to remove the dirty water. Rinse the floor with clean water. Use a wet vacuum to remove the rinse water. Let it air fry and buff dry it with a lint free cloth.
My tile is never clean- I use a steamer on it that gets to 311 degrees, use cleaners etc. I wipe it with white rag and it always comes up dirty. It’s a Daltile porcelain tile faux wood plank. It doesn’t show dirt but when you wipe it, it looks filthy! Help!
It may look dirty, but all tile is cleanable if cleaned properly.
Normally the best way to clean a tile that has dirt or grease is to add a cleaning detergent to clean water. Apply the water on the floor and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then scrub the floor with a bristle brush on an extended handle. Use a wet vacuum to remove the dirty water. Rinse the floor with clean water. Use a wet vacuum to remove the rinse water. Let it air fry and buff dry it with a lint free cloth.
Hello, we had installed tile wood looking floor about three years ago. The floors look dirty all the time even after cleaning them. We have tried every product, even just hot water and vinegar. We have even had the Floors steam cleaned by a professional. They stayed fairly clean for about two days and then returned to the dirty look again. Help! Someone recommended that I Seal them, as they were neighbors sealed when they were installed.
You don’t want to use vinegar to clean tile as it is acidic and can harm the surface of some tiles if too concentrated. Plus it isn’t a degreaser to remove more common soiling to floors.
Your wood looking tile probably has a texture to it to make it look more authentic. Textured surfaces to provide more slip resistance but can cause more maintenance as it gets dirty more frequently.
You should use a neutral based detergent in water. Get a scrub brush on an extended handle. Wet and soak the floor for about 10 minutes and then scrub. Use a wet vacuum to pick up the dirty water. Rinse the floor with clean water and pick it up with the wet vacuum. Let the floor dry over night and seal with an appropriate sealer to act as a bond breaker so things won’t tend to stick to it.
To help diminish the tile surface from picking up dirt and foot prints, you can apply a penetrating sealer over it like Miracle 511 Impregnator. For porous tiles they will readily absorb the sealer. For less porous tiles you have to immediately wipe the floor dry with a lint-free cloth after applying the sealer or if it dries on the tile surface it will get tacky and be a bigger problem.
I have 30 year old unfinished Saltillo tiles that I love.
They are getting older and still look good but are now dull. I know how to clean them but not shine them.
Is there any way to shine them a bit without sanding and without adding a plastic coating?
Will baking soda with a buffer machine do it?
Our experience with coatings is that they break down in about 5 years and leave ugly discolored streaks on the tile. We did one bedroom that way and regret it.
Sealers don’t last all that long depending on the environment, traffic conditions, and climatic conditions they are subjected to.
You do want to avoid surface sealers that tend to eventually peal and you have to strip off.
There penetrating enhancer sealers that enhance the color, but doesn’t provide a sheen or if they do it is a very low sheen. There are some sealers that will provide a more robust sheen, but you are likely going to need to reapply the sealer at least annually to maintain the look in an exterior environment. Glaze N Seal has a variety of sealers that provide different levels of sheen. Their website info and others are located on our website at: https://ctasc.com/category/resources/cleaners-sealers/
I have wood-look porcelain tile only two weeks old. Looked pretty good (except for some stains from installation which the installers couldn’t remove despite an acid wash and won’t come out for me) until I moved in and started walking on it. Now it’s dull and splotchy (ESPECIALLY in natural light) and can’t be cleaned. Shoes leave marks (scuffs as well as shoeprints), but bare feet and white socks turn black (as if walking on asphalt). I’m bitterly disappointed. Friends and family with porcelain tile are mystified, saying nothing like this has ever happened to them. This has cost well over $10K in supplies and labor after MONTHS of planning, labor, and approval hassles. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
It is always questionable about using acid on tile to clean it particularly muriatic acid, which is very corrosive. Also it depends on what the concentration is of the acid. There are products sold with highly diluted phosphoric or sulfamic acid that can be used without hurting the tile.
Many of the tile adhesives and grouts are polymer modified products which is a dry form of latex so they won’t come clean with acid. You need to use a latex remover for those types of residues.
Assuming the acid hasn’t caused a problem that might not be repairable, how you clean the tile can be important. Textured tile surfaces are going to have more of a propensity to pick up dirt and require more effort to keep it clean, but they are more slip resistant.
Normally the best way to clean a tile that has dirt or grease is to add a cleaning detergent to clean water. Apply the water on the floor and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then scrub the floor with a bristle brush on an extended handle. Use a wet vacuum to remove the dirty water. Rinse the floor with clean water. Use a wet vacuum to remove the rinse water. Let it air fry and buff dry it with a lint free cloth.
What you need to do is experiment with different cleaners on tiles out of the way to see what works and is acceptable to you before applying that method over the entire floor.
I’m having the same problem after a bathroom remodel. My new countertop, floor tile, bathtub, and shower tile all look dirty and feel gritty to the the touch. Why? Because the contractor failed to clean the bathroom that he just remodeled, covered with dust, before applying the sealer. As a result, he sealed in the dust on every surface. No amount of cleaning can fix this. I’m praying that a sealer stripper will resolve this, but I’m open to suggestions.
If the debris is under or embedded within the sealer, then you need to remove the sealer to remove the debris. It is best to use the stripper that the manufacturer of the sealer recommends. Some sealer strippers on some types of surfaces can cause damage so you have to be careful. Be careful to not use too abrasive of a cleaning pad so you don’t scratch the surfaces. If you have a natural stone you can always have a professional stone restoration company restore it by doing a light grind, repolishing as necessary, and resealing.
When you say cleaning detergent, what kind of agent do you mean? We have new matte porcelain tile in our kitchen and it is very hard to clean, already picked up red dirt from the builders and we can’t get it off. Thank you for your advice
for regular maintenance of floors it is recommended by some to take a liquid floor detergent that you add to water. You use an appropriate scrub brush on an extended handle and apply the cleaner to the floor. Let it set for 10 minutes more or less, and scrub it with the scrub brush. You then use a wet vacuum to pick up the dirty water. You then rinse the floor with clean water and pick it up with the we vacuum, and then if necessary buff the floor dry with a lint free cloth.
Thank you for providing such valuable information. This is exactly what I was looking for. I discovered your blog through Google; it has been a great resource. tile and grout cleaning
I have same issue as many of the comments. Porcelain matte finish tiles were installed and they look dull compared to new ones. They had to remove all the grout and regrout and took our contractor 1 year to finish (no that is not a typo). I suspect it is from so much dirt. I use dish soap, water and vinegar and hot water and soft microfiber mop and literally less than an hour after mopping dirty! Footprints, water marks that don’t come off, dog nail scratch marks!!! We are saddened and looking for a better cleaning solution. Do you have product recommendations?
Some tiles have more texture than other tiles. Normally the more textured tiles are more slip resistant, but they require more maintenance. Applying a penetrating type of sealer like Miracle 511 Impregnator can help make the tile easier to clean to some degree. It isn’t magic so it won’t be self-cleaning.
Porcelain tiles are impervious so it doesn’t absorb much, but if you apply the sealer with a spray bottle and lint free cloth, and then right away buff the tile floor dry it can help keep the floor from getting as dirty as quick and can help make it easier to clean. Make sure you remove the excess sealer with a dry lint free cloth right away or it can cause a bigger problem as dirt will stick to it.
Before you seal the tile, first you must get the tile perfectly clean and dry. Use a liquid detergent in water and soak the floor for 10 minutes. Use a scrub brush on an extended handle and scrub the floor to remove any embedded dirt. Then use a wet vacuum to pick up the dirty water. You might have to was the floor twice if it hasn’t been cleaned for awhile. After the cleaning with the detergent and vacuuming up the dirty water, use clean water to rinse the floor and vacuum that up too. Let the floor tile and grout dry out and then per the sealer manufacture’s directions seal the floor tile and grout.
If you have a cementitious film on the floor this won’t remove it. You need a mild acidic clearer for floor tile.
Before you seal everywhere, test a small out of the way area to make sure you will be satisfied with the result before applying to the entire floor.
Seems we have the same kind of issues with our 2200 sq ft of wood look porcelain tile we purchased and had installed from the big box store here in Florida. When it’s wet, it gives you hope that maybe that last washing worked. Alas, the cloudy, blotchy, dirty tile comes right back. Had the installer try cleaning it with the commercial phosphoric acid cleaner. Looked better but it still feels like I’m living on the beach. ON the beach! LOL I waited a long time for this renovation and it’s very disappointing to have this happen. So, the installation boss came today. He says it’s not grout haze. It’s defective tile. He says when it was made, it was improperly glazed or something like that. So, now, the store will do some kind of test and either will offer to clean and glaze it or remove and replace it. My whole house, except 2 bathrooms. What are your thoughts?
It is too bad your porcelain tile floor isn’t performing as it should. Ceramic Porcelain tiles are very durable and normally perform well. If it is a wood-look plank tile of tile it should not have any type of polish finish that would cause a blotchy look.
Normally the things that can cause a floor tile to be difficult to clean is if there is a cementitious residue haze on the floor from the grouting or adhering process. Normally a mild diluted acidic solution will remove it.
You have to be very carful with using acids. Phosphoric acid isn’t as corrosive as some, but it should not be used full strength. A off-the-shelf diluted phosphoric solution is normally safe. If you use too corrosive of an acid it can etch the surface of the tile, which means it chemically alters the tile surface and can’t be repaired.
Sometimes there could a latex film on tiles from polymer or latex modified grouts or adhesives. Acid won’t remove that. The tile suppliers off carry a product for removing that kind of residue.
Sometimes if they put a sealer over the tile surface and do not apply it correctly, it can pick up dirt and be difficult to clean. In this case you have to use a sealer stripper or more of the same sealer to emulsify the sealer on the tile surface so you can then buff it dry with a clean lint-free cloth.
It is possible there is an issue with the glazed tile surface but not likely. It is possible to forensically evaluate the condition and perform laboratory testing to determine what it is and what caused it, which the will help determine how best to remediate it. But that might not be financially practical depending on what is your situation. Our company does perform those types of services, but it isn’t cheap. For more informaton on the forensic services go to: https://ctasc.com/ctasc-services/forensic-failure-investigations/
Thank you so much for your reply and the information. When we have cleaned it, it still has large dark areas, not just spots, that you can see immediately that did not come off. So, I’m wondering about this: It must be completely clean before glaze is applied, of course. If that is possible, then why haven’t we been able to get it clean? The other question is how long does the glaze last? For 2 years or 10 years, etc? Hoping to get a resolution soon so we can go on with our lives! I realize it’s a first world problem so I will be grateful when I can just clean my floor and be happy about the way it looks.
The only way to understand your situation is for a forensic professional such as CTaSC.com to inspect, test and evaluate. You use the term glaze, but a glaze is a glass-like substance that is fired in a kiln at about 2,000 degrees F. So you can’t glaze a tile that has been installed. Maybe you are referring to a sealer, but a porcelain tile doesn’t need a sealer, and a sealer isn’t going to fix your problem, and it shouldn’t be applied until the tile is fully clean. There is no way for us to fully understand your situation or to give any advice without our first hand knowledge of the conditions and situation.
Very informative post! This blog information was very helpful, your blog is recommended. Keep it up.