Why a floor needs to be washed before sealing

- so that staiss and dirt are not sealed into the tile and trapped below the sealer
- to prevent the sealed surface from appearing dirty
- to enable the sealer to penetrate into and grip onto the floor

What you need to know

1. What type of floor is to be washed?
2. What type of marks or stains need to be removed?
3. The type of cleaner is required to achieve the above.

What type of floor is be to washed

It is very important to know what type of floor you are dealing with. A
cement-based tile may look like real terracotta or quarry tile, but the two are
handled in totally different ways.

Cement-based tiles, terrazzo, marble and some other natural stones may be damaged by acid products and such products should not be used on these surfaces.

Ceramic tiles often have a thin, smooth layer protecting the underlying aggregate and may be damaged by too much abrasion. Care should be taken not to use too much force or rough implements when washing or stripping these tiles.

Vinyl tiles may he damaged by solvent strippers, so it is vital to select the right stripper.

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Floor types and Cleaning Requirements

CERAMIC TILES - GLAZED & UNPOLISHED PORCELAIN
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean
Grout & Cement Removal
Tile Doctor Lift Off
Daily Cleaning
Tile Doctor Tile Tonic
Algae and Fungus Remover
Tile Doctor Mould Stop
Paint Spot Removal
Tile Doctor Ultra Strip

MARBLE & POLISHED PORCELAIN
Daily Cleaning
Tile Doctor Tile Tonic
Note: No acid based products to be used. e.g. Lift Off

TERRAZZI
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean
Daily Cleaning
Tile Doctor Tile Tonic
Note: No acid based products to be used. e.g. Lift Off

CEMENT TILES
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean
Daily Cleaning
Tile Doctor Tile Tonic
Note: No acid based products to be used. e.g. Lift Off

CLAY BRICKS
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean or Lift Off
Cement Removal
Tile Doctor Lift Off
Oil Removal Tile Doctor Lift Off

Mould & Black Stain Removal Tile Doctor Mould Stop

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CEMENT BRICKS
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean or Lift Off
Oil Removal
Tile Doctor Lift Off

TERRACOTTA/SLATE/QUARTZITE/SANDSTONE/QUARRY TILES
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean
Grout & Cement Removal
Tile Doctor Lift Off
Daily Cleaning
Tile Doctor Tile Tonic
Severe Oil Removal
Tile Doctor Ultra Strip

VINYL
Wax Removal
Tile Doctor Super Power Clean
Deep Cleaning
Tile Doctor Lift Off
Note: No solvent based product to be used, e.g. Ultra Strip
Note: No acid products to be used, e.g. Lift Off

Recommended Tile Doctor Products

Certain tiles are sensitive to certain chemicals. Exercised caution.

Herewith listed Tile Doctor products with their normal uses:

Tile Doctor Lift Off is an acid based cleaner for removing grout, mortar, and
efflorescence. Acid based cleaners are not suitable for stripping waxes,
polishes and sealers and should not be used on Marble, Cement tiles, and with
great care on Terrazzo.

Tile Doctor Super Power Clean is a safe, highly concentrated general purpose
alkaline degreaser for removing oil, grease, grime, mud, grit, etc.

Tile Doctor Ultra Strip is a highly concentrated solvent based stopper for the
removal of oil from badly stained and soiled terracotta and other porous
surfaces.

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Tile Doctor Tile Tonic is a daily use tile cleaner specially formulated to clean ceramic tiles and sealed tile surfaces. Safe to use on all surfaces including marble and granite. Economical and easy to use. No rinsing or streaking. Puts new life and sparkle into tiles.

Tile Doctor Lift Off is very effective for the removal of paint spots. Will not leave marks or residue, often occurring when mineral turps is used as this often drives the paint into the floor resulting in light oil stains.

What's needed

For Small areas (under 30m²)
- the correct cleaner for the type of floor
- stripping pads
- rubber squeegee for sweeping up water or stripper
- a good clean mop for picking up water
- cloths for drying up
- buckets for water
- soft bristled brush for deep cleaning

For Large areas (over 30m²)
- the correct cleaner for the type of sealer or polish that is on the floor
- stripping pads for edges
- a scrubbing machine with a carbon-fibre brush for washing
- rubber squeegee for sweeping up water or stripper
- a wet-pickup vacuum cleaner to remove water
- plastic sheeting and tape for masking off skirting, cupboards, doors, etc.
- a clean mop for picking up water
- cloths for drying up
- buckets of water
- overshoes or clean gumboots to walk on the floor
- soft bristled brush for deep cleaning

General Principles

1. Read the instructions on the Tile Doctor labels carefully before commencing.

2. Many Tile Doctor products can be diluted, thus saving money. Do a test to see what optimum dilution is.

3. Always spot clean prior to cleaning the entire floor.

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4. On porous surfaces always thoroughly wet the surface with clean water first to reduce the absorption of the tile, thus allowing the chemical mix to remain on the surface for optimum results. This is particularly important when using Tile Doctor Lift Off.

After using Tile Doctor Lift Off, rinse the floor once and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Then apply an antacid. This will allow the antacid to penetrate and neutralize the surface effectively. This is necessary because sealing will not be effective if the surface is acidic.

5. Allow the cleaner time to work. Do not be impatient and try to scrub the surface immediately. This will make the chemical cleaner less effective.

6. Do not allow the cleaner to dry out on the floor.

7. After the cleaner has loosened the dirt, begin scrubbing, either by hand or by machine.

8. When the floor has been cleaned, the resultant mixture must be squeegeed away and the floor should be rinsed until there is no residue or foam.

9. Once spot cleaning is completed, always allow the floor to dry and then examine the floor carefully to see whether it has been thoroughly cleaned.

10. For the occasional deep clean, apply Tile Doctor Super Power Clean to the floor with a mop. Spread evenly keeping the floor wet. Agitate with a soft-bristled brush working along grout lines. Rinse until floor is clean and all foam is removed. Squeegee residue and dirt away.