If you’re searching how to take care of porcelain tiles, the good news is that the hard part was done at the factory. First grade porcelain is fired into a dense body that absorbs almost no water, so it doesn’t need sealing or polishing. What it needs is a simple routine, the right products and a little attention to the grout.
This guide is for UK homes and projects: a homeowner looking for an easy routine, or an architect or contractor preparing a care note at handover.
How to take care of porcelain tiles: the golden rules
- Keep grit off the surface. Sand and dust cause most wear on any hard floor.
- Clean with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner.
- Skip wax, oil soaps and “shine” products. Porcelain can’t absorb them, so they sit on top as a sticky film.
- Look after the grout, the most porous part of any tiled surface.
Why porcelain is easy to live with
The tiles we supply are first grade porcelain in group BIa, with water absorption of 0.5% or less. Liquids stay on the surface long enough to be wiped away, and the tile body needs no sealer. A marble-effect or stone-effect porcelain tile gets its look from the fired glaze, so everyday acids such as lemon juice or wine won’t etch it. The same goes for stone looks: travertine effect porcelain needs no sealing either, unlike the real stone.
In short: your routine is really about what sits on the tile (grit, residue, limescale) and the grout between the tiles.
Everyday and weekly cleaning
Every day
- Sweep or vacuum with a soft brush head before grit gets dragged across the floor.
- Wipe worktops, vanities and splashbacks with a damp microfibre cloth.
- Dry around sinks and showers, especially in hard water areas.
Once a week
- Vacuum or sweep first.
- Mop with warm water and a small dose of pH-neutral tile cleaner.
- Rinse if the label asks you to, so no residue is left behind.
- Buff polished finishes dry with a clean microfibre cloth to avoid streaks.
More cleaner doesn’t mean cleaner tiles. Too much product leaves a film that attracts dirt and makes the floor look dull.
Products to avoid
- Wax, polish and oil soaps
- Abrasive powders and scouring pads on polished finishes
- Products containing hydrofluoric acid
- Strong acids used routinely, which wear away cement based grout
Grout care
Standard cement based grout is porous and can stain. Rectified tiles allow narrow joints, often 2 to 3 mm, so there is less of it to look after.
- Seal cement grout if your fitter recommends it, with a grout sealer, and refresh it as the product advises.
- Brush the joints with a soft nylon brush and pH-neutral cleaner every few weeks in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Consider epoxy grout for wet rooms and busy kitchens, as it is far less absorbent.
- Repair early. Cracked grout lets water behind the tiles.
Stains, marks and limescale
- Fresh spills: blot, then wipe with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner.
- Grease: a degreasing tile cleaner, then rinse.
- Scuffs and metal marks: a non-abrasive cream cleaner, tested on a spare tile first.
- Limescale: a descaler labelled safe for porcelain, used briefly, kept off the grout and rinsed well.
- Hazy film on new tiles: usually grout residue from installation. Ask your fitter to remove it with a residue remover made for porcelain, and don’t use wax to hide it.
Long-term protection
- Use mats at every entrance and felt pads under furniture. Grit can dull a polished finish over time.
- Keep a few spare tiles from the same batch in case one is chipped by a heavy impact.
- In wet rooms, squeegee after use and check silicone joints each year.
- With underfloor heating, clean as normal. Porcelain conducts heat well; just follow the system’s warm-up schedule after installation.
- Large rectified formats such as 120x60 or 40x90 have few joints, so a well laid floor has very little to maintain.
As a practical rule: once a year, check grout and silicone, and give the joints a deep clean.
MARVRA guidance
MARVRA supplies first grade marble-effect and stone-effect porcelain made by EXA in Saudi Arabia: rectified, 11 mm thick, in 120x60, 30x60 and 40x90. We can help you choose a finish and format for each room and send samples so you can see the tile in your own light.
Speak to MARVRA for samples, specification support or advice on caring for your porcelain tiles.