Cleaning Ceramic Tile Made Easy

admin — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:10:07 +0000

Among the most difficult household chores is cleaning ceramic tile. Ceramic tiles are mostly exposed to dust, and dirt easily builds on such materials. Maintaining ceramic tiles is a difficult job because the tiles are exposed to a large variety of contaminants. A homeowner should take care of his or her tiles, and his or her home, by cleaning ceramic tile frequently. Tiles are used for many different purposes, including as flooring, on walls and for decoration. Tiles used for decoration are some of the hardest to clean, because the paintings and designs may be damaged by some cleaning solutions. However, cleaning can be easy, if a few simple steps are followed, and it can even be fun, especially when the finished product is uncovered. Tools for cleaning ceramic tile are available in many stores and through numerous dealers. The tools and materials include warm water, ceramic tile cleaner, rags or micro-fiber mops and a bucket. Homeowners should try to avoid sponges, since sponges pull dirt from the grout tracks and make the job more difficult. Sponge mops are also counterproductive. Choosing a cleaning solution is important, as some detergents may damage the tiles. It is also recommended to use branded and user-friendly products. In the end, water is the homeowner’s friend, and should always be used first and foremost when cleaning tile. The first step in the cleaning process is to mix the cleaner solution with the water in the proper proportion. If the solution is not mixed in the proper proportion it may damage the ceramic tile. While cleaning decorative ceramic tiles, it is necessary to take extra care, because these ceramic tiles may have paint on them. Some solutions that are meant for cleaning ceramic tile may end up removing the paint from the tile. This is tricky, as the homeowner must read the labels carefully; just because a detergent is designed to clean tile does not mean it is designed to clean every type of tile. The next step is to clean the surface of the tile with a dry cloth to remove any dust. After clearing the tile of all of the dust that can be removed with the dry cloth, the homeowner should spray the water and cleaner solution on the tile. Once the tile is saturated with the solution, a mop should be used to clean it. It is recommended to wipe in a circular motion across the tile to avoid leaving any marks. Extra care, once again, should be used when cleaning decorated or painted tiles. A dry cloth should be used to dry the tiles that will not leave streaks. The tile can be rubbed and buffed until it shines, and the surface will be a little sticky and glossy. Cleaning ceramic tile can bring back the original look, feel and shine of the tile, making any room look like new, and making the house a better, more fun, more happy place to live in. You can read more free advice on cheap cheap ceramic tile at CeramicTileGuides. Article by Ashley Goad at http://www.CeramicTileGuides.com For more great free information on everything you should know about cheap ceramic tile visit => how to lay ceramic tile and painting ceramic tile Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Goad

Hand Painted Ceramic Tile

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:07:31 +0000

If you want to give your home a creative and artistic touch, then the most suitable option is to use hand painted ceramic tiles. Hand painting is one of the most popular methods for decorating ceramic tiles. Hand painted ceramic tiles not only improve the aesthetic value of your home, but also increase its resale value. They are a perfect choice to beautify children?s bedroom, recreation areas, living room, counter tops, stair risers, fireplaces, patios, fountains, table tops, floor accents, window borders, display windows, and wall coverings.

Hand painted ceramic tiles is specially noted for their unmatched beauty, and they come in a myriad of shades and colors. Everything from abstract and geometric designs to images of historic events and ancient designs such as cave art paintings, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and Mayan stone carvings are adopted as themes for hand painting ceramic tiles. Hand painting of ceramic tiles has also now evolved as a hobby, as it gives a skilled artist the full freedom to express his imagination.

Plain, shiny, and white glazed ceramic tiles and thin tiles are most suitable for hand painting. The media used for hand painting ceramic tiles generally depend on the plans and techniques employed. Some of the most commonly used materials and tools for hand painting ceramic tiles are China paints (overglaze colors) made from oxides of several metals, lavender oil, brushes, palette knife, fine calligraphy pen, soft pencil for glass, and turpentine.

The first step in the process of hand painting is to decide the theme of the painting. Then, make rough sketches on a graph paper of the exact size. Before hand painting tiles, clean them thoroughly with soapy water and allow them to dry. Next, mix the paint with oil and turpentine. Brush and palette knife can be used to smear and blend colors. When the hand painting process is complete, it is necessary to heat the glazes between 1350 degrees and 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, inside a kiln.

Mostly, hand painted ceramic tiles are durable and can be used for pool installation and other outdoor purposes. A recent addition to the ceramic tile market is water-proof hand painted tiles. Custom made, hand painted ceramic tiles are also available. At present, there are numerous retailers as well as manufacturers specializing in hand painted ceramic tiles.

Ceramic Tile provides detailed information on Ceramic Tile, Ceramic Floor Tile, Ceramic Tile Design, Installing Ceramic Tile and more. Ceramic Tile is affiliated with Mosaic Arts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough

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Cleaning Ceramic Tile Made Easy

Hand Painted Ceramic Tile