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How To Clean Outdoor Tiles

Here are our tips for how to clean outdoor tiles, maintaining the protective sealant and making it much easier to keep your tiles in the best condition...

Whilst we may take more regular care of our indoor tiles, cleaning outdoor tiles can sometimes be considered to be a labour intensive and time consuming job that is often neglected.

Over the seasons, our exterior tiles do take a bit of a beating from the elements, particularly when it rains for nearly half the year. That’s why keeping your outdoor tiles maintained all year round so you can enjoy those rare sunny days sitting in your garden, rather than deep cleaning your patio.

With the correct cleaning products for your outdoor tiles, you can maintain the protective sealant and make it much easier to keep your tiles in the best condition. Here are our tips for how to clean outdoor tiles...

 

Tools & products for cleaning outdoor tiles

Whilst this list isn’t exhaustive, these are some of the essential equipment you’ll need:

 

As well as some non-essential tools that will make your job even easier:

  • Leaf blower
  • Pressure Washer
  • Hosepipe
  • Squeegee

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Using porcelain tiles outdoors

In recent years we’ve seen a huge increase in interest for exterior tiles, as homeowners seek an alternative to the traditional concrete paving and slabs that are all so common in most gardens.

There are a huge number of benefits for opting for outdoor tiles, from their anti slip properties, ability to create an indoor/outdoor flow and unique designs. Outdoor porcelain tiles are resistant to frost and staining, giving the peace of mind that your idyllic garden won’t be ravaged by the winter elements.

One of the main benefits that outdoor tiles have over more traditional outdoor paving, is that they are easy to clean, as dirt, mould and algae can be easily washed away with heavy duty cleaners without the reliance on a jet washer. 

Preparation

Before applying any cleaning products or treatments to your tiles, it’s incredibly important to remove loose debris such as leaves, twigs and dirt that have built up since your last clean.

Use your broom to sweep it all away, or get the leaf blower out if you’re tackling this in the Autumn, and make sure that all debris won’t get in your way when it comes to washing the tiles with water and solvent.

 

Cleaning light dirt, mildew & algae on your patio

Now that your patio has been cleared of all those errant leaves, dirty and twigs you might find that your tiles have built up a layer of mould, moss or algae which needs to be taken care of to return them to their best condition.

For concrete paving and porcelain tiles we recommend LTP Mouldex External Paving Cleaner, which helps to remove all kinds of organic matter from the surface of your tiles with ease.

To get started, apply the product directly to your tiles without diluting and leave for at least an hour for the best results. After this, apply a little water and use a short haired, stiff bristled brush to work the cleaner into the tiles and agitate any remaining dirt and debris.

Rinse the area well with plenty of water and allow to fully dry before applying any sealants or allowing any foot traffic onto the tiles.

 

Cleaning heavy dirt & grime from your patio

More tougher stains on your tiles like oil, grease, ingrained dirt and wax can require a more heavy duty solution that will help you give a new lease of life to your tiles.

LTP Grimex cleaner does just that by giving you a heavy duty clean to remove stubborn stains without damaging the finish of your tiles can be used across all types of tiles, including travertine, slate, marble porcelain, external paving and much more.

To apply LTP Grimex to your outdoor area, start by diluting the solution 1:1 with warm water and fill a light pressure washer, if available. Cover the affected area with the solution and leave for up to 15 minutes for maximum effectiveness before agitating with a stiff bristled brush.

Clear any residue released from the agitation process with a softer brush or squeegee and repeat until the affected areas are fully clean. Rinse the area well with plenty of water and allow to fully dry before applying any sealants or allowing any foot traffic onto the tiles.

 

Cleaning external grout

If your tiles are squeaky clean but the joints are ruining the appearance of a job well done, then you should clean your grout with a solution such as LTP Cement & Grout Stain Remover.

For use with glazed and unglazed tiles, as well as ceramics, brick and sandstone, this product can be used either diluted or in full concentrated form to remove deposits and dirt from your cement.

IMPORTANT: This product is not suitable for limestone, marble or other acid sensitive surfaces.

To apply LTP Cement & Grout Stain Remover, either apply directly or as a 1:1 dilution to the affected areas and leave for up to 15 minutes for the product to work effectively. After this, apply a little water and use a short haired, stiff bristled brush to work the cleaner into the tiles and agitate any remaining dirt and debris.

Rinse the area well with plenty of water and allow to fully dry before applying any sealants or allowing any foot traffic onto the tiles.

 

Sealing outdoor tiles

Certain tiles, such as larger porcelain tiles, might not require sealing thanks to the production process which effectively seals the tiles for their usable lifetime. However, if you’ve used a heavy duty product such as LTP Grimex or you have tiling or paving made from stone, slate or marble then applying a sealer will help keep your tiles in top condition for years to come.

A product such as LTP Mattstone will help protect against staining, repel oil, water and grease and allows the natural colour and texture of your tiles to shine through.

To apply the product, make sure that the area has been completely cleaned and left to dry. Apply using a soft brush or cloth and allow at least two hours between coats. After around an hour, rub over the surface with a soft fluff free cloth to remove any excess sealant.

After two hours the product should be dry, but it can take up to three days for the product to be fully resistant. Make sure to clean any brushes used afterwards with white spirit to remove any excess product.

 

Summary

Hopefully this guide will have given you all you need to help clean up your tiles in time for summer and keep them in top condition all year round.

If you require further help or assistance finding the products that will be suitable for your outdoor tiles, contact our customer service team on 0345 307 5000 or on [email protected] and they will be happy to guide you.

 

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