Cleaning ceramic floor tiles

[Floydy]

We have some floors laid in Fired Earth Ethos ceramic tiles and have been struggling with the right cleaning. I'm in the process of using Lithofin products recommeded by Fired Earth to clean and seal these tiles.

For ongoing maintenance I'm thinking of getting a Lavor Sprinter scrubber / drier. Anyone on here got any experience of using this kind of device?

 

[diamondtiling]

Hi Floydy and welcome, I have not used one of the cleaners but no doubt you will get a lot of help soon from the other members that have.

 

[Floydy]

Thanks for the welcome, Diamondtiling

I see Sir Ramic took out my link, apologies for seeming like I was advertising.

I have no connection with any company involved - I'm merely a consumer faced with a cleaning problem. Today I spent 6 hours on my hands and knees with Lithofin Intensive Cleaner, a scrubbing brush and a cleaning cloth, cleaning over 40 square metres. I'm pleased with the results (see attached pic), but it's a pain in the ****. :smiley2:

I'm just hoping that I'd be able to achieve the same results with the Lavor thingy, it's expensive, but if it does the job I'll be happy to make the investment.

 

[enduro]

The only problem with these scrubber dryers is the do not clean the grout joints. What area are we talking about, so i could advice more.

 

[White Room]

You mention ceramic tiles are they unglazed is that why your sealing them, don't know that perticuler tile

 

[Floydy]

The only problem with these scrubber dryers is the do not clean the grout joints. What area are we talking about, so i could advice more.

We've got about 40 square metres of these tiles - kitchen, hallway, utility room and downstairs bathroom - and they were laid in the smaller of the two sizes available, so there is alot of grout joint to clean. My efforts yesterday with the Lithofin cleaner and a scrubbing brush hasn't cleaned the grout either, so any advice would be very welcome. Especially advice that doesn't involve me spending hours on my hands and knees - my ageing joints and muscles are complaining this morning.

You mention ceramic tiles are they unglazed is that why your sealing them, don't know that perticuler tile

They are unglazed - "eggshell" is the best way I can think of describing the texture. I'm hoping that sealing them will make regular cleaning easier and more effective.

 

[enduro]

You need a wet vac, rotary scrubber (get one on Ebay) and some grout brushes, and some Aqua Mix Heavy Duty Tile & grout cleaner frow www.tradetiler.co.uk you may have to ring for this.

 

[Floydy]

Thanks for the advice, Enduro.

I'm guessing that the grout brushes fit onto the end of the wet vac hose?

 

[enduro]

Thanks for the advice, Enduro.

I'm guessing that the grout brushes fit onto the end of the wet vac hose?

Go onto www.cleanstore.co.uk and under the heading brushes click that and you will see loads of grout brushes that go onto a handle.

 

[Floydy]

Once again, thanks, Enduro.

The grout brushes will certainly make things easier on my poor old knees :regular_smile:

I shall give the Aquamix stuff a go.

I was outbid on a 2nd hand Lavor Sprinter on ebay last night, perhaps it's just as well.

 

[Floydy]

I tried the Aquamix Heavy Duty Tile and Grout cleaner today, and it didn't get the grout any cleaner than the Lithofin Intensive Cleaner did. Anyone got any other suggestions?

 

[Terry Cottar]

I tried the Aquamix Heavy Duty Tile and Grout cleaner today, and it didn't get the grout any cleaner than the Lithofin Intensive Cleaner did. Anyone got any other suggestions?

How long did you leave it to dwell?

Tel

 

[Floydy]

The label suggests 10 mins, I tried that, and then I tried 30 mins. I started out at 1:5 dilution, then at 1:1.

 

[mary80]

I'm still using a mix made from vinegar, salt and baking soda, in equal quantities each. It works like a charm.