How To Clean Outdoor Tiles

As we hurtle towards the end of British Summer Time, many of you might be thinking (a) pfft, is that really it for summer? and (b) how do I make my lovely porcelain slab tiles look great again after the weather has dumped all this detritus on them? 

If that’s you then we cannot help you with the first enquiry but we can give you a bit of guidance on how to clean outdoor tiles in this handy guide…

Tools

Cleaning outdoor slab tiles is not a big job and by having the right tools on hand you can make it even smaller!

• Leaf blower (not essential)
• Soft-bristled brush
• Pressure Sprayer
• Bucket
• Hosepipe (not essential)
• Rubber gloves

Cleaning Products

The type of products you’d need to effectively clean your outdoor slab tiles depends entirely on the type of dirt and conditions they’ve been subjected to. Here’s an exhaustive list but you are unlikely to need everything included here: 

• LTP Porcelain Tile Protector
• LTP Grimex
• Blackspot & Algae Remover
• LTP Porcelain Floor Tile Cleaner 
• LTP Rust Stain Remover

Pre-Clean Routine

Now, before you start running those taps and sloshing water all about the place, it’s important to ensure that the surface of your outdoor slab tiles are free from debris and organic matter (by which we mean twigs, leaves, pebbles and small ‘parcels’ that may have been left by a pet).

Take the hard bristled brush and give the tiles a good sweep to remove surface debris. If you’re undertaking this task towards late September/October (check out our Outdoor Maintenance Calendar for info on which jobs to do when) you might find your tiles have a scattering of crisp leaves all over them. If that happens to be the case then you can either sweep them all into a pile or get out the leaf blower if you have one and make light work of the lot!

 

Using LTP Grimex

Grimex is a high performance cleaner for stripping and cleaning your outdoor space. This cleaner is used to remove general dirt and grime from the surface, here’s how to use it:

• Firstly, dilute the solution 1:1 with warm water and fill a light water sprayer with the mix.
• Wet the surface with the solution and leave for 10-15 minutes. Work in manageable chunks at one time.
• Add some water to the surface and scrub to loosen the dirt and debris.
• Use a sponge to absorb any excess water, and repeat these steps until you’re happy you’ve cleaned the surface.
• Rinse well with water and allow your fresh floors to dry before walking on them.

How To Remove Tougher Stains From Outdoor Tiles

Tougher stains such as lichen, black spots, moss and stains left behind from leaves need something a bit stronger, we’d suggest using LTP Black Spot & Algae Remover. Here’s how to use it: 

• Fill a light pressure sprayer with the solution, without diluting it.
• Set the pressure between 0.5 and 1 bar and spray an even layer of the solution across the surface of your flooring.
• Leave the solution to penetrate the surface and leave to work it’s magic for 1-5 hours, depending on the level of staining.
• Keep off the surface at this time.
• Rinse well with lots of water and allow surfaces to dry before you walk on it, or apply your porcelain protector.

Try Using LTP Porcelain Floor Cleaner

For a gentler cleaner that’s formulated especially for porcelain tiles without damaging any grout, try the LTP Porcelain Floor Cleaner. This product would typically be used more frequently, rather than for a deeper clean. Here’s how we recommend using this product:

• Dilute 1 capful of cleaner with 1 litre of cool water.
• Use the solution to mop the surface with a microfibre cloth or a string mop.
• There is no need to rinse the surface.
• If you’re working with a polished surface, gently buff the solution into the surface using a soft cloth until your floor is dry.
• Keep off the surface until it’s completely dry.

Stubborn Rust Stains

For rust stains across your tiles it is a great idea to find yourself some LTP Rust Stain Remover, a high performance rust remover that can get rif of your stubborn stains within 15 minutes. It even works on your garden furniture! Here’s how we’d use it:

• Ensure the surface is as dry as possible.
• Apply the solution, undiluted, generously to the area.
• Leave for 15 minutes and allow for the product to gradually turn a deep purple colour.
• When this happens, agitate the surface with a black emulsifying pad to remove the released rust from the surface.
• Rinse the surface with plenty of water and repeat these steps until you’re happy with the results!

Sealing Your Freshly Cleaned Tiles

Sealing your tiles will protect the surface of the porcelain pre & post grouting. Sealing also helps protect against future staining, so you won’t have to clean as intensely so often. Here’s how to seal the tiles using our LTP Porcelain Tile Protector:

• Ensure your surface is clean and as dry as you can possibly get it before pouring the sealer onto the surface.
• Spread the solution out evenly using a sealant applicator pad, broad paint brush or foam roller. Repeat after 30 minutes and leave to dry for 1 hour.
• Grout in the joints or brush in jointing compound, the clean off any residue. Always follow any instructions you get from the manufacturer.
• When dry and free of any residue, apply a final coat of protector making sure to cover the joints as well.
• You are allowed on the surface a few hours after application, but do not wash, cover or get excessively wet for at least 24 hours after the treatment.

You might also enjoy these posts on the Tile Mountain blog…

Spring Clean: How To Clean Tiles Correctly

https://www.tilemountain.co.uk/blog/best-adhesive-and-grout-for-outdoor-tiles/

Outdoor Maintenance Calendar: Which Tasks To Do and When