How to Make Matte Porcelain Tile Shiny


In this article, we will discuss how to make matte porcelain tile shiny. Porcelain is a type of ceramic tile that is produced from fine clay. This kind of tile is highly resistant to wear, gouges, freezing, and moisture. Most porcelain tiles are coated in a gloss glaze fused to the top of the tile to prevent fluid absorption or the addition of a gloss. On the other hand, unglazed porcelain tiles can be given a shiny look using various methods.

How to make matte porcelain tile shiny? Using glossy ceramic tile sealer or wax can make matte porcelain tile shiny. Soapy water, baking soda, ammonia-water solution, and vinegar solution are ideal alternatives if tile sealer or wax is unavailable.

Matte porcelain tiles have a smooth and shiny look when they were first laid, but as time went by, the look can wear down and become dull. This can either be the result of leftover soap, grout discoloration, or cleaning solution residue. What can you put on porcelain tile to make it shine? Can you polish matte porcelain tiles? These are some of the questions that we will talk about in this article. Check out the rest of the article below to find out how you can add shine to your matte porcelain tile and make them look as good as new.

What Can You Put on Porcelain Tile to Make it Shine?

A topical sealer is one of the best ways to give porcelain tile a shiny finish. Choose a sealer that is specifically made for porcelain tiles. This kind of sealer will bond to the tile and provide a natural low sheen look. Also, it provides a barrier across the floor and the grout. There are many sealers that you can find on the market. Compare one product to another so that you can find the best choice.

How to Make Tiles Glossy

Adding topical sealer into the porcelain tile will give it a natural glossy look. Below are the instructions on how to apply sealers to porcelain tiles.

Clean the Tile

Vacuum or sweep the floor tile to remove any dirt, dust, or grime from the surface. Make sure to pay attention to the corners, hard-to-reach areas, or the grouts between the tiles so that debris will not get trapped beneath the sealer.

  • Mop – In 1 gallon of warm water, add a few drops of dish soap and stir the mixture with the mop to create lather. Dip the mop into the bucket and run it over the surface of the tile. Cover the tiles evenly and don’t forget to work on the corners and grout lines.
  • Scrub – Using a toothbrush and a cleaning solution, scrub the grout to remove grime and stains that stick into it. Avoid using a metal or wire brush since it can damage the grout.
  • Rinse – Use a bucket of clean water to wash away the soap from the surface of the tile. Make sure to remove all of the soap so that it will not affect the adhesion of the sealer.
  • Dry – Allow the tiles to dry for at least six hours before applying the sealer or they will not properly adhere to the surface.

Apply Sealer

Step 1: Open the sealer container carefully and pour it into a clean spray bottle. Close the lid securely to avoid spilling.

Step 2: Hold the bottle six inches away from the surface of the tile and spray. Apply a thin coating of the sealer into the surface of the tile making sure to cover every area evenly.

Step 3: Allow the sealer to sit for five minutes so that it can penetrate deep into the tile to form a protective coating.

Step 4: Remove excess sealer by wiping the tile with a damp sponge. This will provide the formation of a sticky or uneven surface.

Video – How to Seal Porcelain Tiles and Grout

Atlas Ceramics shared the video below on their YouTube channel on how to seal porcelain tiles and grout. In the video, they have addressed common questions like how much sealer solution should be used, is it important to wait for the tiles to dry before applying the sealer, and if porcelain tiles and grout need to be sealed. Watch the video below for a detailed explanation and for instructions on how to apply sealer.

How to Make Floor Tile Shine without Wax?

If you do not want to use wax or sealer for your floor tiles, other alternatives that you can use are soapy water, baking soda, ammonia-water solution, and vinegar solution. These materials can easily be purchased in your local store. You can even find some of them in your kitchen.

Using Soapy Water

Add detergent into a mop bucket that contains warm water and mix thoroughly to form a soapy solution. Dip the mop into the solution and wring it to remove excess water before applying it to the floor. Mop the floor thoroughly and replace the solution when it turns dirty. Scrub the stains gently with the use of a soft brush or sponge. Rinse with clean water and let dry.

Baking Soda

It is one of the best cleaners that work well on dirt and stains. In a mop bucket, pour two gallons of warm water. Add ¼ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Add essential oil if you want the solution to have a fresh scent. Apply the solution on the floor tile and let it sit for about ten minutes before rinsing with clean water.

Ammonia-Water Solution

When it comes to removing floor stains and restoring the shine on floor tiles, ammonia is considered one of the best cleaners. In a mop bucket, add a few drops of ammonia with warm water and mix well. Dip the mop in the cleaning solution and wring to avoid excess water. Mop the floor thoroughly to remove stains, dirt, and to disinfect the floor as well. Rinse the floor with clean water and dry-mop.

Vinegar

Make sure that the floor is swept clean before using vinegar solution and open the window for proper air circulation. In a bucket, mix ½ cup of white vinegar into two gallons of water. Dip the mop in the bucket and wring to avoid excess water. Thoroughly clean the floor to remove dirt. Dry mop with the use of a clean towel to remove any moisture left. Are you wondering if porcelain is oven-safe? for an in-depth discussion, you can check out this article that discusses if porcelain is oven safe.

How to Add Gloss to a Porcelain Tile

Adding gloss to a porcelain tile will make it look shiny and new. When applying gloss to the floor tile, make sure that you follow the instruction on how to use the gloss properly. Remove any furniture from the area to avoid any obstruction. Clean the floor to remove any dirt or debris before applying the gloss.

Here are the materials that you will need and the directions on how to add gloss to a porcelain tile.

Materials

  • Vacuum/broom
  • Mop
  • Bucket
  • White vinegar
  • Wax applicator

Directions

Step 1: Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar into 2 gallons of warm water and use the solution to mop the floor. Let the floor dry before adding the gloss.

Step 2: Carefully read the instruction on how to use the gloss properly.

Step 3: Pour a portion of the gloss into a clean bucket.

Step 4: Use a wax applicator or a foam rubber brush to polish the tile. Apply a thin coat of gloss on the tile making sure that it appears clear instead of white as it is applied.

Step 5: Allow the gloss to dry for at least 30 minutes.

Step 6: Apply a second coat of gloss and allow it to dry once again. Consider repeating the process until you have achieved the shine that you want on the floor.

Why are My Porcelain Tiles Cloudy?

Cloudy porcelain tiles can be a result of optical hazing. This is caused by a sealer residue from the factory sealer that was applied when the tiles were processed. This usually happens on polished or semi-polished porcelain tiles. The sealer residue can look swirling or cloudy makes across the surface of the tile.

Are Matte Porcelain Tiles Hard to Clean?

Matte porcelain tiles are easy to clean and do not need frequent cleaning as compared to other tiles. You can use ordinary tile cleaning solutions or you can create your own using baking soda, vinegar, or soapy water. You can even drop your favorite essential oil into the solution to make the tile smell great. Do you know that toilets are also made of porcelain? Check out this article titled, what are toilets made of for more information.

Does Porcelain Tile Need to be Sealed?

The surface of most porcelain tile does not need to be sealed. However, some may need a light application of a penetrating sealer to fill the micropores on the surface of the tile. We have also shared this article titled, compressed earth block vs. brick. You can check out the article for an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned that there are different methods on how to make matte porcelain tile shiny. The common ones are to use sealant, gloss, or wax. Other alternatives include using baking soda, soapy water, vinegar, and ammonia solution. If you have matte porcelain tile at home and you think that it needs to have additional shine, you can choose any of the methods that we have shared to upgrade the look of your porcelain tiles. Thank you for reading!

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