Internal Porcelain Cleaning & Maintenance

Following the grout installation, it is necessary to remove any residue on the face of the tile. On most occasions this can be removed with a damp sponge.

Should stubborn grout residue remain, we recommend using the Lithofin Cement Residue Remover, designed to dissolve deposits such as cement and mortar residues, as well as residues of flexible grouting materials. As this product is acid based, we recommend using water to wet the grout joints with a sponge prior to application of the product, to help buffer the grout joints from the acid.

For further information, read our Porcelain Installation Cleaning guide below.

We recommend using both dry and wet methods to keep your porcelain flooring looking its best.

Sweeping and vacuuming (with the soft attachment) is great to pick up crumbs etc from the floor, whilst an occasional mop will keep your floor hygienic and lift light stains.

It is important to use cleaning products designed for porcelain flooring, we recommend the Lithofin Conditioning Cleaner for regular cleaning. Always check the manufacturers guidelines and test in a discreet area.

Read our Regular Cleaning guide for porcelain tiles below.

Yes, due to the tiles low water absorbency steam mops are suitable to use on porcelain flooring.

For a deep clean, we recommend using the Lithofin Intensive Cleaner. This is designed to remove stubborn dirt. To work out the correct ratio of product to water for your floor, we recommend testing the product on a tile in a discreet area with a ratio of 1:10. Apply generously and leave the product on for 8-10 minutes - scrubbing every minute with a stiff brush. Rinse twice with clear water and towel dry or wet vac the tile before assessing the results.

For more information, read our Occasional Deep Cleaning guide for porcelain tiles below.

We do not recommend using products that contain Hydrofluoric Acid as these can cause irreversible damage to the tile.

For regular cleaning in bathrooms, we recommend using either the Lithofin Conditioning Cleaner or the Lithofin Intensive Cleaner.

If watermarks or limescale remains in bathrooms, we recommend using the Lithofin Ceramic Cleaner, designed specifically to remove the build up of limescale, rust, grease deposits and soap scum from porcelain tiles.

Begin by testing the product on an affected tile using the below method. If there is no change, please contact the technical team at Lithofin who will be able to advise further.

Depending on the stubbornness of the dirt, dilute the product up to 1:15 and apply it to the affected tiles with a wet sponge. Allow the product to work briefly, then rinse well with water. In order to protect cement-based
grout lines, wet the surface prior to application and use the product only in diluted form.

Please note the above products are only suitable for ceramics/porcelain and should not be used with natural stone.

On occasion, it is possible for porcelain tiles to appear smeary in certain lights, you may even notice footprints on the surface. This is caused by polymer residue that needs to be cleaned from the surface.

The majority of cementitious grouts now contain polymers which improves both strength and flexibility. Your professional installer will clean the grout residue once the grout has been installed, however, if polymer residue remains it is necessary for your installer to conduct a secondary clean.

Often you can test for polymer residue by using your finger to rub the tile with force, if a rubbery residue is formed it indicates polymer residue is present.

When testing for polymer removal, we recommend using the Lithofin Intensive Clean, an alkaline cleaner designed to break down the polymer residue. Begin by testing the product on two affected tiles using the below method.

Dilute the product at a ratio of 1:2, apply generously and leave the product on for 10-15 minutes - scrubbing every minute with a stiff brush.

Rinse twice with clear water and towel dry or wet vac the tile before assessing the results. If you are not satisfied, increase the ratio of product to water and test again.

We do not recommend using this product neat. Work in small controlled sections (2-3m2 at a time).

For further information, read our cleaning smeary/patching tiles guide below.