New porcelain tile bathrooms and upkeep

6 years ago

We are on the last leg of our new home build and wondering what you have found that is the best cleaner for porcelain floors and porcelain shower tile. Also a cleaning product for the grout. I’ve used the search function and it basically gave me nothing. I’ve always gotten good opinions from you so I thought
I’d ask you guys.

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

6 years ago

OK...just be aware that natural stone (especially marble) require a different approach to cleaning. The chemicals that work well on porcelain tile and grout can be too aggressive for stone. The transom is going to be an area of special concern.

I personally like Tilex as a cleaner. I will also use a bleach based "Tile and Grout" cleaner. I'll SOAK the tiles/grout in the cleaner and then walk away for 30 minutes. I'll come back (once the fumes have died down) and then rewet the cleaner with MORE cleaner (misting instead of soaking) and then scrub the dickens out of the grout and the tiles. It is a heavy duty cleaning I use about once a year.

The rest of the time you can use a squeegee and a weekly spray down of a product you like.

The STONE does NOT react well to anything I just mentioned above. It pits, etches and discolours when coated in the harsh chemicals. Did your installer seal the Marble? It is easy to figure out. Simply place a drop of water (yep...just a drop that comes off of your finger) on the stone. If it beads like water on a new car, then the stone is sealed. If it soaks in like water into the desert then the stone is unsealed.

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Comments (11)

SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
First Question: Do you have any natural stone or is it all porcelain?
riverrat1 thanked SJ McCarthy
riverrat1
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes. The countertops are all natural marble stone slabs. In one shower the transom cap (when you step into the shower) is marble (see picture above). Ceramic tile on walls of two showers.
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PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Glazed ceramics and porcelain floor perhaps? Best bet is to consult your tiler and understand what type grout and sealants are in your shower. My first go to is dawn dish soap and water, DEPENDING if your sealants and grout can handle it ill add a dose of distilled vinegar . It is paramount to know exactly the brand / type grout and change of plane sealants used to come up with a weekly cleaning approach.. Other than that i always use TILE specific cleaners. Miracle sealants has a full line and their tech support can help you greatly, but you need to know every material in the room.

****NOTE Acids(sulfamic etc) and vinegar can etch certain metals as well as pull color from certain grouts, and wreak havoc on any type tile with a film glaze on it. so be careful. Talk to the installer.
riverrat1 thanked Mint tile Minneapolis
riverrat1
Original Author
6 years ago
@ Mint Tile LLC,In the above first picture there are three different materials. Ceramic, porcelain and marble. I guess I'll need to be really careful and make sure to let the cleaner know. I have planned to go through the house with my house cleaner to let her know that most cleaning products will not be the same.

I'm off to look at Miracle sealents.

Thank you!
strategery
6 years ago
Porcelain is indestructible, you can't harm it.

Marble is porous and soft, you can easily damage it. Careful if you have marble nearby.

Tilex and equivalent is good for showers.
riverrat1 thanked strategery
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
@op did not see the marble threshold thats a no acid situation 😃
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mtpo
6 years ago
I asked my builder to use the upgraded grout that does not need to be sealed after the install, resists mold and is supposed to be easier to keep clean than regular grout. I was really surprised when the salesperson in the tile showroom told me that I can’t use bleach on this grout even if the grout is white. She said it weakens the grout and will cause it to pit and eventually crumble. She said to use a mild cleaner. Is this the same for all grout? Will it be impossible to keep white grout clean?

The tile installer said they they usually use a marble threshold for the (all porcelain tile) showers. Is there something else I can ask for — other than marble. Seems like marble is just asking for trouble.
riverrat1 thanked mtpo
azelizabeth
6 years ago
Why is everyone swaying me away from limestone for the bathrooms?
riverrat1
Original Author
6 years ago
@ mtpo, I have white grout also. My plan is to keep it as clean as I can and stay on top of it.

@ axelizabeth, From my limited knowledge I believe you shouldn't use limestone because it's pourous.

The Miracle sealant product I found cleans porcelian, ceramic, grout and marble. Readily available from Amazon. Thank you, Mint Tile LLC!
Nan Kni
2 years ago
We have a 20 year old porcelain kitchen floor. Usually I just bleach the grout to get it clean, but it is a smelly mess. 3 months ago I tried hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. The baking soda was a little messy, but it can be wiped with a cloth rag and later vacuumed when dry. I bought a number of spray hydrogen peroxide bottles and regular bottles of hydrogen peroxide to refill the spray bottles. The maintenance part is pretty easy. After the floor is washed, after everyone has gone to bed, I spray any stained or dirty grout with the hydrogen peroxide and the next morning it looks great.