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lidijacev

cleaning tile dilemma

8 years ago
Hi guys, I have a cleaning dilemma! Lol ... we have just moved into our new home and I’m pretty sure that the tiler hasn’t cleaned our tiles properly. We have paid big bucks for them and I’m just heartbroken that they have been ruined. They are a Matt finish, and I know that everything is noticed more as we have big glass doors across the back of our home.
Do you guys have any suggestions on how to clean, or products or any tips on how to get this haze up off my tiles?

Comments (24)

  • 8 years ago
    Thanks Dreamer. I’ve done the works, moped, steamed moped, tried so many different moped and different steam mops. I have even got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the floor and than dry it with a towel. I don’t understand how the tiles still look dirty. I went to a tile shop and they told me if the tiler didn’t clean them properly it will look hazy (which is what they exactly look like) the tile is not a cheap tile either. I was hoping someone could give me some advice. And than you for your advise. Maybe he didn’t clean it before he sealed it. I may need to call in professional cleaners hopefully they can fix it ... at a reasonable price thanks again dreamer
  • 8 years ago
    Hi Lidija,
    Maybe call your tiler back to see the problem, he may offer a solution and rectify it for you. I would be heartbroken too.
  • 8 years ago
    Thanks Julie, I have and he said that it needs to be mopped I told him that I have mopped, steamed and scrubbed my floor and it still come up as if is never been mopped. He just shrugged his shoulders and looked at my as tho to say “oh well”
    This is a pic of my floors this morning. I steam moped yesterday arvo and you can see every step of my children’s footsteps. Mind you, no one is aloud in the house with shoes on and kids are either wearing socks or slippers. Maybe if I call in someone to seal it maybe that will protect them.
  • 8 years ago
    Sorry to know you have cleaned but still have the haze. If you have spoken to your tiler, and had no luck, maybe go back to where you purchased tiles from. Take your photos and show them. They may have had this issue with these tiles previously and may be able to offer a solution.
  • 8 years ago
    Do you think if I seal them again I will still have this problem?
    Yeah I’m going to have to talk to someone because the tiles look like I’ve never moped them I hate when people come over as I feel so embarrassed
  • 8 years ago
    Please double check, are tiles sealed? You said you went to a tile shop, but please go back to the tile shop you purchased tiles from.
  • 8 years ago
    Thank you so much dreamer. I think he may have not sealed them? I will double check for sure. If not I will have to get people in to seal them and maybe that could be the end of my tile problem, fingers crossed! Thank you thank you thank you.
    Back to scrubbing these tiles again today
  • 8 years ago
    Apparently you can’t seal these Matt finished tiles.
  • 8 years ago
    There is a product called ‘simple green’, I have used it on floors and they come up clean and shiny, also they say vinegar mixed with water is good for haze on tiles it could be worth trying it in your next cleaning of your tiles simple green is available at Bunnings , I feel so sorry for you, your tiler isn’t very helpful.
  • 8 years ago
    Thank you so much Julie! Will definitely try this.
    I have called a few cleaning company’s today they seem to think it may be a number of things, but obviously can’t guarantee it will fix the problem. This comes with $3000 fee if I knew the tiles would have caused me so much heartache I would have never have chosen them
  • 8 years ago
    Hi lidija, I agree with Julie regarding the vinegar. Hope you find the correct remedy. Good luck.
  • 8 years ago
    Mix 50/50 water and vinegar in spray bottle, spray one section at a time leave for 5-10 minutes and wash off with a soft cloth , dry as you go with an old towel.
  • 8 years ago
    Hi Lidija, just wondering if you have found a answer to your floor issue. Thanks.
  • 8 years ago
    Hi dreamer,
    I have called around a few professional company’s to get the floors professionally done, they seem to think that if they clean and seal them that “may” fix the problem but I’m saying that I will give it a go (tho not something I can afford at the moment) in the meantime I googled and tried so many products mops etc ... the one thing that did work was a ENJO products Unbelievable! Cleaned with the orange cloth than moped with the blue cloth with boiling water with a little bit of dishwasher detergent. You can still see footprints tho not as bad as before. It’s a two person job so my mum has to help me while kids are sleeping lol big job just to clean the floors
  • 8 years ago
    Wow, that is understandably very disappointing. Good luck in your quest to find the answer. Thank you.
  • 8 years ago
    Thanks for you advise dreamer. Fingers crossed when I get them professionally cleaned it works
  • 8 years ago

    I'm not sure if this will help your tiles or not, but I have some old black and white tiles (original from the 70s) and I wanted to rejuvenate them a bit. I ended up mixing 2 parts baking soda to 1 part hydrogen dioxide to make a paste. I scrubbed and scrubbed, and then poured white vinegar on tops of my tiles. I ended up with a chalky residue, which I had to mop with warm water a couple of times to properly get out. But it really helped spruce up my old tiles! Good luck with the professional clean. Hope that solves your problem once and for all!

  • 8 years ago
    Thanks heaps Emily ... i have scrubbed these tiles so many times but I will try anything! Lol thanks for your advise
  • 8 years ago

    maybe consult your professional tile cleaners first. Better safe than sorry! It worked for me, but I have old tiles and I figured I had nothing to lose! Good luck!

  • 8 years ago
    Hi Lidija,
    Very sorry to hear about your such bad experience!
    As I see this problem, the outcome you have got is the an arrow of tile installation. If sealer was applied on not well prepared surface, regardless that product and equipment you will use, the result would be the same.
    Another reason can be - wrong choice of sealer. Each product has its ingredients that can be suitable for one surface and not for another.
    The cleaning of any new product can’t be so complicated!
    If this would be my house, I will push on tiler!
    To prove my right, I will buy a square meter of the same tile and will lay on top of existing floor (with some non-slip cloth to prevent scratches) and ask my family to use it as normal and see look of it before and after cleaning.
    I will talk to a tile shop and ask product specification. If manufacture guarantees spotless finish and my little sample area looks normal and clean after regular cleaning everything is points to a tiler.
    If I’m correct, there is an organisation calls Builders Board, that you can contact in case of any issue. If floor finish was part of your building contract, builder is fully responsible for result.
    By end of the day, you deal with professionals and they should provide you with best advice on product you use.
    If tile was laid by your contractor, you still can find Tradesman comity who should provide you with advice. Or call consumer protection.
    To my opinion, you should stop wasting money and your time, trying to find a cleaning solution. Just remember, NO new product must be SO hard on maintenance!
    Using all sorts of cleaning products, can course sealer damage and you won’t be able to prove anything after.
    I hope you will sort this situation sooner than later and will enjoy your new house without all these worries.
    We had the worst experience with building our new house and totally understand your feelings!
    All best of luck to you and your family!
    With regards
    Natela
  • PRO
    8 days ago

    To remove grout haze from new matte tiles, first determine whether your tiler used a traditional cement-based grout or an epoxy-based one, as they require different treatments. For standard cementitious grout, start by wiping the surface with a damp microfiber cloth and a gentle 1:1 mixture of warm water and white vinegar (or a dedicated pH-neutral grout haze remover suitable for your specific tile material, especially if they are natural stone), scrubbing lightly with a non-abrasive nylon pad before rinsing thoroughly with clean water and drying with a microfiber towel. If your tiler used an epoxy grout, standard household cleaners will not dissolve the residue, so you will need to purchase a specialized commercial epoxy grout haze remover from a tile supplier and follow the product's dwell-time instructions cleaning services carefully to lift the film without damaging the tile finish.

  • 8 days ago

    Jackie Smith, good advice. BUT, please look at the date of the original post. 2018. would like to think that original poster has had this issue resolved.
    The dates on original posts are good to look at, so your not bringing forward a very old post.

  • 8 days ago

    West link cleaning. Jackie smith and David west. Please look at the date of the original posts before adding comments. Your advice may not be relevant to the original poster. They could of sold that property etc etc.