How To Clean Porcelain Tiles

Indoors or out, porcelain tiles can be an excellent addition to any home. They’re stylish, hardwearing, and incredibly versatile. Whether you give your patio a Mediterranean-style makeover with beige porcelain tiles or go for classic white porcelain tiles in your bathroom, they can instantly refresh your space.

One of the biggest benefits of porcelain floor and wall tiles is that they are super easy to care for. With that said, we have a few tips to help you clean your tiles in the safest and most effective way — the last thing you want to do is apply the wrong products and risk causing damage.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at how to clean porcelain tiles and keep your patio, floor, or walls sparkling.

How Often Should You Clean Porcelain Tiles?

Different tile materials require different levels of care and maintenance. Luckily, porcelain tiles are among the easiest to look after. This is because they are fired at extremely high temperatures, which makes them very dense and sturdy with low porosity.

Depending on footfall and weather conditions, you’ll usually only need to clean your porcelain tiles around once or twice a week. However, you might find this increases in the winter when wet and muddy feet (or paws!) can track dirt across your patio or into the house.

What Products Should You Use To Clean Porcelain Tiles?

The main thing to remember when looking for a floor tile cleaner suitable for porcelain is to avoid ammonia, bleach, or strong acids. These can damage your tiles and may also alter the colour of the grout. Generally, it’s best to go for a cleaner with a neutral PH.

For weekly cleaning, a mild detergent such as washing-up liquid is perfect.

Step-by-step Guide To Cleaning Porcelain Tiles

For a general clean, you’ll need a brush, a mop, clean water, and your chosen floor cleaner.

1. Start by sweeping or vacuuming any dust and loose debris.

2. Use hot water mixed with your floor cleaner to wash your tiles with a soft mop.

3. Rinse the solution away with clean hot water — this is important or you can end up transferring dirt onto your tiles.

4. Dry your tiles using a microfibre towel or similar soft fabric. You can also give the porcelain a good buff to get it shining.

How Do I Remove The Mud Stains From My New Porcelain Patio Tiles?

Porcelain tiles are generally stain-resistant, so you shouldn’t need to worry too much about stubborn staining. However, if you need to tackle tougher marks, such as mud, you can follow the steps above but add in an extra level of tile cleaning.

After sweeping away loose debris, use a soft-bristled brush (along with your cleaning product) and hot water solution to gently scrub the stain. It should lift off fairly easily with a bit of elbow grease. You can then continue to rinse and dry your tiles as usual.

Top Tips For Cleaning Different Tile Types

When you opt for high-quality porcelain tiles, whether for your kitchen, garden, or living room, you can usually expect low maintenance needs. However, it’s also worth noting that some tile styles may need different techniques or additional steps. For example:

• Textured tiles may need more frequent scrubbing with a soft brush to get into the nooks and crannies.

• For bathroom tiles, you may need to get rid of limescale or soap marks. We recommend leaving your cleaning product on the tiles to do its work for a few minutes before rinsing.

• High-gloss tiles can be prone to showing water marks and fingerprints, so take extra care when drying them to buff away any pesky smudges.

How To Remove Rust From Porcelain Tiles

Has a metal plant pot left a rust mark on your patio after a bout of heavy rain? Maybe your deodorant bottle has left an orange ring around your bathroom tiles.

Don’t worry, you can remove these marks with baking soda and white vinegar. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the rust stain and spritz it with the vinegar. Leave the mixture for around 5-10 minutes, and then use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works well) to scrub the mark away.

Rinse any residue away, and your tile should look as good as new.

Can You Jet Wash Outdoor Porcelain Tiles?

You can use a pressure washer on your outdoor porcelain tiles — it can be a great way to give your patio or path a deep clean between seasons. In fact, it can be very helpful to schedule a spring clean to wash away any dirt that’s built up over winter.

However, it’s important to make sure you:

• Use the right type of cleaning solution (as we discussed above).

• Use a low to medium-pressure setting to avoid damaging the surface of your porcelain tiles.

• Work carefully around the grout to make sure you don’t dislodge it.

• Run the water jet in a sweeping motion over the surface several times rather than holding the stream in one place for a prolonged amount of time.

Start With Top-quality Porcelain Tiles From Modern Garden

To get the best out of your floor or wall tiles, it’s best to start with the best quality products. Explore our collection of durable, elegant porcelain tiles and enjoy a stylish home upgrade with minimal maintenance needs.

Take a look at our Classico and Primera ranges, available in either 600 x 600mm or 900 x 600mm dimensions. From sleek grey to traditional cream or our unique wood effect porcelain tiles, you’re sure to find the ideal design for your property.

Feel free to get in touch with the Modern Garden team if you have any questions.