B&Q Sicily Tiles - Cleaning

[Unregistered]

Hi
We've just retiled our kitchen with B&Q Sicily ceramic tiles in light beige, and we're finding that they are extremely hard to clean. They've a slightly rough surface which seems to retain the dirt - especially when our dog comes in without wiping his feet 🙂
The B&Q tiling man recommended that we use QEP Tile Sealer, but I'd just like to have someone confirm that as it doesn't actually say on the container that it's suitable for ceramic tiles.
If you know this stuff does the trick, or have used it yourself, please can you respond?
Cheers
Phil

 

[foxman]

What you need is Lithofin FZ intensive cleaner this is alkali based and gets rid of stubborn engraved dirt. A 1 litre tin costs around £14/15. You can purchase this off the Lithofin web site cheers, Mick

 

[dptiling]

i have never sealed ceramic tiles .
wouldnt take to much notice of a "b&q tiling man" to be honest.
if they have a rough surface , there is nothing you can do . that is what they are.
you can try to seal them . i think you are wasting your time , and money.
i dont think it would adhere to the tile as it wont get though the glaze.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

nin guest:welcome:

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks for that, but when you say

What you need is Lithofin FZ intensive cleaner this is alkali based and gets rid of stubborn engraved dirt.

that seems to imply that these tiles can't be sealed, only cleaned intensively - is that correct? Is that QEP Tile Sealer a non-starter?

 

[david campbell]

failing any of the above theories you could try and train the dog to wipe it's feet or buy a nice pair of boots for him that he can remove before entering the house.........:lol:


seriously though it is the style of the tile and i wouldn't waste any money trying to seal these!

 

[foxman]

Yes you dont seal ceramic tiles FZ the way to go

 

[RickyRaqeeb]

I have the same problem. I bought the chocolate colour tiles. some look faded whilst other look clean and more brown

I first thought i was the grout and tried to use strong tile cleaners to make the faded ones bring out the colour and then tried tile sealer. Non has worked.

Thinking i should complain to B&Q

Any one out there that has bought the Sicily tiles out there

 

[jay]

you need to determin if they are glazed ceramics or not dont recomend sealing glazed ceramics

 

[ishy]

Sadly i've just laid my kitchen with the same tile and i'm having the same problem, b&q should'nt sell this rubbish, i should have learned from italian stuff like farraris, ducati and other cars and bikes that have italian origine, they're all show and high maintanence.
Phil, if you managed to get a solution can you let me know please.
MIKE

 

[david campbell]

Sadly i've just laid my kitchen with the same tile and i'm having the same problem, b&q should'nt sell this rubbish, i should have learned from italian stuff like farraris, ducati and other cars and bikes that have italian origine, they're all show and high maintanence.
Phil, if you managed to get a solution can you let me know please.
MIKE

sadly thats all b&q sell tile wise------absolute rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
cheap second grade tiles at best and have customers believing they are good quality

 

[RickyRaqeeb]

The Tiles do not have a glazed finish but have a rough sand face finish.

 

[RickyRaqeeb]

I think i may have found a solution. When i put an oil based substance on them it brought out the colour. The sealant did not seem to do that. So i went over the bathroom tiles with Vasaline and rub into the tile. This brought out the colour as if the tile was wet. The tiles are all the same colour and seem to have stayed this colour now. I know it sound silly but i had to take desperate measures. Try it on one tile

 

[ishy]

Has anyone actually tried flash lemon floor cleaner and got on thier hands and knees with the appropiat cloth or sponge to clean the light biege tiles? i'm up london and had some fitted to a house i'm renting and the tenant said she was having problems cleaning the tiles, i went and got a tile from BQ stood on it put dirt on it wiped dirty engine oil on it and it cleaned off very good with flash lemon floor cleaner.
Unfortunatley the tile is light and has a slightly sandy finnish on it so with it not being smooth ceramic it is going to take more effort, lifes not always easy!!

 

[jay]

I think i may have found a solution. When i put an oil based substance on them it brought out the colour. The sealant did not seem to do that. So i went over the bathroom tiles with Vasaline and rub into the tile. This brought out the colour as if the tile was wet. The tiles are all the same colour and seem to have stayed this colour now. I know it sound silly but i had to take desperate measures. Try it on one tile

now thats desperate
not something id recomend
vasaline is a lubricant and may make tiles slippery
after time it will dry out then you will have to re apply
now they are coated in vasiline you will find it hard to get any sealer to take to it if you find a sealer you wish to try
dust and dirt may be harder to remove now
sorry not the news you wanted to hear

 

[ishy]

I'd like to go back on what i said regarding the sicily light beige tiles they are not that bad, if you know how to do a bit of cleaning.
The tiles do acctually look good if they are laid propaly and like any floor, carpet, floor covering, wood flooring,it needs looking after.
If you have a dirty dog either get some smooth polished tiles that you can mop after, hose the dog down before you bring it in or kick the dog outside were dogs should be anyway to eat thier own vomit and excriment and lick themselves, but watch out that the dog does'nt bark to much anouying the neighbours

 

[jay]

you got a problem with dogs ishy///
:lol::lol::lol:

 

[doug boardley]

Try some LTP Grimex, you can dilute it to the required strength. Here's a link

LTP Online | Cleaning Products

 

[ishy]

you got a problem with dogs ishy///
:lol::lol::lol:

I only got problem wene they smell my front piece in public and wene carrier bags with thier wast is thrown outside my house, i know you can't blame the crap in a sack on them, it's the owners, you get away from the stuff on the pavement and then you have to deal with another

 

[jay]

I only got problem wene they smell my front piece in public and wene carrier bags with thier wast is thrown outside my house, i know you can't blame the crap in a sack on them, it's the owners, you get away from the stuff on the pavement and then you have to deal with another

woof:lol:

 

[ishy]

I'd like to thank ishy for the solution to cleaning the sicily tiles. Thankyou Ishy for finding the solution to cleaning the sicily tiles.
Stay tuned to finding more solutions to lifes problems.
Lifes a stage and we all must play our part, and remember just because this is a tile site, whilst on it you may get a dark cloud comming over you because of another problem so instead of diverting away from this page to another, just try asking on this site and you most probably will get a good result

 

[jay]

I'd like to thank ishy for the solution to cleaning the sicily tiles. Thankyou Ishy for finding the solution to cleaning the sicily tiles.
Stay tuned to finding more solutions to lifes problems.
Lifes a stage and we all must play our part, and remember just because this is a tile site, whilst on it you may get a dark cloud comming over you because of another problem so instead of diverting away from this page to another, just try asking on this site and you most probably will get a good result

ishy i think your a few sheep short in the top paddock there

 

[linniebird]

Thanks to all who've contributed on this thread. I had considered these exact same tiles myself for the wetroom I'm planning to have installed. They seemed to fit the bill as they have a non-slip surface area, but I did wonder how they might retain dirt and stains and whether they'd clean up ok. Considering I'll be needing tiles for an area of 38 sq m, I'd say you guys have stopped me from making an expensive mistake. BIG THANK YOU 🙂 !!!! I'll be getting my tiles from a reputable supplier ...

 

[DanFuzz]

Thanks to all who've contributed on this thread. I had considered these exact same tiles myself for the wetroom I'm planning to have installed. They seemed to fit the bill as they have a non-slip surface area, but I did wonder how they might retain dirt and stains and whether they'd clean up ok. Considering I'll be needing tiles for an area of 38 sq m, I'd say you guys have stopped me from making an expensive mistake. BIG THANK YOU 🙂 !!!! I'll be getting my tiles from a reputable supplier ...

Try and get something with an R11 anti slip rating. You will be able to find ranges that have both the normal type of surface, and with the matching Anti Slip from a good retailer. Most ranges from abroad are offered with both surface types, and even if your outlet doesn't stock the R11, they might well be able to source it to order? I'd say for 38m it would be worth them making some enquiries for you!

Re cleaning of tiles, I used to have a bucket that had two water sections, one for soapy water and the other for just water, which you use to rinse the dirt off the mop, before plonking it in the soapy water so that you don't go on to smear your dirty water back all over the floor! Also, I used to dry the floor with an old towel wrapped round the mop head so it could be walked on instantly. My shop floor was always sparkling by using this method! I used to sell stacks of HG floor cleaner, per application it's much cheaper than your 'flash' or regular branded cleaners. Dearer to buy, but you use far less per bucket and as it's designed to clean tiles (not everything!) it works so much better.....

I've just noticed your from Brighton - please drop me a line if you need any help with anything! I used to supply most of the shops round here so I know them well, and seeing as I'm moving into fitting myself now, I'd love to take a look at what you're planning, if only to practice my measuring up skills! I won't be harassing you to try and get a job, in any case, I'm nowhere near ready for a wet room yet! It's all good practice though, and I should be able to help you out somewhere along the line....

Dan

 

[serena]

Hi
Did you work out how to clean B and Q Sicily tiles. We've just tiled our kitchen with them (unfortunately) and they are extremely difficult to clean. Did you Seal them.
Thanks

 

[serena]

I have just had Sicily tiles laid in converted garage room, en-suite, utility and kitchen (beige). They are great in en-suite but dreadful on kitchen floorAAAAAArgh. Said they were Low maintenance in B and Q. Have just written to them, very upset!

 

[gree]

Uh thats a major problem

 

[Unregistered]

I was considering getting these for our bathroom, walls and floor.
They look great but if there an pain to clean looks like I'll have to search again 🙁

 

[Unregistered]

we install kitchens and bathrooms for wickes and have just done a bathroom with these tiles, supplied by the customer , they are probably the worst tile we have ever used , even staining when using a wet cutter . They are porous so any grouts etc that are used are absorbed by the tile , apparently they should be sealed but nowhere does it say this consequently customer didn't pay as unhappy with the job , so thanks to b&q for selling seconds!

 

[Unregistered]

I used these tiles in my bathroom, floor and walls. They are as mentioned poor so thank goodness they werent my choice (; such a pain to grout, requiring so many washes over to remove grout staining as mentioned. I ended up using an acid to clean they back. If there is a suitable sealer they will be fine I guess, if not then avoid!

 

[Unregistered]

I have a similar problem with some porcelain tiles I have. They're Spanish, so you can't just blame the Italians (and I didn't get them in B & Q either)!! I have to scrub them with a scourer (I have started a thread about this further up). Haven't tried flash lemon - thanks for tip, I will get some - , but heavy duty grout cleaner won't get it off with just mopping, does have to be scrubbed which is quite labour intensive on 30m2!! I'll also try that Fz thing.