Regular, basic cleaning with warm water and mild soap is sufficient to keep floors looking good. You can also use gentle, everyday multipurpose spray cleaner to remove soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew.
Things to Avoid
Stay away from products with bleach or ammonia because they can change the tile or grout coloring. If you need to scrub your floors, make sure not to use any brushes with hard bristles since they can scratch the porcelain surface.
For regular cleaning, just sweep away debris, wipe with clean water, and thoroughly dry. For deep cleaning, use a pH-neutral or mildly alkaline detergent. Use a nylon or plastic scrubber, if needed.
For anyone wondering how to make porcelain tiles shine weekly, there are two types of cleaning that you should always perform. The first is week-to-week cleaning which consists of sweeping and vacuuming to remove any dirt or debris. The next way to clean is with a vinegar-water solution and should be completed monthly.
In some cases where the tile surface has a texture that tends to get dirty easily, a penetrating sealer can be applied to the tile surface. The sealer acts as a bond breaker so dirt doesn't tend to cling to it.
For most types of tile, including porcelain and ceramic, you only need one key ingredient: A DIY mixture of warm water and dish soap will do the trick. Follow these steps to clean tiles: Spray the water and dish soap solution on the tile surface. Wipe the area with a damp microfiber towel or cloth.
You can safely use vinegar to clean ceramic or porcelain tiles, whether they are glazed or unglazed. For other types, however, like terracotta, marble or grante, we recommend you look for ph neutral cleaner that will not harm the material.
Tile cleaner
If you'd like one product that cleans everything in your bathroom, the famous blue bottle of window cleaner might just be it. Windex can also be used to clean tiles and grout, without causing any damage.
Swiffer wet cloths are designed to be used on most floor surfaces, such as: vinyl. porcelain tiles. ceramic tiles.
You can also use Pine-Sol® Original Squirt 'N Mop®. It's safe for wood and hard nonporous surfaces like ceramic and porcelain tiles, and also sealed granite. You can apply this product directly from the bottle over a 3' x 3' area and start mopping.
Many homeowners ask if Magic Erasers® can be used on porcelain or if they will damage ceramic tile. The good news is that they can be safely used on ceramic tiles and porcelain, so you have nothing to worry about if you plan on using them this way.
That being said, non-abrasive cleaners are the best way to clean a porcelain sink. Common household go-to's like bleach and hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean white porcelain, but the solution would need to sit covered in a layer of paper towels for 30 minutes to an hour.
For white porcelain only, bleach can be used to remove stains; never use chlorine bleach in colored or vintage porcelain, as it can damage the finish. For both white and colored porcelain, liquid oxygen bleach (such as hydrogen peroxide) is a good alternative.
Porcelain tiles tend to be harder, more resilient and more stain-resistant than ceramic tiles. They are one of the easiest types of tile to maintain but their surface can eventually be eroded by the regular use of corrosive chemicals such as ammonia, bleach or acids that can also damage the grout and loosen the tiles.
Never use a product containing ammonia or bleach (or any type of acid-based cleanser); these can alter the tile color and/or stain the grout. Never use oil-based detergents or wax cleaners. On unglazed porcelain, never use any cleaners that contain dye or coloring.
Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic, but they make it from a more cultivated clay and bake it at higher temperatures. This makes it a tough scratch-resistant flooring choice. Unglazed porcelain is the best when it comes to scratch resistance.
While you're cleaning your tile floors, steam mops are an effective option worth considering. “Steam mops are great for tile floors as they can clean and sanitize tile and grout quickly and thoroughly. Make sure to leave ample drying time after steam mopping to avoid streaks,” Cohoon says.
The best mop for porcelain tiles
The traditional mop and bucket are hard to improve upon. However, for tech fans, there is the electronic spin mop or the steam mop which will make life easier when it comes to cleaning porcelain tiles.
Use plain warm water to damp mop or mix 1 gallon of warm water with a few drops of relatively mild ph-balanced dish soap. Do not saturate these floors as they will be more prone to water penetration than other materials. Dry the tiles with a clean towel or sponge after mopping.
Please note: Always use Lysol® products as directed on the label. Give your porcelain the best chance of looking good and lasting its course by using the correct cleaning methods and products with Lysol®.
Although porcelain tiles are stain resistant, care must be taken to immediately clean any stain, especially on polished bench tops. The best way to ensure stubborn marks do not occur is to wash away stains such as red wine, food and drinks, using warm water and a soft cloth.
LTP Porcelain Floor Tile Cleaner is especially formulated to clean porcelain and ceramic without damaging the grout or tile. Leaves the floor with a fresh clean fragrance. Suitable for use on both sealed and un-sealed, polished and unpolished surfaces.
Though popular for being gentler alternatives to harsh chemical cleaners, baking soda, Borax, and even salt can harm the finish of your porcelain fixtures. As gentle as they are, these compounds are still abrasive and will scratch your finish, especially with regular use.