ROUTINE CARE
Glazed tile products should be cleaned routinely with an all-purpose, low VOC, household or commercial cleaner. The product chosen should also be grout joint cleaning compatible. The type of product may vary depending on the tile application and use. A multipurpose spray cleaner, which removes soap scum, hard water deposits and mildew designed for everyday use can be used on wall tile areas in residential baths and showers. A cotton mop, cloth, sponge, or non-metallic brush should be used to apply and agitate cleaner. Rinse the area with clean water and dry thoroughly. Routine cleaners should never contain harsh chemicals as these can damage tile. Acids can damage grout and the glazed surface of the tile. Ammonia can discolor grout.

Regular dust mopping, sweeping, or vacuuming is recommended prior to cleaning with liquid products.

Unglazed tile should be cleaned routinely with concentrated tile cleaners with a neutral pH for safe regular use. These cleaners are better suited for removing grease, oils, and normal spills from unglazed products. Again these products will vary depending on the application, amount of traffic and the use. The product chosen should also be compatible with the grout.

REMOVAL OF SEALERS, WAXES, FLOOR FINISHES

Glazed ceramic tile should not be sealed. It is recommended that grout be sealed.

If you need to remove a topical sealer or floor wax from a ceramic tile you should use a tile sealer and adhesive remover. Always test a small area first. Apply a liberal amount of undiluted sealer & adhesive remover to a manageable area. Allow it to set without drying until coating or residue softens. Reapply if necessary until sealer softens and can be removed. If necessary, agitate with white nylon scrub pad. Wipe up the residue with a cotton towel or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Do not use ceramic sealer removers on natural stone products.

GROUT CARE

Grout is the material used to fill the spaces between the individual tiles. Grout comes in many colors. While color is important to the final finished look of the tile installation, it has little effect on the functionality of the grout. The purpose of grout is, simply, to fill the joint between the tiles and becomes a permanent, integral component of the finished installation. Grout darkens over time so we recommend that it be sealed regularly to preserve and protect it. Grout can be stained to normalize the color of older grout.

GROUT INSTALLATION

Immediately after tile has been installed and grouted, the new installation should be covered with brown paper to protect it from debris during the remaining construction process. The grout joints should be dampened daily with water using a clean sponge or mop during the first seven days. This procedure facilitates the grout cure and color lock. The paper will allow for two important things: (1) to protect the newly installed tile grout and (2) to allow moisture to escape from the grout as it cures, further protecting the look and utility of the floor. This is an important step in achieving color consistency. Never use plastic or non-absorbent materials to protect freshly installed tile. These types of non-absorbent products will trap moisture, causing the grout to discolor during the curing period. The protective brown paper should remain until construction is complete and the floor is opened for intended (post-construction) use.

Following a curing period of at least 24 hours, grout haze can be removed with plain water or a grout haze remover, which usually contains Sulfamic acid. Sulfamic acid can also be purchased in powder form and mixed with water to different strengths by qualified professionals. Similarly, epoxy grout haze can be removed with an epoxy haze remover. These removers are formulated to safely and quickly remove cured epoxy haze from new tile installations. Their unique formulation will soften most epoxy hazes for easy removal without damaging the grout or tile, usually in one application. Sulfamic acid or grout removers should never be used on natural stone products.

PENETRATING/IMPREGNATING SEALER

Most tile installations use cementitious grouts. This type of grout should be sealed after installation to prevent it from staining. The grout should be sealed with a penetrating/impregnating sealer (often called grout sealers), which does not contain silicone, as silicone can shorten the useful life of the sealer. Epoxy grouts, conversely, are chemically cured and acid resistant, and as a result, do not require a sealer. The application of a good quality penetrating/impregnating sealer into the grout joints of a cementitious grout will not change the natural color of the grout, but will prevent the penetration of moisture, simplify maintenance, and help prevent staining or discoloration. Only the grout needs to be sealed, it is not required for glazed tiles to be sealed. Grout can be sealed 72 hours after installation.

There are different grades of penetrating/impregnating sealers. Be sure you are aware of the life-span of your sealer. You may need to reapply the sealer on an annual basis depending on the sealer quality, traffic patterns, and maintenance routine. Some sealers have multiple year warranties. Refer to the manufacturer warranty, technical & product information for specific details on product installation, useful life, and product applications (including any warnings) before use.

GROUT MAINTENANCE

Neither sealing the grout nor using an epoxy grout will guarantee against surface buildup or discoloration of the grout. Grout needs to be cleaned on a periodic basis to remove any surface buildup. Routine grout cleaning can be done with a daily concentrated household or commercial cleaner depending on the application. When heavy-duty grout cleaning is required, you will need to use a professional strength tile and grout cleaner that is capable of removing grease, soap scum, body oil, mildew stains, algae, and synthetic or acrylic waxes from the grout joints. However, such a product should contain non-polluting chemicals and low VOC levels. This type of product can be purchased from most home centers, or through your local professional floor covering dealer.

GROUT COLOR RESTORATION

When grout has been stained to the point that it cannot be maintained or returned to its natural color, you can return the grout back to its original color or any other color through the use of a grout stain. Grout stains are epoxy-based products that are specifically designed to penetrate into the grout and seal the surface with a permanent color. Once the grout has been stained there is no need to seal it any further with a penetrating/impregnating sealer. Prior to staining, the grout joint should be cleaned thoroughly to remove any dirt, oils, grease, or sealers with a professional strength tile and grout cleaner.

Wood floors bring an earthy warm feel to the house. Besides the aesthetic factor wood floors are gaining popularity due to their being green in nature. Woodfloors look beautiful alongside with being durable and strong. If one chooses to install wooden flooring, one must also understand how to clean and maintain it.

Depending on the type of wooden flooring, here are some valuable tips which would help you to keep the floor clean and looking new. These factors would help not only to maintain the floor but would also increase the longevity of the floor.

Laminate Wood Flooring

For Laminate wood flooring the vacuum cleaner or the flipper mop is very efficient to remove the dust from the floor. In case some food or liquid is spilled on the floor and forms a stubborn stain then a dampened moist cloth should be used to remove it and thereafter wipe it with dry cloth to completely devoid the moisture from the surface.

Other important factors to keep in mind for the maintenance of the wooden flooring and saving it from getting mucky, loosing luster and increasing its life are:

• Maintain the right temperature and humidity which will ensure a long and healthy life to the wood floors.
• Avoid the use of oil, wax or any other furniture spray.
• Save your wooden flooring from steam cleaning. Steam cleaning is meant for tile, linoleum, and vinyl floors and if done on a wood floor, it may leave the floor looking dull.
• Never use ammonia, alkaline products or any other abrasive cleaners on wood floors. These products can make your floor look luster less, dull and can induce scratches.
• Place the soft doormats and rugs to avoid dirt and debris at bay.
• Use of glue felt pads to the legs of furniture and chairs avoids scratches on the flooring when objects are moved. Periodically examine the pads for wear and tear and replace them, when needed. Avoid rolling chairs with casters on the finished surface. Put them on rugs or Plexiglas chair mats. Place floor protectors under narrow casters, or replace them with wide rubber or flexible polyurethane casters.
• Do not drag furniture or heavy objects across the finished surface. Lift if any furniture has to be moved.
• Protect wood surfaces from direct sunlight by using blinds or curtains. Prolonged or repeated exposure to bright light can change the color of wood.

Taking all the above precautions and cleaning it with care can keep your floors looking beautiful and lustrous for longer period.

With 15 years experience MG Flooring presents best quality wooden flooring from leading brands. MG Flooring has its exclusive woodfloor studio in Harare, where premium and high quality wood flooring is available.