Efflorescence is the white residue that is commonly seen on tiles.
Remove Stains from Glazed Porcelain Tiles
You can use a commercial product safe for glazed porcelain tiles or use white vinegar. Use a warm-water wash with vinegar at half strength to remove the stain completely. Mop the area and allow it to sit for ten minutes, and then rinse with a clean warm water bath.
We've all seen it: that really ugly white powder that grows on cement grout and also tile, stone, brick, and concrete, particularly when it's installed someplace with moisture (i.e., in a basement or outdoors). That white residue is called efflorescence.
In my experience using something like NanoScrub (an inert abrasive cleaner) alone does not always work. In most instances pre-wetting the marks with an alkaline cleaner such as Aqua Mix Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner before using NanoScrub achieves the best results.
Grout haze can appear in the form of white powder, glossy patches or dull smears or streaks on the surface and especially around the edges of the porcelain paving slabs. This residue looks very unsightly and can spoil the overall appearance of your porcelain paving installation.
Try mixing white wine vinegar with either water or baking soda. The acid within the vinegar helps to break down the mineral deposits that build up within hard water stains and limescale, whilst the baking soda helps to dissolve these stains to leave tiles sparkling clean.
White vinegar is an excellent remedy for lime scale. It is very economical and very efficient, both for tiles and for taps with lime scale. Pro Tip: go for the white vinegar from the food section, it is usually cheaper than household vinegar. As with the lemon, leave on for ten minutes and rub with a sponge.
White vinegar costs less than the common store-bought cleaners, but can still effectively disinfect any surface without leaving a chemical residue. Cleaning floor tiles with vinegar is safe, as long they are porcelain or ceramic.
Noah Chitty, Technical Director for Crossville, Inc., explained that kiln release is a refractory material applied to the back of tiles – often porcelain, but not exclusively – to prevent tile from sticking to the rollers in the kiln.
There are a few ways to restore your porcelain tile after you've come across a stain. You can try tackling the spot with some hydrogen peroxide or by using a steam cleaner. For more difficult stains, consider trying diluted muriatic acid, an industrial-strength solution professionals have been using for decades.
Two factors can produce this haze: efflorescence and sealer haze. Efflorescence appears as a white powder, normally on the grout. Sealer haze appears as a milky white haze where sealer has pooled and dried on the surface rather than penetrating the grout or stone. It is easily seen on dark-colored grout.
Luigi's Answer: Under certain circumstances, a white powder can form on grout, especially on floor tiles. This is a natural phenomenon known as efflorescence. It is due to soluble salts rising to the surface of a cement based product. When they dry out on the surface, the remaining salts appear white and powdery.
Efflorescence. Efflorescence is the white residue that is commonly seen on tiles. It is caused by water penetration, specifically when the minerals in water crystallize on the tile's surface. It's an indication of failed/cracked grout joints or possible leaks in your ceiling, walls or floors.
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.
If you don't use a kiln wash, any glaze that comes into contact with your kiln shelf gets absorbed and becomes permanently fused to it. If a piece is fused to a bare shelf, something will have to break in order to remove it. Usually this means we have to sacrifice the pot to save the shelf.
Many people commonly use kiln wash or shelf primer, but as a relatively inexpensive alternative you can also use shelf paper. Shelf paper is a heat-resistant light weight ceramic-based paper that enables your glass to not stick to your kiln.
The primary means for removing kiln wash is by grinding it away. If you've ever used an angle grinder, then you know it's a great tool for grinding away at a surface. An angle grinder can make quick work of the leftover kiln wash on the surface of your kiln shelves.
While porcelain is resistant to scratches, etching and stains, these surfaces are not damage proof. Take care to avoid exposing porcelain to permanent inks or dyes, as these might not be removable.
While hydrogen peroxide is not normally used for cleaning surfaces, there is nothing in normal glazed porcelain that it would damage.
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.
CLR's unique formulation has multiple uses! Safe for various applications and surfaces… (tubs, showerheads toilets, sinks, porcelain, glass, cement, stucco, brick, stainless steel, and much more)!
While vinegar is safe to use on laminate, vinyl, porcelain, and ceramic tile, it is best to use it sparingly since the acid in the vinegar can dissolve the finish on your floor. Therefore, when you are using it on tiled floors, you want to make sure you cut it with water or rinse it completely with water.
A baking soda and vinegar solution is perfect for cleaning a porcelain sink and removing stains. Make a paste out of the two ingredients and use a soft-bristled brush (such as an old toothbrush) or cloth and your finger, to apply and scrub the stained area.