The Best Method For Cleaning Encaustic Tiles

Whether your home features beautiful encaustic tiles from many years ago or you're considering installing new ones, you'll need to know how to properly care for them. Originally, these geometric tiles were made from fired clay, which can be fragile and break or loosen over time. When cleaning these tiles, remember to be gentle and avoid getting them too wet, as they can develop a white deposit, or efflorescence. "Encaustic tiles that have become stained or dirty can generally be cleaned with fresh water, detergents or proprietary tile cleaners — but never soak them," Roger Hunt, author of "Old House Handbook," told Homes & Gardens.

Nowadays, encaustic tiles are typically crafted from cement rather than ceramics, and while this method still achieves the classic look, it may require different methods for cleaning. General maintenance — like sweeping and vacuuming — will help keep your tiles in good shape, whether they're made of cement or clay.

If you notice a salty build up on your encaustic tiles, it's most likely efflorescence, which can develop when the tiles are exposed to a lot of moisture or trapped under something non-breathable — like floor mats that have rubber backing. Rather than attempting to clean it with water, which could make it worse, you can simply vacuum it up. When scrubbing your tiles, it's best to stay away from wire brushes or anything that's extremely abrasive. Nylon scouring pads, like these found on Amazon, work well and won't damage your floors.

For tiles that have splotches of paint, glue, or cement, you may need to put in a bit more work. "Use abrasive scouring pads, a sharp blade and suitable chemicals to loosen and remove unwanted contaminants," Nigel Frost from The Floor Restoration Company said to Homes & Gardens. To deal with glue, Frost recommends using a paint stripper and following with a white spirit cleaning solution. For dried-on cement, Frost suggests hydrochloric acid. However, if your tiles are made of cement, you should avoid using acids or bleach to clean them — a cleaner that has a neutral pH level is best.

While encaustic tiles generally have a matte finish, you may want them to be shinier — but it's important not to seal this flooring. "Don't apply a sealant or impregnator, particularly on a ground floor with no damp-proof membrane, or you will trap moisture," Helaine Clare, an independent restoration expert, explained to Homes & Gardens. "If you'd like a slight sheen, apply liquid beeswax sparingly to the tiles, using a soft cotton cloth."

To keep dirt from building up on your encaustic tiles and making them harder to clean, you can place doormats near the entrances to your home. As long as the back of the mat is not made of rubber, it should be safe for clay and cement. Since encaustic tiles hold each other together, if one becomes damaged it's important to fix it as soon as possible. With regular cleaning and maintenance, your encaustic tiles should stay beautiful for years.