Q: Why should I seal my grout? A: If you seal your grout
with Grout Sealer
it will help to keep it looking like new for longer. As dirt will
be kept at the surface it will also facilitate the cleaning of the
grout. Grout sealer also inhibits the growth of mildew as it seals
up the pores thus making it much harder for mildew and mould spores
to take hold. Q: Should I seal my stone flooring? A: If you want to protect it from staining then yes. If your floor is at all porous it will benefit from being sealed. To test for porosity; put a few drops of clean water on the stone - if they are absorbed, it is porous. Sealing the stone will provide 'reaction time'
this gives you the chance to react and clean up spills and potential
stains before they get deep into the stone. Also, water-borne contaminants
will be kept at the surface where they can be more easily cleaned.
You have probably paid a lot of money for your stone, using a good
quality sealer will help to protect that investment and help it
to look it's best for years to come. For polished stone such as
marble, granite or honed limestone we would recommend Sealer's
Choice 15 Gold, for textured stone such as rustic slate and
sandstone we would recommend Seal
and Finish Low Sheen. A: For small isolated areas use Grout Deep Clean. This is ideal on worktops, windowsills, walls and floors. For larger areas use Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner It has a deep cleaning action and will help bring the grout to a clean condition. If the grout is so ingrained with dirt and
has gone beyond cleaning, consider Grout
Colorant - see below. A: This is not quite so straightforward.
In short, it depends on the porcelain. Porcelain tiles have evolved
much over the last few years with the result that there are now
many different standards available, although generally speaking,
the first generation porcelain tiles were so dense that they did
not require sealing it is no longer the case that all porcelain
tiles are impervious. First conduct a water test - if your porcelain
tile absorbs water then it may benefit from being sealed. For detailed
information visit out How To section. Product recommendations: Sealer's
Choice 15 Gold, Penetrating
Sealer. Q: My glazed tiles are dull - can I seal them? A: No, if a tile is glazed then it is effectively sealed with a very thin layer of glass. The dullness may be as a result of wear (in which case it is possible that the tile is coming to end of its useful life), or perhaps more commonly there is some kind of deposit or build-up on the surface. For lime-scale build up in shower areas use Shower Tiles Plus. For floors perform a deep clean with Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner and take care to rinse well. Q: Can I change the colour of my existing grout? A: Yes. Aqua Mix Grout
Colorant can be applied to any grout. It will bond to the grout
but not to glazed tiles. It is easy to apply and washes off the
tile with just plain water. It can be used on walls, floors, worktops
and inside or out. Grout Colorant
also effectively seals the grout for up to 15 years in domestic
situations. A: If the grout is less than
5 to 10 days old then try using Grout
Haze Clean-Up neat. If it is older then you will have to use
a mild acid such as Phosphoric
Acid Cleaner. DO NOT USE STRONG BRICK ACIDS
as they can do irreparable damage to the grout joint itself. Q: I have a new polished marble floor, there appears to be a grout haze on the surface I am told that I cannot use acid based cleaners on this - what can I do? A: Unlike glazed tiles, polished marble (and honed limestone) is sensitive to acid cleaners (even mild ones like Phosphoric acid) and will almost certainly be damaged if you attempt to clean them using such products. We suggest that you try a solution of Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner with water and Poultice powder. The poultice is just abrasive enough to help remove the cement film but not to scratch the surface of the marble - Always test a small area first! For full instructions visit our 'How-To' section. Top Q: How do I get rid of mould or mildew from my grout joints? A: A mild coving of mould,
mildew or algae can be removed using Shower Tiles Plus. For more
deeply ingrained staining it may be useful to try spraying some
dilute household bleach onto the affected areas and leave it to
act for an hour or so before rinsing with plenty of fresh water-
Always test a small area first! This should certainly kill the mould.
If there are still stains then consider re-colouring the grout with
Grout Colorant. A: Many people 'discover' a wonderful, original Victorian style floor when they move into a new (old) home or maybe lift a hall carpet or other floor covering. These floors are typified by small unglazed clay tiles in earthy colours; red, black, buff, sometimes with white, blue and green elements, laid in geometric repeating patterns with sometimes quite elaborate borders. The usual problem with these floors is a build up of waxes, polishes and many years of general dirt and grime. This can be safely and effectively cleaned with Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner. For deeply ingrained dirt, thick coatings
or floor covering adhesive residues, use Sealer
and Adhesive Remover. |
