How To Clean Brick And Unglazed Tile Floors With Ease

By Alyssa Davis

Do you have unglazed tile in your home, or perhaps brick on your patio? Cleaning either of these materials is basically the same, whether the material is located inside the home or outside, although stains may require special attention. Both brick and unglazed tile are absorbent, which means a spill will become a stain if the flooring has not been sealed.

A Golden Rule to Remember

One rule that you must always remember when cleaning brick or unglazed tile is that you cannot use acid cleaner on these materials! This means that you cannot use solutions that are vinegar-based, no matter how good the results have been on other surfaces. The cleaning solutions that you use on brick and unglazed tile must only be those with a neutral PH. If the PH of a product is over six, then this will open up the pores of the material, making the material even more susceptible to staining.

Power Washing

A common malady for exterior brick is mildew or moss stains. Power washing is usually the best way to clean these types of stains. When power washing, use a broad spray and don’t allow the pressure to exceed 3000 PSI or you may damage your brick. Any remaining stains may respond to being cleaned with a solution of fifty/fifty water and bleach. Use rubber gloves when working with bleach. Allow the solution to remain on the brick for several minutes, and then use a stiff brush to scrub the brick. You should also wear protection for your eyes to avoid having bleach spatter into them. Be aware that bleach can cause a variation in the color of your bricks, so it is usually wise to apply it to all bricks; inversely, you may enjoy the varied colors produced.

Treating Stains

You can treat individual stains to brick and unglazed tile using the guidelines that follow.

— Brown Stains. In many cases, manganese causes brown stains. A solution of paracetic acid may be what is called for to clean up unsightly brown stains. Dab the paracetic solution onto the tile or brick (always wear gloves) or you can spray it on. You do not want to scrub the area. If the brown stain is caused by manganese, then it will disappear rapidly. Next, apply straight baking soda to neutralize the paracetic acid. Wipe away and rinse well.

— Gum. A small piece of dry ice applied to gum is often sufficient to harden the gum enough to where it can be scraped away.

— Mud and Dirt. A stiff brush is the best weapon for cleaning away mud and dirt. Brush up and then vacuum away dust and dirt.

— Egg. Egg can be particularly problematic on glazed tile. Wet the area with warm water first. Wipe off as much of the egg substance as you can. Then use a solution of fifty/fifty water and vinegar. Scrub the solution into the stain to loosen the remaining egg. Wipe up the residue and then apply a fifty/fifty water and baking soda solution to neutralize the vinegar.

— Green Stains. Many green stains are algae-based and can be easily cleaned up by using a little elbow grease and a neutral cleanser. Other green stains may be caused by vanadium, which is a mineral. For these stains, a fifty/fifty water and bleach solution should be allowed to remain on the stain for twenty-four hours before rinsing off.

— Tar and Oil. A commercial tar and oil remover works well to clean off these stains, or you can make your own using two parts of diatomaceous earth and one part of kerosene. Wearing gloves and protective eye wear, spread the poultice at a thickness of around a quarter-of-an-inch on the stain and allow it to stand for twelve hours. Cover the poultice and stain with plastic during the leave-on period. Allow poultice to dry completely, and then sweep it away. Follow this stain removal with steam cleaning to get rid of the oil stain entirely.

About the Author: Home decor specialist, Alyssa Davis, is a regular writer for Metal-Wall-Art.com, and she offers many ideas on how to design your favorite rooms with

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football metal wall decor

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