Lea - 2024

Cleaning and maintenance information.

Make sure to do the following before cleaning any tiled surface:

1. Check the resistance to chemical agents of the laid tiles in the general catalogue;

2. Perform a preliminary test directly on the laid tiles by putting a detergent, to be used in contact with the tiles for a period that is equal to the

period that will be used later on the site;

3. Make sure that the detergents that are going to be used, do not contain hydrofluoric acid and/or any of its derivatives; these substances, by

their very nature, damage all ceramic products.

Listed below are some indications for cleaning after the installation (after laying the tiles), on a daily basis, for extra cleaning and to remove waxes

and polish glazes or for any extra maintenance that may be required.

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1. Cleaning “after the installation” helps remove residues of grout-joints, cement and lime. This is mandatory at the end of the installation, for

glazed tiles and unglazed tiles.

2. If the cleaning “after the installation” is not carried out properly or if it is not carried out at all, this can often result in marks that prevent the

floor from being cleaned properly even if good daily cleaning is performed.

3. Whenever possible, especially for medium to large surfaces, it is advisable to use a single-brush machine with soft disks (white or beige).

4. Cleaning cement-based grouts mixed with water.

This is carried out with specific detergents with buffffered and diluted acids. The table below shows some of these detergents, which are available

on the market.

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Use warm water and a high quality microfibre cloth, like MAGIC CLEAN by Bonasystems Italia.

If needed, use warm water and a very diluted neutral detergent (one cap in 5 litres of water) or warm water and a universal degreaser (4-5 sprays

in 5 litres of water). When finished, always rinse with water and a clean microfibre cloth.

TYPE OF OPERATION

clean on a daily basis

TYPE OF DETERGENT

neutral

universal degreaser

DETERGENT’S NAME

floor cleaner

cleaner pro

pflegereiniger

hmk p15

bonamain + / bmain +

bonatitania clean / btitania clean

belgres

chanteclair sgrassatore universale

smac expresse sgrassatore

MANUFACTURER

faber chimica

fila

lithofin

hmk

bonasystems italia

geal

real chimica

bolton group

Unless otherwise indicated by LEA CERAMICHE, follow the instructions indicated on the manufacturer’s packaging very carefully.

CLEANING DECORATIONS

FOR REMOVING THE FOLLOWING RESIDUES

cement-based grouts

grout

cement

lime

TYPE OF DETERGENT

buffered acid based

DETERGENT’S NAME

ultracare keranet

cement remover

deterdek pro

trek

zementschleierentferner

hmk r63

solvacid

bonaclean / bclean

bonadecon / bdecon (*)

MANUFACTURER

mapei

faber chimica

fila

kiter

lithofin

hmk

geal

bonasystems italia

- Use NEUTRAL, diluted detergents

NEVER USE: Waxing and impregnating agents - Acid or alkaline detergents - Abrasive pastes - Abrasive brushes or sponges.

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Standard detergents that are available in the market sometimes contain waxes or polish additives that, wash after wash, deposit glossy glaze on

the floor and causes annoying marks. Patinas of this type can also be deposited by alcohol-based disinfectant detergents and grouting for joints.

When simple foods such Coke, wine, water, etc.., fall on the floor, they remove this type of glossy glaze and restore the original appearance of

the tiles (a more opaque look).

In the middle of the shinier floor, the areas without wax appear as opaque marks, but they are actually the only clean parts of the floor. In these

cases, the following must be done:

1. First of all, remove the glossy glaze from the entire floor (see table below);

2. Then,fordailycleaning,useneutraldetergentsthatdonotcontainwaxorpolishingglaze(seethepreviousparagraph:“daily/standardcleaning”).

Unless otherwise indicated by LEA CERAMICHE, follow the instructions indicated on the manufacturer’s package very carefully. (*) Speci

fic for products that are non-resistant to acids

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CLEAN “AFTER THE INSTALLATION”:

1. Clean 4-5 days after grouting (the grout must be hardened); do not wait more than 10 days. Afer this period, cleaning can become very dificult.

2. Moisten the floor with water before cleaning. This way the groutings are soaked with water and the contact with detergents is reduced.

3. Let the detergents operate for limited periods, hence rinse out with water as soon as possible.

4. It must not be carried out if the tiled surfaces are very hot (i.e. exposed to the sun during very warm days); this must be avoided as the action

of aggressive chemicals become very harsh. In the summer, proceed with the operation during the coolest period of the day.

5. Make sure to always perform a precautionary test before using the product (on a tile that is not laid), especially for Honed or Polished products.

6. Cleaning for epoxy, bi-component and reagent grouts

In these cases the removal must be carried out immediately and carefully following the recommendations of the manufacturers, as these grouts

harden very quickly, even in a few minutes. Please carefully follow the cleaning mode specified by the manufacturer of the grout used; verify its

effffectiveness (with back-lighting) with a preliminary cleaning test before grouting the entire floor/wall.

7. Antislip tiles

“Antislip” tiles that are made with rough and/or textured surfaces must be cleaned very well. Therefore, it is advisable to clean “after the

installation”, quickly and thoroughly, using a single-brush machine with white or beige disks.

EXTRA CLEANING

This procedure is carried out to remove stains or residues that are particularly old or stubborn. Make sure to always perform a precautionary test

before using the product (on a tile that is not laid), especially for Honed or Polished products.

The table shown below indicates the detergents that are effffective according to the type of stains.

RESIDUES TO BE REMOVED

glossy glaze

TYPE OF DETERGENT

weak acidic

DETERGENT’S NAME

tile cleaner pure (*)

MANUFACTURER

faber chimica

(*) Do not follow the instructions on the package, just apply the pure detergent, follow the instructions shown in the video at the following link https://youtu.be/4Kqe-CJIb5s.

Do not use wax on LEA CERAMICHE porcelain stoneware.

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Original floor.

SPECIAL MAINTENANCE

After cleaning with detergents

containing wax.

Simple foodstuffffs (Coca-Cola,

wine, water etc) can remove the

bright patina. The original surface is

more matt.

MANUFACTURER

fila

mapei

lithofin

Remove the patina with detergent

(Faber tile cleaner, non-diluted),

and use detergent without wax for

everyday cleaning.

FOR REMOVING THE FOLLOWING RESIDUES

grease

dust footmarks

base cleaning

coffee

coke

fruit juice

wine

calcareous deposits

rust

inks

felt-tipped pen

tire traces

stains from rubber

metals or pencils

tile joint stains

TYPE OF DETERGENT

multipurpose, alkaline-based (1)

oxidizing agent

acid-based (1)

solvent-based

abrasive paste (1)

specific

DETERGENT’S NAME

ps87 pro

intensivreiniger

hmk r55

taski r20-strip

deep degreaser

ultracare HD cleaner

bonadecon / bdecon

deterflash

coloured stain remover

ps87 pro

super deterjet

ultracare HD cleaner

bleach

oxidant

bleach

viakal

ultracare acid cleaner

diluted muriatic acid

ultracare acid cleaner

nitro dilutant, white spirit

coloured stain remover

vim clorex (2)

polishing cream (2)

strong remover (3)

detergum (3)

fuganet

ultracare grout cleaner

fugenreininger

MANUFACTURER

fila

lithofin

hmk

johnsondiversey

faber chimica

mapei

bonasystems italia

geal

faber chimica

fila

geal

mapei

various manufacturers

faber chimica

various manufacturers

procter & gamble

mapei

various manufacturers

mapei

various manufacturers

faber chimica

guaber

faber chimica

zep italia

fila

mapei

lithofin

Stain-resistant products for joints

PRODUCT NAME

fugaproof

ultracare grout protector

kf fugenschutz

Unless otherwise indicated by LEA CERAMICHE, follow the instructions indicated on the manufacturer’s package very carefully.

Antislip treatments

The slip resistance of floors laid with glazed tiles or non-glazed tiles can be increased by using specific products (see table).

Before applying the product perform a precautionary test on a tile that is not laid in order to find the most suitable contact time. If, on the one

hand, the longest period increases the griping grade, on the other, it will tend to whiten the colours of the tiles a little and make it slightly less

resistant to stains.

TYPE OF OPERATION

antislip treatment

caution:

PRODUCT NAME

bonagrip

safe floor

MANUFACTURER

bonasystems italia

faber chimica

(1) Perform a precautionary test on Honed or Polished materials. (2) Suitable for Honed or Polished materials. (3) Do not use it on Honed products, use with the utmost caution on Polished

products. Unless otherwise indicated by LEA CERAMICHE, follow the instructions indicated on the manufacturer’s packaging very carefully.

Lea Ceramiche

1. Do not use these treatments on Honed or Polished surfaces; 2. Before the doing treatment contact Lea’s Customer Service; 3. It is advisable to carry out the treatment through

specialized companies.

POLISHED products can reach a grade of R9 (test DIN EN 16165-Annex B) with special laser treatments that may be carried out only on materials

that have not been laid: for this reason the request for R9 on Polished products must be specified at the time of placing the order with the sales

department.

Such laser treatments can be also be carried out on HONED surfaces (contact LEA CERAMICHE customer service for further information).

Useful contacts pag. 378

The manual “cleaning and maintenance” is available on the website leaceramiche.com

Cleaning and maintenance information.

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Stain-resistant products for joints

Lea Ceramiche

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Technical Info