While porcelain is a highly durable material for dental restorations, it's not entirely indestructible. Many porcelain crowns become stained when the protective glaze that helps the restoration retain its color gets damaged or if the margin of the porcelain becomes exposed in the mouth.
It is very difficult to stain a porcelain tile due to their impervious nature. Regular cleaning utensils are often not fine enough to scrape or remove grime from the microscopic crevasses in the surface of a polished tile which gives the impression that the tile is stained.
Porcelain offers highly stain-, scratch-, and moisture-resistant properties that make it a popular choice. Whether you need a rustic wood look tile or more modern flooring, you'll find exactly what you need thanks to the wide range of styles and colors available.
Regular cleaning (once or twice weekly) is the best way of preventing a build-up of dirt and unsightly stains. This can be accomplished with a simple sweep and vacuum to remove debris, followed by mopping sparingly with warm water.
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.
More specifically, porcelain tiles are what is often referred to as “moisture proof.” As you might imagine, this means that they are impervious to moisture, which means that they aren't likely to get easily damaged simply by being in bathrooms or even wet rooms.
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.
Porcelain is a highly durable material for dental restorations, but it is not entirely indestructible. Stains will not penetrate the surface of quality porcelain restorations unless the porcelain has been damaged by: Highly abrasive toothpastes that wear away the outer glaze of the porcelain.
The brown stain is from a large amount of iron in your water.
When the hard, mineral rich water evaporates, a residue is left behind which results in a hard water stain that can show up on glass, porcelain, tile, and even metal surfaces. There are several different ways to eliminate hard water stains without the use of harmful chemicals.
As the water flows out of the bowl when you flush it, the minerals it contains slowly etch away at the porcelain's sheen. This creates small holes where the contaminants start to accumulate and turn the bowl yellow. The two most common impurities that cause yellow stains are hard water minerals and tannins.
Porcelain Does Not Stain
In fact, porcelain is totally nonporous — just like glass. Pigments simply slide off of it. Therefore, after you and your dentist choose the color for your veneers and they are custom-crafted to your specifications, the porcelain will never change color.
Put a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray evenly over the porcelain. Let the hydrogen peroxide sit for 15 minutes to an hour. Rinse and buff with a microfiber cloth for a clean, bright shine.
Firing spots are brown or black color defects clearly visible, dark bullet holes on the outside of the porcelain. Please do not confuse them with the dark brown bleeding iron spots which originate in the raw material.
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 Veneer Lifespan
Porcelain veneers have excellent durability. The porcelain veneer lifespan is an average of 10 years, but they can easily last up to 20 years with proper maintenance.
These can be a result of rusty pipes, fixtures or heaters or simply because your water supply has a high iron content. It takes a good amount of time for rust stains to appear on your porcelain, so you're likely to see it first appear in places where the water is standing longest, such as your toilet bowl.
The combination of iron bacteria and the minerals in the water can cause the rust particles to cling to the porcelain or enamel surfaces of bathroom fixtures. Unfortunately, the stains will reappear after cleaning unless the water is filtered or treated with a water-softening system.
Foods and drinks such as coffee, wine, soda, and tea will eventually stain your veneers and porcelain crowns. If you enjoy having these foods in your diet, clean your teeth soon after partaking in them to avoid permanent stains. If you are unable to brush, have mouthwash with you to rinse them out.
All water-based liquids can be removed with water and a cloth and are highly unlikely to stain the porcelain at all. Any spills that contain oil are usually more difficult to remove. This is because water and oil do not mix, meaning you will have to use a detergent, industrial wipe or soap to remove this properly.
Delicate Surfaces
Follow these steps to remove mild acid stains from Porcelain Dishes, Porcelain Fixtures, Silver: Wash in hot soapy water. Rinse in hot water and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Never let acids like vinegar remain on silver as the acid can pit and corrode the metal.
While hydrogen peroxide is not normally used for cleaning surfaces, there is nothing in normal glazed porcelain that it would damage.
Baking Soda, Lemon, and Vinegar: The All-Natural Approach
Baking soda creates a soft scrub that can tackle minor stains in a sink without marring the porcelain.