General Maintenance Guidelines For Ceramic Tile

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Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.

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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.

This standard includes general guidelines for maintaining ceramic tile floors.

  • In cleaning ceramic tile, keep in mind that there are two different surfaces, the tile and the grout.
    • Cement grout is considerably more porous than ceramic tile and more susceptible to the accumulation of dirt and stains.
    • Epoxy mortar grout is not as prone to soiling and staining.
Do's Don'ts
  • Dry clean ceramic tile by sweeping with a brush or dust mop or by vacuuming.
  • Use oily sweeping compounds, alkaline cleaning compounds, sealers, polishes, and non-slip coatings are NOT recommended.
  • Remove minor soils by mopping with water.
  • DO NOT leave water or cleaning solution on the floor any longer than necessary.
  • For excessive soiling, use a general-purpose, synthetic detergent mixed with warm water for washing the surface.
  • DO NOT use abrasives or other gritty materials on GLAZED TILES.
  • Rinse thoroughly and mop up rinse water, leaving the floor as dry as possible.
  • DO NOT use acids on glazed tiles.
  • Dirty grouting can be scrubbed with a stiff brush and a mild abrasive powder.
  • Avoid using steel wool pads for scrubbing (they may leave rust spots).
  • USE nylon abrasive pads for heavy duty cleaning.
  • DO NOT use abrasive powders for scrubbing ceramic tile (it is messy and almost impossible to remove).