How to Clean and Seal Tiles: Care Guides by Material
31 August 2026 · Tile Touch
Most glazed tiles need very little to stay clean: warm water, a soft cloth and a pH-neutral cleaner. The part people get wrong is sealing. Glazed porcelain, glazed ceramic and glass surfaces do not need a sealer, while natural stone and cement tiles usually do. Grout is the exception across almost every job, and it is worth sealing on its own. Below is how to handle each material, plus the finish differences between gloss and matt.
The quick answer
- Clean weekly with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid bleach, vinegar and harsh acids on a regular basis.
- Glazed ceramic, glazed porcelain and glass do not need sealing. The glaze is the barrier.
- Natural stone (such as real marble, limestone and travertine) needs a penetrating sealer.
- Cement and encaustic tiles need sealing too, often more than once.
- Seal cement-based grout on most jobs, even when the tile itself needs no sealer.
Cleaning by material
Glazed ceramic and porcelain
These are the easy ones. The fired glaze sits on top of the tile and stops water, oil and most stains from soaking in. A microfibre cloth or mop with warm water handles day-to-day dirt. For grease in a kitchen, use a pH-neutral tile cleaner and rinse with clean water. Skip abrasive pads and scouring powders, which can dull the surface over time.
The Hennessy Carrara Marble Look Cube Matt Ceramic Mosaic is a good example of a glazed ceramic that gives a stone look without stone maintenance. It cleans like any glazed tile, so there is no sealing step to worry about.
Glass and gloss mosaics
Gloss surfaces show water spots and film more than matt, so the trick is drying rather than scrubbing. After cleaning, wipe with a dry microfibre cloth to keep the shine even. A soft cloth and warm water is usually enough for splashback mosaics like the Anzac Gloss Ocean Blue Square Mosaic, the Wellwood Water Green Gloss Fishscale Mosaic or the Fairway Small Plain White Gloss Square Mosaic. Avoid anything gritty that could scratch the face.
Matt tiles
Matt finishes hide water marks well but can hold onto grime in the texture, especially in a shower. Give them a slightly longer contact time with a pH-neutral cleaner, then rinse and dry. This suits ranges such as the Lucas Large Black Matt Hexagon Mosaic, the Lucas Large White Matt Hexagon Mosaic and the Vogue Gold Matt Penny Round Mosaic. If a haze appears after grouting, it is usually grout residue rather than a stain, and a proper grout haze remover will lift it.
Natural stone
Real stone (marble, limestone, travertine and slate) is porous. It will absorb liquids and stain if left unsealed, and it reacts to acids, so lemon, vinegar and many bathroom cleaners can etch the surface. Use only cleaners labelled safe for natural stone, and wipe spills quickly. Stone is the material that most needs the sealing step below.
Cement and encaustic tiles
These are more absorbent again and often come unsealed. They need sealing before grouting and after installation, and a top-up over the years. Keep cleaning gentle and neutral, since acids and strong cleaners can wear the surface pattern.
How to seal tiles
Sealing only applies to porous materials and to grout. If you have glazed ceramic, glazed porcelain or glass, you can skip sealing the tile face entirely.
Do you need to seal?
- Glazed ceramic, glazed porcelain, glass: no sealer needed.
- Natural stone, cement, terracotta, encaustic: yes, use a penetrating sealer.
- Cement-based grout: yes on most jobs, sealed separately.
Sealing natural stone, step by step
- Make sure the tile is clean and fully dry. Sealing over moisture traps it in the stone.
- Apply a penetrating (impregnating) sealer with a clean cloth or applicator, working in small sections.
- Let it soak in for the time on the product label, usually a few minutes.
- Wipe off any excess before it dries, or it can leave a film.
- Add a second coat if the stone still absorbs water quickly.
To test whether stone needs resealing later, drop a little water on it. If it beads, the seal is working. If it darkens and soaks in, it is time to reseal.
Sealing grout
Cement-based grout is porous even between glazed tiles, so it stains and picks up mould in wet areas. Wait until the grout has fully cured (check the manufacturer's time, often a few days), then apply a grout sealer along the joints with a small brush or applicator bottle. Wipe stray sealer off the tile face straight away. In showers and behind sinks, a resealed grout line every year or two keeps things easier to clean.
Everyday care that saves work
Good habits do more than any deep clean. Wipe shower walls down after use to cut soap scum on mosaics like the Wellwood Black Gloss Fishscale Mosaic or the Gracemere Bone White Speckle Gloss Concave Kit Kat Finger Mosaic Tile. Use a doormat to keep grit off floor tiles, since grit is what scratches. Deal with spills on stone quickly. And keep a soft cloth handy for gloss finishes so water spots never get a chance to dry on.
If you are unsure what a tile is made of before you buy, order a sample so you can see the finish and plan the care. Tile Touch has samples available and a Sydney showroom in Waterloo, and ships Australia-wide.
FAQ
Do glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles need sealing?
No. The fired glaze already seals the surface, so a topical sealer will not soak in and can leave a film. Cleaning with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner is all the face needs. You may still choose to seal cement-based grout around them.
Can I use vinegar to clean my tiles?
On glazed ceramic, porcelain and glass, occasional diluted vinegar is generally fine, though it is not needed. On natural stone, cement and unsealed grout, avoid it. Vinegar is acidic and can etch stone and wear away sealer, so stick to a pH-neutral cleaner there.
How often should I reseal tile grout?
As a rough guide, reseal grout in wet areas every one to two years, and check drier areas less often. The water test works here too: if water sits on the grout line it is still sealed, and if it soaks in and darkens, reseal.
What is the safest cleaner for everyday use?
A pH-neutral tile cleaner diluted in warm water suits almost every material, including stone. Avoid bleach, ammonia, strong acids and abrasive powders as a routine. Rinse with clean water and dry gloss surfaces to stop streaks.
How do I get rid of grout haze after installation?
A thin cloudy film after grouting is grout residue, not a stain. Once the grout has set, use a dedicated grout haze remover following the label, then rinse. On matt mosaics this is common, so a gentle buff with a dry cloth afterwards helps.