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What not to use for a spring clean

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There’s nothing quite like a home-made recipe.  Something passed down the generations, made from wholesome ingredients.  But when it comes to old fashioned cleaning remedies, they can sometimes do more harm than good. If, like us, you’ve seen lots of articles on deep cleaning, you may be tempted to try out some of the popular ‘cleaning hacks’.  Many people are recommending mixtures of vinegar, soda crystals, bicarbonate of soda, water and lemon to make disinfectants, all-purpose cleaners and limescale removers.  The problem is that lots of natural materials, like limestone and marble, are very sensitive to acid and alkaline.  Vinegar and lemon are both very … Continue reading What not to use for a spring clean

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How to clean and protect outdoor tiles & slabs

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From small courtyard, to pool surround, all outdoor tiles and slabs will benefit from a thorough clean and tidy – and using proper treatments can make a real difference. A seasonal blast with a jet wash may seem like the best solution but it will only wash dirt off the surface. Use of excessive amounts of water can also make staining and slip issues worse and jet washing can also loosen grout, erode a stone surface and damage any protective sealer applied. In contrast, a specialist treatment will react with ingrained dirt, drawing it out of the tile, and it will also … Continue reading How to clean and protect outdoor tiles & slabs

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How to deep clean a limestone floor

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A natural limestone floor provides a beautiful natural finish that can be laid in all areas, including kitchens and bathrooms. It offers many practical benefits, being hardwearing and easy to maintain but, like all natural materials, it’s important to use the correct cleaning and methods.  The correct cleaning product Limestone is sensitive to acid, so it should be cleaned with a pH-neutral cleaner. General household cleaners should be avoided – they tend to be acidic and will etch the stone and the grout joint, and will damage any protective sealer that has been applied.  Acid-based products will also dull a … Continue reading How to deep clean a limestone floor

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Getting your patio autumn-ready

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As the leaves start to turn, and the days grow shorter, it’s the perfect time to get paths and patios autumn-ready. Nowadays, with the arrival of outdoor heaters, hot tubs and lounge-style furnishings, these spaces are often used year-round. This makes regular maintenance even more important, to ensure that spaces are safe and well-kept during the damper, colder months. Establishing an outdoor regime Path and patios will benefit from a thorough clean every couple of months or so – ideally, twice during the winter and three times during late spring/summer. Surfaces that are regularly cleaned will be far easier to … Continue reading Getting your patio autumn-ready

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How to restore colour to black stone

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A newly installed black limestone patio is an impressive sight – but its wow-factor often doesn’t last long.  Black or very dark grey stone very quickly fades and you’re left with a wishy-washy grey aesthetic. So, how can you restore the colour and protect slabs from future discolouration, or ensure that a newly installed patio retains its good looks?  We recommend treatment with LTP Blackstone Sealer & Restorer. Why does black stone fade? A dark stone’s appearance can be greatly affected by sunlight and normal rainfall because it causes a chemical reaction.  Limestone and many other dark stones are calcium-based, alkaline in nature … Continue reading How to restore colour to black stone

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Getting your paths & patio ready for spring

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As the nights draw out, now’s the perfect time to get your paths and patio ready for spring. From small terrace to lavish, landscaped setting, all will benefit greatly from a tidy and deep clean – and using professional treatments can make a real difference over the months ahead. A post-winter clean To properly remove stains and ingrained dirt, we recommend a thorough wash with LTP Grimex. A blast with a jet wash may seem like a quicker and easier option but it will only wash dirt off the surface. A specialist treatment will react with ingrained residue and organic … Continue reading Getting your paths & patio ready for spring

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How to protect terracotta tiles 

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The popularity of natural floor materials – and a desire to ‘bring the outside in’ – is showing no sign of slowing.  Along with limestone and timber, there’s also renewed interest in terracotta – and not just in traditional settings.  Its rustic good looks bring a real warmth to all interior styles and, with earthy tones flagged as a major trend this year, demand looks set to increase even further. Terracotta is a very wholesome, natural material.  It’s basically clay that’s dried in the sun or fired in an oven and the name literally means ‘baked earth’.  Along with its beautiful burnt orange colouring, terracotta … Continue reading How to protect terracotta tiles 

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The Big Christmas Clean

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When it comes to a pre-Christmas clean, kitchens and bathrooms often require the most attention. They’re the workhorses of our homes and are subjected to all manner of wear and tear. Organic dirt, food & drink and a myriad of products leave their mark – but using the correct tools and treatments makes all the difference. Cleaning floors and tiled areas is one of the hardest jobs and many of us reach for a heavy-duty cleaner.   However, it rarely offers the best solution.  Most of these detergents – including many of the eco ranges – contain acid which will damage tiles, grout, … Continue reading The Big Christmas Clean

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Introducing Palio Express

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At Wellington Tile Company, we’ve always prided ourselves on being able to showcase the widest range of tiling finishes – many exclusive, with options to suit all interior styles. Now, we’ve extended our range further, with the introduction of Palio Express by Karndean. Palio Express is a new collection of wood and stone-effect luxury vinyl tiles. The collection includes three different ranges – Korlok, Palio Rigid and Palio Looselay – which together provide 24 stunning floor finishes. Combining an authentic natural look with lots of practical features, Palio Express is quick and easy to install (without any specialist tools) and … Continue reading Introducing Palio Express

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Top Ten Tips: Terracotta

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Before your terracotta tiles are laid, consider your grout joint. Generally, a machine-made tile with a square edge will suit a narrow grout joint, whilst a handmade, aged rustic tile will look better with a wider grout joint. Terracotta colour tones will vary from tile-to-tile. To achieve a uniform finish, lay the tiles on the floor first, without adhesive, so that you can move them around. Terracotta is very absorbent and it will need sealing to protect it from dirt and stains. The sealer will also strengthen the clay. Before applying, make sure that the surface is clean and dry, … Continue reading Top Ten Tips: Terracotta