what is the best way to clean old ceramic?

Answer 1

Hi,

I searched and found the following for you:

CLEANING CERAMICS
Although ceramics are generally considered to be stable materials, a certain amount of caution must be used when cleaning them. Archaeological and low-fired porous ceramics should only be cleaned by a trained conservators. The majority of ceramic items however, can be successfully cleaned provided that a few basic instruction are followed.

Some antique ceramics contain fragile painted or gilded surface decoration which can be removed or damaged by harsh cleaning solutions. It is important to use only dilute cleaning solutions, applied with soft cloths during cleaning. Antique ceramics should never be soaked in any liquid. Prolonged soaking and uneven drying can lead to staining of ceramics. This is particularly probable in items that are chipped, scratched or that have cracked glazes. Lastly, automatic dishwashers should never be used to clean antique ceramics.

Recommended materials for cleaning ceramic objects include mild detergents in water. The detergents most commonly used here at the Henry Ford Museum are Triton X-100, Vulpex and Orvus. All three products are available from Conservation Resources International L.L.C. (see Suppliers list below). A mixture of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and water 1:1 can also be used for cleaning.

Before proceeding to clean an object, it is important to inspect and test the object to make sure that no elements will be removed or damaged during cleaning. Examine the object to determine if there is any flaking gilding or paint that could be wiped away during cleaning. Once it has been determined that it is safe to proceed with cleaning, the cleaning solution should be tested in a small inconspicuous area to insure that decorative designs will not be damaged.

Dilute detergents (approximately 1% in water) should be applied using a soft cloth or cotton balls. The residual detergent should be removed by rinsing with distilled water applied also with a cloth or cotton balls. In both instances, the cloth should be damp not wet. The object should then be allowed to air dry.

Additional cleaning involving the removal of tenacious stains and dirt should be left to a professional conservator.

--Best wishes!

Answer 2

using a ball peen hammer. hit each tile square in the center and then vacuum up th resulting mess. Install new tile to your liking and clean it regularly so you don't have the same problem down the road

Answer 3

i heard rubbing vinegar with a mop on it should do.