How do I maximize the appearance of an older (30 years old) Mexican
tile floor? We have removed about a quarter inch of brownish-black wax
buildup and most of a yellowish stain from old sealer (this was a very
difficult job involving chemical strippers and then scraping) The
tiles now look natural, but some still have the yellowish stain
(sealer that does not come off) and some are discolored.  Is there a
better product to remove the sealer?  (The old sealer does not seem to
be water-based or solvent-based.) Is it possible to re-stain the tile?
(The tiles contain mixtures of colors-mostly terracotta and yellow.)
Are there any other alternatives?  When the tile is wet after mopping,
it looks decent.  We would like to be able keep that wet look.

Hi gregors,

I love the look of Mexican tile and had it laid throughout my entire
house, patio and front porch.  I wanted a natural look without any
gloss.  Just the sealer for protection.

I had personal experience with the laundry room where I placed a gloss
sealer on just to see if I'd like that look. I didn't like it,
preferring a natural look, so I tried to remove the sealer (which
wasn't on more than a month) and got increasingly frustrated.

I called around my area and found a company that specialized in
cleaning Mexican tile floors. They have stronger solvents and stripper
products than what is normally sold to the consumer.

The best thing I can suggest to you, is to call a professional tile
cleaner company in your area.


Best of luck to you,
tlspiegel