Porcelain tiles are a practical and durable choice for busy spaces, with textured, unpolished and Lappato finishes offering different looks and characteristics. However, some surfaces can be more prone to holding onto dirt, making regular cleaning more challenging.
FILA’s STOP DIRT is a ready-to-use dirt-repellent treatment developed specifically for these types of porcelain. It helps improve resistance to dirt, making routine cleaning quicker and easier while maintaining the original appearance of the material.
Helping Busy Entrances Stay Cleaner
Entrance areas are often where flooring works hardest. At home, a hallway or boot room may have to contend with muddy shoes, wet footwear and everything brought in from outside. For homes with dogs, that can also mean muddy paws, damp coats and the inevitable trail that follows a wet walk. In apartment buildings, retail environments and hospitality spaces, the challenge is repeated foot traffic throughout the day.
These are exactly the kinds of settings where long-term protection can make a practical difference. STOP DIRT provides prolonged protection without creating a surface film and can also be applied to the grout.
Crucially, for areas where flooring has been selected with safety and performance in mind, the treatment does not alter the material’s slip resistance.
Everyday Interiors That Need to Keep Looking Good
While entrance areas deal with much of what is brought in from outside, porcelain flooring across the rest of a property faces a different kind of everyday wear. In kitchens, open-plan living spaces, bathrooms and other frequently used interiors, cooking, spills, footwear and general day-to-day use can all leave their mark.
For textured and unpolished porcelain, the treatment can be particularly useful in spaces that work hard and need to remain straightforward to maintain.
Lappato porcelain can also benefit from the treatment and is often chosen for design-led interiors such as living spaces, bathrooms, reception areas and hospitality environments, where appearance and practicality need to work comfortably alongside one another. STOP DIRT should not, however, be applied to Lappato porcelain tiles with a matt finish.
Supporting Porcelain Outdoors
The same principle also applies outdoors. Porcelain patios and terraces are exposed to weather, foot traffic and general outdoor dirt throughout the year. The challenge can be even greater across hospitality terraces and other commercial outdoor areas where surfaces experience continual use.
The treatment is suitable for both interior and exterior applications and is UV-resistant and non-yellowing, providing added reassurance in exposed outdoor settings.
Starting with the Right Preparation
Getting the application right starts with a clean, dry surface. STOP DIRT is ready to use, so no dilution is required, but thorough preparation and careful removal of excess product are essential to achieving the intended result.
On new installations, the floor should first be washed thoroughly using DETERDEK PRO where cement-based grout has been used, or CR10 for epoxy grout residues.
Once clean and dry, the treatment should be applied evenly across both the tiles and grout using a fleece or other suitable applicator. Because the product offers high coverage, we recommend working with a moderate amount over small sections of around 2–3 m² at a time.
The product should then be worked into the surface with a cloth or single-disc machine with a white pad. Any remaining residue must be completely removed within 10 minutes, using a microfibre cloth or single-disc machine.
After at least 12 hours, and before the treated floor is walked on, the surface should be wiped again with a clean microfibre cloth to remove any remaining product residue.
For an existing untreated floor that needs restoring, we recommend first cleaning with PS87 PRO and/or DETERDEK PRO, before allowing the surface to dry and following the same application process.
The key is simple: apply this sealer to a properly cleaned and dry floor, use only the amount needed and remove all excess thoroughly. These steps are an important part of ensuring the treatment performs as intended.
Not sure whether STOP DIRT is right for your surface? Get in touch with our technical team for advice and product guidance.
