“Mexican Tile” is a kind of terra cotta (terracotta) tile; however, Terra Cotta has its personal exclusive characteristics that demands a separate web page. True Mexican Tiles are hand made and fired at reasonably low temperatures. Hence, they’re not flat or completely square. There might even be animal tracks in the surface. The colors differ significantly from beiges, yellows, and oranges. Mexican tiles don’t get baked inside a kiln at higher temperatures. Rather, they are left to bake outside inside the Mexican sun and if it really is a cloudy day the temperature can fluctuate which increases the porosity with the tiles.

Mexican Tile’s natural, warm colors and durability make it a well known option for informal rooms, for example the kitchen and sunroom. Even a adequately sealed floor ultimately acquires layers of soil from foot visitors and frequent spills. Where the sealer has worn away or was never ever applied, the porous tile holds the dirt deeper than regular household cleaners and mops can reach. Dirt and stains are ground into waxes and acrylic coatings.

Even a adequately sealed Mexican Tile at some point acquires layers of soil from foot website traffic and frequent spills. Exactly where the sealer has worn away or was under no circumstances applied, the porous tile holds the dirt deeper than normal household cleaners and mops can attain. Dirt and stains are ground into waxes and acrylic coatings. The a single huge downside to Terra-Cotta tiles is the fact that they’ve no glaze around the surface and can soil deeply dirt extremely swiftly. The answe,r obviously, is always to seal them. Terracotta tiles will be the most problematic to seal. Wax sealants have a tendency to discolor to a darker shade plus the wax or floor finish will scratch and powder off – leaving quite a mess!

Fortunately, Mexican Tile could be cleaned with StoneTech™ Professional’s All Objective Cleaner, Klenzall or Revitalizer with out altering its organic tone or texture. Years of soil could be dissolved and vacuumed away. Old finishes are additional of an issue, especially if a petroleum based coating was applied.

Saltillo, a type of Mexican Tile, is typically custom colored having a stain which will put on off or be harmed. Saltillo is quite porous and is sun dried instead of fire-hardened like ceramic tiles. Efflorescence is widespread with saltillo tile. Efflorescence is the wicking up of salts inside the tiles when unfinished tile gets wet. Incidentally, Saltillo will be the capital of Coahuila state in Mexico and is pronounced säl te’yo.

Because Mexican Tile and Saltillo are somewhat soft (Saltillo getting the softest), these ought to never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI then only when the grout is in excellent condition.

Care & Maintenance of Mexican Tile:
Mexican Tile calls for care to ensure that it lasts for years and generations and imparts organic beauty to the surroundings. Keep surface free of dust, which may otherwise produce scratches. Hence, dust interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Use warm water to clear regularly using a mop or sponge.

All-natural stone is extremely porous. The best way to prevent stains would be to treat the surface using a protective sealer. The sealer fills in the pores and repels spills on the surface, allowing you time to completely wipe it away.

We recommend that you use care and maintenance products from StoneTech™ Professional, a DuPont company, that are specially formulated to protect and enhance the beauty of your sandstone. Seal with ImpregnatorPro™ or BulletProof™ to maintain a all-natural color. To deepen color, seal with EnhancerPro™. Use Revitalizer™ cleaner for regular maintenance.

.Sealing Terra-Cotta

Although we usually think of Mexican Tile as “hard,” it is actually a porous material. If left unsealed, spills and everyday messes can easily penetrate the surface. The liquid at some point evaporates but the stain is left behind.

Removal of oily stains is easily accomplished with StoneTech™ Professional Oil and Stain Remover.

Fluorochemical technology, incorporated into StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ and EnhancerPro™ could be the most advanced technology available, providing the ultimate shield against both water and oil-base stains. The micro-molecular formula actually bonds with the stone surface to deliver unsurpassed wear resistance and durability. And simply because the sealer reacts with the stone, you no longer have to worry about its porosity. It works on all types of stone, from ultra-porous Juparana Columbo to super-dense Absolute Black.

Restorative Cleaning of Mexican Tile:
Depending around the sort of soil, stain or other foreign matter present, select one or extra in the following options:

For stripping off any existing topical acrylic, urethane, epoxy, heavy wax coatings and epoxy grout haze:

Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated.
Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
For heavy, hard to remove coatings, use StoneTech Professional™ Heavy Duty Coating Stripper as is.
For softer coatings, dilute Heavy Duty Coating Stripper with clean water up to a 1 to 1 solution.
Apply an even coat using a chemical-resistant paintbrush, roller or deck brush.
Allow stripper to dwell for 20 minutes to 2 hours or as long as needed to soften coating. Heavy Duty Coating Stripper will remain active for up to 24 hours.
Agitate well using a stiff nylon bristle scrub brush, stiff bristle push broom or a weighted floor machine at 130-140 lbs., 175 rpm, fitted having a scrub brush attachment.
Rinse well with clean water and mop, sponge or wet vacuum to remove the remaining cleaning solution.
A hard surface extraction wand and portable or truck mounted extraction machine may be used. Repeat the rinsing and wet vacuum process to insure that all dirt, soil and cleaner residue have been removed.
For cleaning of grease, oil, dirt, dry soil and soap scum from Mexican Tile:

Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated. Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
Strip off all topical finishes for example waxes and coatings.
Prepare a solution of StoneTech Professional™ KlenzAll™ mixed with warm or hot water as suggested below:
Medium Duty Usage – Mix 1 part KlenzAll™ to 4 parts of water.
Heavy Duty Usage – Mix 1 part KlenzAll™ to 2 parts of water.
Apply KlenzAll™ using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, sponge or mop.
Agitate well using a stiff nylon bristle scrub brush, stiff bristle push broom or a weighted floor machine at 130 lbs.-140 lbs., 175 rpm, fitted having a scrub brush attachment.
Rinse well with clean water and mop, sponge or wet vacuum to remove the remaining cleaning solution. A hard surface extraction wand and portable or truck mounted extraction machine may be used.
Repeat the rinsing and wet vacuum process to insure that all dirt, soil and cleaner residue have been removed.
To remove deep or stubborn oil stains not completely removed by KlenzAll™, let the surface dry and use StoneTech Professional™ Oil Stain Remover.
Apply a ¼ inch thick coat of Oil Stain Remover to the oil stained area. Insure that Oil Stain Remover covers an area 1? to 2? beyond the stained area for the purpose of containment.
Allow 2-3 days for the Oil Stain Remover to dry to a powder.
Sweep and wipe up dried powder and evaluate the stained area for removal.
Repeat process if needed.
Remove any remaining Oil Stain Remover using mineral spirits.
For removal of efflorescence, grout haze, salts, mineral deposits and all other calcium-based stains (acidic cleaning) on Mexican Tile:

Test in an inconspicuous area, as some materials are acid sensitive and may etch when acidic cleaners like StoneTech Professional™ Restore™ are applied.
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated. Restore™ may damage stainless steel and other metals.
Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
Strip off all wax, acrylic, urethane and all topical finishes.
Prepare a solution of Restore™ mixed with warm or hot water as suggested below:
Medium Duty Usage – Mix 1 part of Restore™ to 4 parts of water.
Heavy Duty Usage – Mix 1 part of Restore™ to 1 part of water.
Liberally apply using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, sponge or mop.
Agitate well using a stiff nylon bristle scrub brush, stiff bristle push broom or a weighted floor machine at 130 lbs.-140 lbs., 175 rpm, fitted with a scrub brush attachment.
Rinse well with clean water and mop, sponge or wet vacuum to remove the remaining solution. A hard surface extraction wand and portable or truck mounted extraction machine may be used.>
Repeat the rinsing and wet vacuum process to insure that all dirt, soil and cleaner residue have been removed.
Thoroughly rinse all metal surfaces.
Sealing & Protecting Mexican Tile:
All-natural stone surfaces must be sealed to prevent or minimize staining. Leaving organic stone untreated may greatly hinder the complete removal of stains in the future. The following suggestions are for impregnating the stone and will allow the stone to breathe. Allow new installations to cure for 72 hours prior to applying sealer.

For a organic looking protector on interior and exterior surfaces (heavy duty protection, water and oil repellency) on Mexican Tile:

Sweep or vacuum all dust, dirt and debris.
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated.
Insure that surface is clean and residue-free.
StoneTech Professional™ Stone Sealer or Bullet Proof may be applied to damp surfaces 1 hour after standing water has been removed.
Liberally apply an even coat of sealer using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, roller or brush.
Allow sealer to penetrate the surface for 20-30 minutes. During this time, distribute excess over entire area to insure even penetration.
Wipe off any remaining sealer prior to drying on the surface.
A second coat may be needed for porous, absorbent surfaces and should really be applied 30-40 minutes after initial application as directed above.
A minimum of 30 minutes after final application, wipe entire surface using a towel dampened with sealer to remove any residue and excess sealer, if needed.
A full cure is achieved after 24-72 hours; foot visitors may begin in 6-8 hours. Cover with red rosin paper, if foot visitors must resume before the recommended time periods have passed.
For a all-natural looking protector on exterior surfaces (heavy duty protection, water repellency only) on Mexican Tile:

StoneTech Professional™ Heavy Duty Exterior Stone and Masonry Sealer is actually a water repellent specially designed for exterior projects which include facades, cladding, pool decks, parking areas and driveways. It is actually extremely resistant to chemicals (i.e., chlorine) and to the effects of weather (i.e., ultraviolet light/sunlight, driving water/rain).

Sweep or vacuum all dust, dirt and debris.
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated.
Insure that the surface is clean, dry and residue-free.
Liberally apply an even coat of Heavy Duty Exterior Stone and Masonry Sealer using a brush, paint roller or solvent-resistant low-pressure sprayer.
Allow sealer to penetrate the surface for 15-30 minutes; denser material may require far more time for sealer to penetrate.
During this time, distribute excess over entire area to insure even penetration.
Wipe off any remaining sealer prior to drying on the surface.
A second coat may be needed for porous, absorbent surfaces and need to be applied a single hour after initial application as directed above.
If sealer was not completely wiped off and a residue appears, wipe entire surface having a towel dampened with sealer.
Use a white, non-abrasive nylon brush or pad to loosen residue and follow using a clean, white absorbent towel to remove.
Do not walk on surface for at least 4-6 hours. Full cure is achieved in 24-72 hours.
For a color enhancing, impregnating (non-topical) protector on interior and exterior surfaces (heavy duty protection, water and oil repellency) on Mexican Tile:

Sweep or vacuum all dust, dirt and debris.
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated.
Insure that surface is clean, dry and residue-free.
Liberally apply an even coat of StoneTech Professional™ Enhancer Pro™ using a low-pressure solvent-resistant sprayer, roller or brush.
Allow to penetrate the surface for 15-30 minutes; denser material may require additional time for Enhancer Pro™ to penetrate.
During this time, distribute excess over entire area to insure even penetration.
Completely wipe surface dry.
Usually do not ALLOW ENHANCER PRO™ TO DRY COMPLETELY ON SURFACE!
Failure to remove enhancer from the surface may result within a film or residue that may need to be mechanically removed.
A second coat may be needed for porous, absorbent surfaces or if a darker appearance is required and should really be applied one particular hour after initial application as directed above.
A full cure is achieved after 24-72 hours; foot traffic may begin in 6-8 hours.
Cover with red rosin paper, if foot website traffic must resume before the recommended time periods have passed.
Maintenance Cleaning of Mexican Tile
Highly alkaline, acidic, ammoniated, abrasive cleaners and/or bleach may break down the sealer, adversely affecting repellency and may not be very good for the stone. Use a neutral cleaner specially formulated for all-natural stone.

For routine cleaning with protection (not recommended for lacquered surfaces):

Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
Prepare a solution of StoneTech Professional™ Revitalizer™ concentrate mixed with warm or hot water as suggested below:
Light Duty Usage – 1 part Revitalizer™ to 4 parts water.
Medium Duty Usage/Spray Refill – 1 part Revitalizer™ to 1 part water.
(A single gallon of concentrate makes up to five gallons of ready-to-use solution.)
Apply the Revitalizer™ solution using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, mop, sponge or automatic scrubbing machine.
No rinsing needed.
Or use Revitalizer™ in a ready-to-use sprayer
For routine maintenance cleaning:

Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
Prepare a solution of StoneTech Professional™ All Purpose Stone & Tile Cleaner concentrate mixed with warm or hot water as suggested below:
2 ounces All Purpose Stone and Tile Cleaner in 1 gallon of water. (Usually do not mix stronger than 2 ounces to a gallon as a maintenance cleaner.)
Apply the solution using a sponge, mop or automatic scrubbing machine, then wipe or rinse off.
Or use All Objective Stone and Tile Cleaner in a ready-to-use sprayer.
Products for Cleaning and Protecting Mexican Tile:
All Purpose Stone & Tile Cleaner
BulletProof™ Sealer
EnhancerPro™ Sealer
Heavy Duty Exterior Stone and Masonry Sealer
High Gloss Stone Sealer
Impregnator Pro Sealer
KlenzAll heavy duty alkaline cleaner and degreaser
Oil and Stain Remover
Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector
Stone Care Guide tri-fold Brochure
Stone Care Guide
Training Video
Related Stone Care Information:
StoneTech™
Stone Care Guide
Terra Cotta