Tile Talk August 2020 | Cleaning & Disinfecting Tile

In just a few short months, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives. It is critical to keep businesses safe – for both employees as well as customers.  This means, more than ever, we will need to double down our efforts when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting as well as maintaining overall hygiene.

We’re in the business of tile – ceramic, porcelain, quarry, and glass.  And many of our clients – quick-service restaurants, hospitals, education facilities, and retail establishments (just to name a few) need to know how to properly clean and disinfect tiled floors and walls.  Well, we are here to help!

Incorporate our 3-step method for cleaning and disinfecting your tiled surfaces:

Clean

Remember: cleaning removes food particles, oils, dirt, chemicals, and other foreign contaminants from the tiled surface.  However, it does not reduce the number of pathogens on the clean surface to a safe level.

• Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove and loosen dirt and other foreign materials. For walls, a dry wipe down with a microfiber towel will work best.
• Then saturate the floors or walls using a neutral ph balanced cleaner. The key here is to follow dwell time recommendations, as this allows the chemicals to be most effective.
• Next, you’ll need to agitate and scrub using a stiff deck brush or a nonabrasive nylon pad.

Rinse

• Once the floors or walls have been thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned, it is now time to rinse. For best results, use clean warm water to eliminate the dirty solution.  I recommend microfiber material in lieu of cotton.  Microfiber is more durable and is proven to clean with more efficiency.
  

Disinfect

Disinfecting kills bacteria and viruses, but it must be done correctly to be effective.  Do not rush to clean off the disinfectant after it has been applied.

• The EPA has an extensive list of disinfectants that can be used against SARS – COVID 19 virus.
• Be sure to pick your disinfectants wisely. All the chemicals on the EPA list are safe except for these three: hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, and octanoic acid.  These can be quite harsh due to their acidic makeup and could negatively impact the glaze and composition of the tiles.
• Disinfectants work best when dwell times have been achieved, so follow the manufacturer’s recommendations without deviation. Achieving appropriate dwell times allows for the bacteria and pathogens to be effectively removed.

In the new Post-COVID world, guests will now expect a higher level of cleanliness.  This is the time, more than ever, to learn how to properly clean and disinfect your business.  Remember, the key is to stay consistent and thorough and make sure cleaning efforts are a top priority.

Use our 3-step process in conjunction with your program’s cleaning playbook to deliver an effective and consistent strategy to keep everyone healthy.

From everyone here at Creative Materials, stay safe, and take care of each other.

Some additional resources:

Creative Materials Corp – Care and Maintenance Guide
https://www.creativematerialscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Tile_Care-Maintenance-Guide_2022.pdf

Handwashing 101
https://www.foodsafetyfocus.com/FoodSafetyFocus/media/Library/pdfs/Handwashing.pdf

EPA List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS – COVID19
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19

National Restaurant Association’s Coronavirus Information and Resources
https://restaurant.org/covid19