throughout the ages as one of the (NAPS)—Tile has been favored nance helps tile keep its no-fuss finish. practical of building materials. system into the overall room Plan an adequate ventilation most versatile, creative, and yet design to reduce mildew-forming dampness in bathrooms and One of ceramic tile’s charms, says Margaret Sabo Wills, author of Decorating with Tile (Creative Homeowner, $19.95), is that its beauty endures with a minimum greasy smokeresiduein kitchens. Wipe upspills and splashes as they happen, and sweepfloors reg- of maintenance. Tile’s smooth, nonabsorbent, ularly to remove abrasive grit, par- ticularly near exterior entrances. Towel down or squeegee non-static face gathers less grime than other surfaces under similar use, and the dirt that does gather shower-stall walls after use to keep moisture from fostering mildew. is easily removed. By choosing low-care tiles and installation materials, says Wills, you can minimize your housekeeping even further. Here are a few suggestions: As with any decorative mate- rial, very light or very dark choices demand more housekeep- ing (and a black and white checkerboard floor, however jazzy it looks, showseverything). Think twice about dark glossy tiles in a location subject to soap splashes and makeup and toothpaste drips. e Lightly textured, patterned, or mottled surfaces in mid-tones or earthy hues are more concealing than flat solid colors. Margaret SCT), Decorating with Tile explores the many design possibilities of tile will reduce the number of Use a mild vinegar solution or special mineral-deposit cleaner grout lines. An even better strategy is selecting lower-mainte- nance products. A basic portland cement-based grout becomes even more water- and stain-resistant and less prone to cracking when formulated with polymer or latex additives. For damp environments, con- sider grout with mildew inhibitors. Even with performance-addi- incised patterns, similarly gives the dense, smooth finish of epoxy grouts. Regardless of its formula- maintenance worry than thetile itself. Installing a large-format or sponge with hot water and a mild, neutral detergent. Soaps leave a dulling film that can tives, most cement grouts should be sealed and periodically resealed. grimea better foothold. Grout is usually more of a both floors and walls—damp-mop tile. High-relief or carved-in intaglio designs can be dirt-trap- pers. An extremely slip-resistant floor tile, with a gritty glaze or For routine cleaning of glazed tiles and sealed unglazed tiles— Such coatings are not required for tion, a flat, narrow grout joint flush with thetile surface is gener- ally the easiest to keep. Low-tech preventive mainte- encourage mildew in wetareas. to remove hard-water deposits in bath areas. You can learn more about selecting and decorating withtiles from Wills’ book, Decorating with Tile. It’s part of a line of decorating books from Creative Home- owner, a premier publisher of high-quality home improvement, decorating and gardeningtitles. For more information, call 1-800631-7795 or visit www.creative homeowner.com. Wills writes about decorating and home design for numerous national publications. Herfirst book, Color in the American Home is also published by Creative Homeowner.
