Seven years ago, I renovated my home and chose to use more tiles because I thought they were easy to clean. But over time, I realized that maintaining them wasn't as simple as I had expected. Issues like cracks in the living room from frequent foot traffic, loss of shine due to harsh cleaning products, and rust around the faucet started to appear. This made me wonder—how should I properly maintain my tiles? And is it really necessary to replace them after a few years?
Expert Insight
This issue was addressed by Vice President Ke Kaizhu of Le Anju. He explained that while ceramic tiles are more durable and wear-resistant compared to wood flooring, they still require proper care. If not maintained correctly, they can develop problems just as easily as wooden floors. Some damages may be hard to fix, and replacing large areas can be costly if the quality isn’t high enough. So, it’s best to tailor your maintenance approach based on the type and location of the tiles.
Material Determines Maintenance Priority
Today, ceramic tile production is highly advanced, with many types and names. However, there are only a few basic categories. Understanding these basics helps simplify the maintenance process.
Glazed tiles are commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms. They are considered “user-friendly†since they’re more resistant to wear and have fewer maintenance restrictions. However, antique-style glazed tiles have a unique look, created by uneven surface enamel. These tiles are popular in bathrooms but can be prone to moss or rust due to constant moisture. It’s recommended to use special cleaning agents, as regular scrubbing can damage the enamel and ruin the vintage appearance.
Many people also choose brick-like tiles for living rooms and even bathrooms—these are usually vitrified or full-body tiles. Full-body tiles are known for their stone-like effect and rich color, but they have small pores that can absorb liquids like tea or juice, making stains hard to remove. The key rule for maintaining full-body tiles is to avoid contact with colored liquids whenever possible.
Vitrified tiles are an improved version of full-body tiles, with a thin layer of glass-like glaze added to reduce surface porosity. However, this glaze is thin and transparent, which makes it vulnerable to corrosion. To protect the glaze, it's best to use neutral detergents. Once the glaze is damaged, the tile loses its shine and becomes more prone to dirt.
Polished tiles are another variation of full-body tiles. Their shiny surface looks elegant, but they are more delicate. Regular waxing is recommended, especially for expensive polished tiles, which may need waxing every 2–3 months to maintain their luster.
Fixing Tile Rust with Vitamin C
Kitchen grease can be tough to remove, leaving stubborn residues even after using regular cleaners. A good trick is to apply a degreaser as a “cleaning mask,†letting it sit for 3–5 hours before wiping it off. For rust near the faucet, you can use vitamin C powder or mix it with lemon juice to gently wipe away the stain. If it’s still stubborn, a soft scraper can help without damaging the surface.
Bathroom tiles often develop black mold or mildew between the grout lines due to constant moisture. It’s important to clean these regularly. A simple toothbrush and toothpaste can work wonders, but if left too long, the stains can seep into the edges and become harder to remove.
In the living room, where aesthetics matter most, cracks can occur from heavy objects falling on the tiles. Small cracks can be filled with special tile adhesive, and broken pieces can be reattached to prevent further damage.
Over time, even vitrified tiles can lose their shine and look worn out. Instead of replacing them, consider re-glazing, a service many renovation companies offer to refresh the look without the hassle of full replacement.
Author: Xie Uno
The elevator guide shoe
Elevator guide shoe is a sliding part between elevator guide rail and car, what we call it guide shoe. It can fix the car on the guide rail and make car running up and down. Oil cup upper the elevator guide shoe that can reduce the friction of the shoe line and guide rail. There are four sets of guide shoes installed in each unit, respectively on both sides of the upper beam and under the safety clamp seat at the bottom of the car; and also four sets counter weight guide shoes are mounted on the bottom and top of the beam.
The guide shoes fixed on the car can move up and down along the fixed guide rail installed on the wall of the well way of the building to prevent the car from deviating or swinging in operation.
Guide shoe installation requirements
The installation method of guide shoe is to put it on the installation position of the guide rail of the car frame. After finding the right position, use the bolt fix it on the car guide rail frame. The installation must meet the following requirements:
- When the upper and lower guide shoes are installed in the right position, they should be on the same vertical line. No slant or deflection is allowed. Both roller guide shoes and fixed guide shoes same requirement.
- Fixed guide shoes are mainly used for FOVF units, the clearance between the two sides should be consistent, and the clearance between the inner lining and the rail top should be within O. 5 ~ 2 mm
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