How to clean old cement tiles

Before cleaning a hydraulic floor it is important to know the most important characteristics of these tiles. For example, how long they have been installed or the type of stain we want to remove, since we will not use the same method and we will have to adapt to the needs of the floor itself.

Next, we make a distinction between newly installed hydraulic floor and old hydraulic floor:

Newly installed hydraulic floor

To clean a newly installed hydraulic floor and start maintenance tasks, you will only need a special cleaner for hydraulic mosaic that you must dilute in water. Then, with the help of a mop or cloth, you will spread the product on the tiles so that they soak up the product. Next, scrub with a scrubber, brush or rotary machine. Finally, rinse with a clean mop to finish removing all the dirt.

Old hydraulic floor

If it is old hydraulic tiles, the cleaning and maintenance task will be essential to recover the color of the tiles. For this type of floor you must clean it with degreaser, stain remover, stripper. The cleaning procedure is the same as for a newly installed hydraulic floor with the only difference that it is preferable to let the product act on the tiles for a few minutes before rubbing and removing the dirt. In this way, you will be able to soften the dirt so that it can be removed more easily.

Although it is true that this is an exhaustive cleaning task, washing them will leave the tiles sparkling and will help recover and maintain the color. In the usual routine of cleaning hydraulic floors, remember to always look for products suitable for this type of tile.

The protection of the hydraulic floor is essential for good maintenance. After thorough cleaning, the tiles will be exposed to moisture and stains, so we recommend applying a conservation and protection treatment to these floors, especially if they are old hydraulic tiles. Thanks to the application of the protector you will be able to saturate the porosity of the tiles and prevent them from absorbing stains.

For protective treatment you have two options:

• Transparent anti-stain protector for hydraulic mosaic: with this product you will preserve the natural tone of the tiles without adding extra shine. The floor will be left with a matte finish. The application is simple, since it is applied undiluted, directly with a brush.
• Wet effect stain protector for hydraulic mosaic: This product will allow you to intensify the tone of the tiles, providing an extra satin shine. It is applied undiluted using a brush.

Whatever product you use, to ensure you adequately protect the hydraulic tiles, we recommend giving it a second coat an hour after applying the first. Remember that it is important not to step on the floor while it dries. (approximately 24 hours).

And if you want to know how to clean porcelain floors, don’t miss this article. Keep reading!

With the passage of time, hydraulic tiles lose the bright color of their mosaic and also part of their shine. In order to restore the shine to old hydraulic tiles, in addition to maintaining a daily cleaning and maintenance routine, you can carry out specific treatments and use products that allow you to recover the original shine of the tiles. Follow these steps and tips to shine old hydraulic tiles:

Polish hydraulic floor

1. The step before polishing the tiles is to polish the hydraulic floor to leave the surface smooth, clean and shiny. To achieve this, you can use specific products to polish and dilute it in water.
2. Afterwards, you should rub the tiles with this solution, let it sit for a few minutes and rinse the floor with a mop and clean water.
3. Once the floor is clean and polished, you should let it dry for 24 hours.

Polish hydraulic tiles

After the drying time has passed once the floor has been polished, you will see that the tiles have already recovered part of their original shine and color. However, if you want a perfect finish, we recommend that you opt for specific hydraulic tile polishing products that, in addition to protecting the floor and giving it a smooth and shiny finish, will help you recover the color of the tiles, accentuating their natural tone and intensifying their color.

1. To apply these products, it is recommended to use a roller like the one used for varnishing and lacquering, approximately 20 cm long.
2. Apply the polish, making sure it does not foam, and let it dry for an hour.
3. Then, apply another coat and let it dry for 24 hours.

Wax the floor

For perfect results, we recommend finishing off the polishing by waxing the floor. Although this is an optional step, it will give the hydraulic floor a much more intense and uniform shine, as well as a soft and silky touch. For this you can use special liquid wax for hydraulic mosaic.

1. Applying it is simple, you just have to use a wide brush and spread the wax without diluting it.
2. Then, let the floor dry for an hour and avoid stepping on it during this time. Waxing will also facilitate the daily maintenance of your hydraulic tiles.

Recommended products

The delicacy of hydraulic floors makes it very important to control the type of product you use to clean it. There are specific products that will allow you to obtain perfect results and it is important to avoid aggressive products such as bleach or other chemicals. The three natural allies to keep tiles shiny and like new are:

• Water. It is the best method to disinfect, especially if you use its steam. Through water vapor you can remove light stains thanks to the high temperatures. The steam iron or steam cleaner will be a great ally when cleaning tiles.
• Baking soda. There is nothing that helps clean more than baking soda. If your tiles have stubborn stains, you can use a splash of baking soda and scrub the stain with a brush to catch all the dirt quickly.
• Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar also has disinfectant properties in terms of cleaning. We encourage you to use it to help keep the cleanliness of the tiles in good condition. To use this product properly you must dissolve it in water.

Products not recommended

Although we have already discussed the recommended products to carry out the hydraulic floor cleaning routine, Take note of those products that are not recommended for this mission:

• Ammonia. Although it can be used on normal soils, it is not recommended on hydraulic soils due to their aggressiveness.
• Salfumán. It is one of the most aggressive chemicals and its use on hydraulic floors could end up damaging the tiles. It is also too toxic and could be harmful to your health.
• Bleach. Although it is one of the star products for cleaning floors, it contains sodium hypochlorite, an ingredient with a whitening effect. However, for floors with hydraulic mosaic tiles it could be harmful, since its aggressiveness could damage and mistreat the material, providing poor results.

We hope this post on how to clean old cement tiles has been useful to you. If you want to learn more tips, take a look at our article How to remove lime stains from tiles.

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