Tile Cleaning & Maintenance... Beyond Floors

A very large percentage of homes have tile flooring, showers, backsplashes and more.  The question is how to clean the tile and grout. Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, AZ, chatted with Nancy about the do's & don'ts of cleaning all tile.  Share with friends & family who have tile.  Most people are using the wrong products! These are the show notes: > Generally accepted cleaning myths Water Liquid dish soap w/ exception Vinegar, bleach, glass cleaner "Windex" > Types of tile Ceramic & porcelain Stone Glass Metal Mosaic v field > Grout joints Grout joints behave like dirt squeegee's Absorb: spills, grease, grime, oils, wine, etc. Cement v. epoxy -based epoxy is higher-performance to stain resistance New, innovative grout available with infused antimicrobial protectant > Baths & showers, powder-rooms * in showers can harbor germs, grime, mildew * properly ventilate * 'pathway' to wall or substrate behind tile > Kitchens - counters and back-splashes >Sealers & cleaners Seal ALL tile surfaces shortly after time of installation Misconception - barrier to staining Spot-cleaning: baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, clear-liquid dish soap pH-neutral, nothing that will etch tile surfaces or grout "Big-Box" v. commercial products Follow product manufacturers guidelines, instructions This podcast sponsored by Thermador Appliances & Monogram Appliances email comments to [email protected]