Cleaning and Sealing Geometric and Encaustic Floor Tiles

Damage can occur to a floor finish by misuse or incorrect maintenance because of inadequate initial instructions. Personnel responsible for maintenance should be given full information concerning any particular risks of misuse likely to occur, including recommendations for cleaning.

Ceramic floor finishes require little maintenance and are easily kept clean by regular sweeping and then washing with warm water to which a soap less detergent has been added.

Unsuitable cleaning agents
Effective cleaning will only be achieved by the use of proprietary products designed for use on ceramic tiles. Cleaning usually involves washing or scrubbing with warm water and a neutral ‘sulphate-free’ detergent e.g. HG Superfloor Maintenance Cleaner.
An organic solvent or a highly alkaline detergent ( pH 9) may remove greasy deposits. E.g. HG Yellow Remover. These should only be used for occasional
cleaning.

INGRAINED DIRT
HG REMOVER is recommended by the manufacturer as being suitable for the deep cleaning of Victorian floor tiles.

CEMENT DEPOSITS
HG EXTRA. This is an acid based cleaner so care is needed, and hands should be protected. Allow sufficient ventilation since the smell can be unpleasant. Acid based cleaners should be used for nothing other than cleaning cement-based stains, usually from the tile adhesive. It is important that a thorough rinsing with clean water immediately follows this treatment.

OIL and GREASE
HG YELLOW REMOVER or a highly alkaline detergent with pH level greater than 9.

CARPET ADHESIVE
Solvent, D-SOLVE, by smearing it over the affected area, leave for approx. 20 minutes and scrape off with a plastic knife or spatula.

Acid based cleaners will not remove this type of deposit.

WHITE DEPOSITS
Known as Efflorescence, is aggravated by excessively damp conditions or where there was a prolonged period of drying after the floor was laid. It may persist if it is due to rising moisture where damp-resisting construction is inadequate.

The deposit should disappear with progressive washing. However, persistent deposits should be removed with HG EXTRA.

GENERAL CLEANING
Use warm water and a neutral sulphate-free detergent e.g.
HG SUPERFLOOR MAINTENANCE CLEANER.

Household soaps are not recommended as they leave a slippery scum, especially in hard-water areas.

SEALING
After the thorough cleaning of the floor the tiles need to be sealed against further staining. This can be achieved by using HG IMPREGNATOR. Only one coat will be necessary and in domestic situations this single coat will last a lifetime. In commercial or heavy traffic areas the floor will need to be stripped approximately every two years and a new coat of sealant applied.
It is most important to remove any excess prior to drying, to prevent a streaky appearance.

POLISHING
If the floor is to be polished most proprietary brands of floor polish will suffice. HG GOLVPOLISH is recommended by the manufacturer as requiring low maintenance.

Historically floors of this type were treated with a mixture of boiled Linseed Oil and Beeswax. This treatment should not be undertaken as during the drying period any dust settling on the floor will be “trapped” and will permanently lie on the surface of the tiles, since there is no known method of removing the Linseed Oil and Beeswax.

Remember: It is important to ensure that any cleaning agents used should be completely removed by final rinsing with clean water.

Useful Addresses

Building Adhesives Limited (BAL)
Longton Road
Trentham
Stoke on Trent
ST4 8JB
Tel:01782 591100 / Technical 01782 591120

HG products are distributed by: -

Hagesan Ltd
Unit 8
Grange Way Business Park
Whitehall Road Industrial Estate
Colchester
Essex
CO2 8HF

Tel 01206 795200
Fax 01206 795201

D-SOLVE is distributed by: -

Seldon Research Ltd
Ashbourne Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9RZ

Tel 01298 26226
Fax 01298 26540