One of the most important operational advantages of ceramic tiles is the ease and simplicity of cleaning and maintaining them. The fact that surfaces covered with ceramic tiles are resistant to chemicals makes them particularly suitable for use in all cases where high hygiene requirements are placed on the surface. For any types of contaminants that arise during the use of ceramic coatings, traditional cleaning agents and methods can be used. Mechanical cleaning is carried out by wiping, rinsing, sweeping, removing dust, rubbing with brushes and powder. During chemical cleaning, certain types of contaminants are loosened and dissolved using appropriate chemicals. For this purpose, acid- and alkali-resistant cleaning agents are used, as well as detergent active substances and organic solvents. Optimal cleaning of difficult-to-remove contaminants involves a combination of chemical and mechanical methods. Acidic detergents are used to dissolve lime or cement stains, alkaline detergents are used to remove grease, wax or greasy stains. Chemical cleaning depends on various factors: the concentration of acid and alkali, the chemical composition of the contaminants, the thickness of the contaminant layer, temperature and exposure time of the cleaning agent.
Ceramic tiles and the mortar on which the tiles are laid are not resistant to hydrofluoric acid, so cleaning products containing hydrofluoric acid should not be used.
Primary cleaning
The installation of floor coverings or wall cladding made of ceramic tiles is completed by filling the seams, cutting them and cleaning the surface of the covering or cladding. To remove mortar residues and smudges of setting cement when cutting joints, use a sponge moistened with clean water. The moment of cleaning the surface after finishing is chosen so as not to wash away the solution in the cut seams and not to complicate the process of setting the binder, but, on the other hand, so that contaminants can still be removed with water. If this moment is missed, then cleaning is performed after the mortar in the joints has completely hardened. For this purpose, special acid-based cleaners are recommended.
Routine care
The durability of a lined surface depends largely on how it is used and how it is cared for. Routine care consists of wiping with water and adding appropriate detergents. Floor coverings made from ceramic tiles, in principle, do not require any special care at all; The exception is coatings made from porous unglazed ceramic tiles such as cotto.
Surface care products, that is, various types of wax, acrylic, silicone and others, are sold in the form of ready-to-use emulsions. In some cases, these emulsions are used to deepen the color tone and facilitate daily cleaning of the surfaces of unglazed ceramic coatings or coatings with a matte glaze. Impregnating agents are used based on fluorosilicates and other water- and dirt-repellent substances. It is not recommended to use wax for ceramic granite. To care for a ceramic coating, in most cases it is sufficient to sweep it regularly and wipe it with a damp cloth without the use of chemical additives.
The use of synthetic brushes should be categorically abandoned, because they have a Mohs hardness equal to 2, that is, they are much softer than the surface of ceramic tiles and do not clean the surface, but on the contrary, quickly wearing out, leaving fibers on the surface and, especially in the seams, that are difficult to remove . The use of abrasives (for example, wire brushes) should be limited as much as possible, especially if the ceramic tiles have a polished surface.
Stains and stains on glazed tiles and porcelain stoneware can usually be easily removed with water. It is recommended to treat stubborn stains with appropriate detergents. It should be remembered that only seams sealed with epoxy materials have excellent resistance to chemical influences. Specific stains are removed using:
- solvents (stains - resin, candle wax, glue, chewing gum, marker, ink, ballpoint pen, nail polish, paint);
- acids (stains - lime, cement, ink, nicotine, ballpoint pen, rust, cigarettes);
- alkaline solvents (beer, coffee, Coca-Cola, ice cream, chewing gum, blood, wine).