Clean and restore quarry tiles

Strip old polish, deep clean, and reseal quarry tiles to bring back their colour and protect them.

QT-01Clear the room and sweep up loose gritMove furniture and rugs out of the room. Sweep or vacuum the floor well, working into corners and grout lines, so you're not grinding grit into the tiles later. Check for any loose or cracked tiles now and set them aside to deal with separately.

1 each · Stiff-bristled broom

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2 each · Dust sheets

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QT-02Check what's on the tiles nowDrip a few drops of water onto a tile. If the water beads on top, there's a sealant or wax coating still working. If it soaks in fast and darkens the tile, the sealant has worn through or there never was one. This tells you whether you need to strip old wax first.

QT-03Strip old wax or polish if it's still thereApply a proprietary wax and polish stripper for quarry or terracotta tiles, following the tin's dilution and dwell time. Scrub with a black scrubbing pad or stiff nylon brush, working in small sections so the stripper doesn't dry out. Mop up the sludge with old towels or a wet-and-dry vacuum before it dries on the tiles.

1 5L · Quarry tile wax stripper

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3 each · Black scrubbing pads

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1 pair · Rubber gloves

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QT-04Deep clean the tiles and groutUse a cleaner made for unglazed quarry tiles rather than a general bathroom or kitchen cleaner. Scrub with a stiff nylon brush, paying extra attention to grout lines where dirt builds up. Avoid strong acid-based descalers unless you're tackling heavy limescale, since they can eat into cement-based grout — if you do use one, dilute it well and rinse straight away.

1 5L · Quarry tile cleaner

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1 each · Stiff nylon brush

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QT-05Rinse and let the floor dry out fullyRinse the whole floor with clean water and a mop, changing the water often so you're not spreading dirty water back onto the tiles. Mop up standing water, then leave the floor to dry completely — this usually takes 24 to 48 hours depending on the room. Don't seal a damp floor; the sealer won't bond properly and can trap moisture underneath.

1 each · Mop and bucket

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QT-06Treat any stubborn stainsFor grease or oil marks, use a degreaser and leave it to work before scrubbing. For rust marks, use a dedicated rust stain remover. Always test on a small, hidden tile first, since some products can lighten the natural colour of the clay.

1 1L · Degreaser

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1 500ml · Rust stain remover

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QT-07Seal the tilesOnce bone dry, apply an impregnating sealer for unglazed floor tiles, or boiled linseed oil if you're after a traditional look, using a brush or paint roller. Work in small sections and wipe off any excess before it dries to a sticky film. Most sealers need two coats; check the product instructions for drying time between coats.

1 2.5L · Impregnating tile sealer

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1 each · Paint roller and tray

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1 each · Small paintbrush for edges

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QT-08Buff, tidy up and dispose of rags safelyOnce fully cured, buff the floor with a soft cloth to bring up the sheen. If you used linseed oil, soak any oily rags in water and put them in a sealed metal tin or bag before binning them — dry oily rags can heat up and catch fire on their own. Clean your brushes and buckets, then move the furniture back once the floor is fully cured.

4 each · Soft cotton buffing cloths

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