How do I deep clean and reseal saltillo tile floors?

There are a variety of opinions. A tile site suggests the best method of simple cleaning is with a steamer.

http://dusty-coyote.blogspot.com/2015/03/stripping-and-sealing-saltillo-tile.html

http://community.homedepot.com/howto/DiscussionDetail/Stripping-cleaning-and-staining-saltillo-tile-9065000000005z6

https://www.tilecleaning.org/stripping-saltillo-tiles.htm

A pro site suggests 5 to 6 light coats of sealer.

I have saltllo in my kitchen, family room and hallway. About 15 years ago we had it professionally refinished but since then, we've maintained it ourselves. We give it a real thorough cleaner with an alkaline professional cleaner (you can find it at HD) and then sealing it with some Trelab stone sealer. I try to reseal it at least once a year and it's really nice and shiny. Here's a link for instructions on cleaning:

https://www.tilecleaning.org/how-to-clean-saltillo-tiles.htm

Steam cleaned with ammonia then seal with tile sealer. I've steamed mine and boy what a difference it makes. The dirt just rolled up.

When I lived in a house with Saltillo, I waxed it using an Electrolux buffer. Never washed the tile. Oh, how gorgeous it was. Eventually, I used a tile stain and painted all the grout a dark color. It had turned light gray and the difference was dramatic. That was back when I could sit on the floor for hours!

I would buy a good cleaner degreaser at Home Depot or an auto store. Walmart sells Purple Power. Clean the floors really well. I like the suggestion from Sheila who used her carpet cleaner. I am going to try that.

Maepi makes grout refresh in several different colors. I would change the color of the grout. I did this in both my bathrooms and it still looks great years later. It is not hard to do, just time consuming. and can be done in sections.

Get la awesome orange degreaser from any 1$ store .use a doodle bug (a scrub brush on stick) . Should lift pretty much anything..rinse well . You can get tile sealer and industrial wax from smart n final. You need to put several coats of wax on . If u really want to you can rent a burnished (a high powered buffer that melts the wax and will put a fine finish on it but I'm really happy with 4 or 5 coats of wax .good luck. Hope this helps

I agree with Laurie. I use Awesome for EVERYTHING. It tackles dirt other cleaners don't touch. And you can't beat the price. The old stuff doesn't look as bad as you think. A good scrubbing and the difference in color(s) adds a cool aged look. Scrub the tiles as well with it and I think it will look great. If you use a colorant on it , it will look odd. I did my shower walls with a grout paint and it looks great, but the floor should be different. After all it gets...well... walked on.

Been through this recently! Here is some good information - https://rusticotile.com/how-to-strip-saltillo-tile-mexican-tile-restoration/

Here are several tips and tricks that might help you https://chascrazycreations.com/floor-cleaning-hacks/

Depends if they are sealed or not.

Cleaning Sealed Tile

When your tiles are sealed, you’re really cleaning the seal coat rather than the tiles themselves. If you’re looking for a quick clean weekly, this is just fine. Every year or so, however, it’s well worth removing the sealer and cleaning the exposed tiles.

In the meantime, however, purchase an alkaline product to clean with. Most all-purpose household cleaners are alkaline products. Check the label to be sure.

If cleaning sealed Saltillo Tile floors, dilute the product with lots of water. Use a soft brush or cleaning pad to gently scrub the tile. Have a mop and bucket of clean water handy for rinsing. Hiring a professional cleaning service that is trained to clean Saltillo Tile floors can be an alternative option for you if you are unsure or just don’t have the time.

Cleaning Unsealed Tile

Mix equal parts alkaline cleaner and hot water, and pour directly onto the tiles—working on one small area at a time. Allow the cleaning solution to sit on the tiles for 10 to 15 minutes before you begin scrubbing. Scrub with a floor brush or scrubbing pad. Rinse each section with a mop rinsed in hot water. If excess water collects on your floor, a shop vac may be used to suck it up. Wipe the floor down with a dry cloth or wait until it dries on its own.