7
Toilets
See Toilets, page 10.
Caulking
See Interior Caulking, page 8.
Grout & Tile
Ceramic tile in bathroom areas combines
beauty with function.
Care and maintenance
Ease of maintenance is one of the upsides of
ceramic tile. To keep your ceramic tile looking
new, follow these tips.
Floor and wall tile
Pick up debris and dust from the floor with
a broom or vacuum. Doing so regularly will
remove particles that can scratch and damage
the floor.
Use a non-oil-based household cleaner to
clean tile. Ensure the cleaner is compatible
with cement grout.
Wet mop tile floors occasionally. Use a moist
cloth to wipe wall tiles.
Use cleaning solution and a brush (non-metallic),
cotton mop, cloth, or sponge to scrub floors.
Rinse the floor with water to remove solution.
Clean tile with a cleaning agent that specifically
controls mildew.
Affix protective pads to the bottom of furniture
to avoid scratching the tile.
Shower tiles
Spray tiles and clean them with a multi-purpose
cleaner that targets hard water deposits,
mildew and soap scum.
HOME TIP: Adhere to manufacturer’s
recommendations for tile maintenance.
Grout
Grout is the cement-like substance between the
tiles. Clean it with a brush and mild cleanser.
Apply grout sealer to increase stain-resistance.
Try a small patch of sealer to ensure it doesn’t
discolor the grout.
Monitor grout for cracking. Upon discovery of
a crack, re-caulk and re-grout. As part of the
process, remove all grout to be replaced to the
cement or sub-floor. This reduces the chance of
the grout cracking again, or beginning to flake.
CAUTION: Avoid cleaners that contain
acids or ammonia. The acid will damage
the grout and glaze on the tile, while
ammonia may cause discoloration
of the grout.
