Cleaning black slate bathroom tiles HELP!

[Twinmadhouse]

My black slate bathroom tiles have been down about 8 years. See picture:


TBH they weren't perfect from day one. One of our builders left some lovely gritty footprints through the wet sealer :-(

Anyway we've had a go at resealing them a couple of times in the past but they look worse than ever at the moment. We have 3 small children who drip toothpaste, soap and bodily fluids (boys wee seems to contain some kind of acid that could be used in a nuclear war) all over the floor. Can't decide whether to get someone in or tackle it myself so I'm posting in here and in the tiler wanted section.



This gives you an idea of some of the marks around the basin.

What on earth do I use to get this clean and how do I apply it? I've seen talk of buffing machines, wire scrubber, scrubbing brushes, etc.

I love the kind of sheen that it has just after I've mopped it and that's how I'd like it to look when it's done (dark black and a bit shiny but not see your face in it shiny). What kind of finish is that and how should I apply it?

Some of the grout is a bit grubby in places. Is there someway of cleaning that?

I need to get the room redecorated. Do I get that done first or is it better to sort the floor first?

Finally, how do I look after them so that they don't end up in this state again?

Thanks for any advice
Harassed Mum who wishes someone would invent a self-cleaning house!

 

[Qwerty]

Okay. My advice is firstly to decorate. Then thoroughly clean tiles using LTP grimex and then reseal with LTP iron wax satin or mattstone. Both have a similar look to that which you desire but are different sealers. The grimex should suffice in cleaning the tiles & grout but if not then consider LTP solvex.
Maintain with LTP waxwash if using the mattstone sealer or floorshine if using the iron wax satin. Both are great sealers, just different types.
What type of sealer was used before?

 

[Twinmadhouse]

Okay. My advice is firstly to decorate. Then thoroughly clean tiles using LTP grimex and then reseal with LTP iron wax satin or mattstone. Both have a similar look to that which you desire but are different sealers. The grimex should suffice in cleaning the tiles & grout but if not then consider LTP solvex.
Maintain with LTP waxwash if using the mattstone sealer or floorshine if using the iron wax satin. Both are great sealers, just different types.
What type of sealer was used before?

Thank you :hurray:

What should I use to apply the grimex? Do I need a wire brush or just a scrubbing brush or something else?

I think we had an LTP sealer last time (the packaging looks familiar), although I think we maybe only put one coat on. Would you put a few coats on? Just with a brush?

 

[Qwerty]

Grimex mixed with water & applied with a stiff scrubbing brush. Sealer applied with a paint pad or gloss roller. Yes two coats should suffice

 

[Lee@emctiles]

This may help.

Universeal Cement Away, tiles at the top covered in excess grout scrubbed with cement away, washed down with clean water results in the tile looking great again.