Favorite cleaner for ceramic tile

I am amazed at how widely different people are regarding their choice in cleaners for ceramic tile with sandstone grout. Some go straight for the acid cleaners while others work their way up from a neutral ph to high Alk, to the acid. So, let's hear it, what really works best?

Personally, I have tried about a half-dozen brands over the years and never really found that "wow" product. Some smell horrible, some don't clean well, and some damage the sealer on the first usage. Is there a well-kept secret out there hidding on the shelves?

i use judsons slop n gobble.  its a high alk, has no odor, and its also a great trashed carpet PS. oh yeah its cheap i use two oz per gal RTU cost .39 a gal

Flex with citrus solv and if needed I boost it with floor stripper. You would be amazed how well floor stripper works, it's cheap and very affective.

Regular carpet prespray on light to moderate soils, heavy soils I use Zep degreaser from Lowe's.

The zep purple is about the highest form of Sodium Hydroxide you will be able to find for standard OTC cleaners and will work good for greased out places.

If you want wow product then you are going to use acid. The etch gives you the WOW like nothing else.

Best kept secret thats not a secret to anyone in america for cleaning EVERYTHING!?

Peroxide!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get the stuff from joe or the 35 from a pool place. Ad in some SO and that should get you through most situations.

What PSI and heat you throwing out for tile?

I use shorebest 2790, or viper venom. Usually go straight to the 2790 because the mix to cost ratio is way better with the shorebest.
Plus it works well, I have hardly ever used a brush to agitate, just spray on, dwell, and blast off with Turbo hybird.

I admit it, I have never come across "shorebest 2790", but I keep hearing good things on the boards. Must be a good product...might have to seek it out.

Bud B wrote:I use shorebest 2790, or viper venom. Usually go straight to the 2790 because the mix to cost ratio is way better with the shorebest.
Plus it works well, I have hardly ever used a brush to agitate, just spray on, dwell, and blast off with Turbo hybird.

Welcome to the forum Bud. You still crab fishing or are you cleaning full time now.

Shorebest 2790 is somne strong stuff I don't like the stink. It a concrete cleaner

Concrete cleaner?? That would explain why it works so well.

Learned something new...thanks teach, have an apple.  

milspec6 wrote:Concrete cleaner??  That would explain why it works so well.

Learned something new...thanks teach, have an apple.  

Exactly! lol

2790 was made for concrete cleaning, and that's why it's so strong (PH 14), and also why it works so well on T&G.

I just bought my first case about a month ago and have used it a few times so far. I'm also impressed with it's results.

I actually just used it on a Terrazzo floor last week, that I had previously cleaned 6 months ago with the 'other stuff' <insert your favorite T&G clearer here>.  
When I cleaned it 6 months ago, it was a real PITA, you know one of those floors that you throw everything you have at it and it's still ton of time and labor to get looking good!?

Well, this time it was a breeze using 2790!  


Here's some BnA pics from cleaning this time............

Well, it looks like I screwed up the BnA pics on this one, I didn't take the afters in the same place.   But I think you'll get the idea............





Then here's a couple afters looking from the opposite side, looking back at the clean area covered by the door mat.





This one looking from the west side at the area just past door mat that was real soiled...

cobbs powermax....

also, you do realize what side of the ph scale cleans what right???

because acid isnt going to do very well in a greasy joint, and alky isnt going to fix certain bathroom issues (more commercial bathrooms)

Floorguy wrote:cobbs powermax....

also, you do realize what side of the ph scale cleans what right???

because acid isnt going to do very well in a greasy joint, and alky isnt going to fix certain bathroom issues (more commercial bathrooms)

Yes I do, understand. But not sure who your asking?

it was more for milspec...as he was throwing some questions out....

so i was making sure he understood which does which

Floorstripper - isn't that mainly sodium hydroxide?

Nice work Dave.
Where are you guys getting 2790?
I was gonna stock it but not enough demand, at least not in the NW and U think there's a good midwest disty for the stuff, right?


I have a new hoodcleaner product, with safe solvents, DfE safe. fairly cost effective at $27.50/gal.
cuts grease without the corrosiveness of traditional floorstrippers/hoodcleaners.
Add peroxide and it should work great for T&G.

Also wondering why Doug isn't liking S&G over Cobb's Powermax?

Wow Joe. Why didn't you say something about this before? I never knew you had a grease solvent. I'll have to keep that in the back of my mind.

for tile or all around??

S&G slop and gobble??

i use it to for things...

in fact those are my 2 main cleaners....

if its nasty and needs a odor kicker, i use slop....seeing as no fragrance to fight against...and some restaurants for the low RTU price..

Cobbs, covers everything else....and rinses well...never had a problem (some say the delime-o doesnt rinse well) and its 3 way citrus, oxy, enzyme, is a nice kick...

i for 1 generally sticks to what works....and i try new things on occasion, just to double check myself...

i have tried other cleaners people rave about in other parts of the country...and yet i had no luck... Different soils, and probably H2O make up.....

Floorguy wrote:cobbs powermax....

also, you do realize what side of the ph scale cleans what right???

because acid isnt going to do very well in a greasy joint, and alky isnt going to fix certain bathroom issues (more commercial bathrooms)

When I re-read my original post, it did sound like I was lost. I understand which end of the scale to use on tile based upon the conditions. I don't think I have ever needed to use more than a high alkaline with an acid in a spray bottle when needed, but I was just looking for the cleaners that are really working well in the field. Looks like there are some real good choices being listed that I have no experience cleaning with...that is awesome! 

oxyblaster

I have only ever had one fail with oxyblaster. So far zero fails using Cleaner and Conditioner from Ultra Chem Labs. Hard to find but worth it. I put it on the same as anything else but then when you go to rinse it off the floor is squeeky clean. I mean there is no sliperyness left on the floor at all.

I use Powermax, mix it a bit strong and let it dwell.
Very good results

MikeW wrote:Flex with citrus solv and if needed I boost it with floor stripper. You would be amazed how well floor stripper works, it's cheap and very affective.

That's a good idea mike. How many oz are you boosting with?

It really depends on the job, between 2 and 4 oz a gallon.