Regardless of the type of ceramic tiling, the only maintenance work specified by the standard is regular cleaning. This contrasts with interior untreated terracotta tiling, which in most cases requires an initial impregnation cycle that must be repeated over time according to the expected surface stresses. To make ceramic tiling easier to clean, it is good practice to use suitable protection systems (mats, runners, etc.) at the points where the highest stresses are likely to occur, such as doorways and the transit areas between different rooms. Cleaning is normally performed using a mixture of detergent and water. It is important to avoid using detergents containing aggressive chemicals, including formulations based on hydrofluoric acid and its derivatives, which are particularly aggressive towards silica and similar materials. Tiling in residential spaces should be washed with water at room temperature or in any case no higher than 40°C using a wet cloth or sponge. Depending on how dirty the tiling is, a weak (pH 7-8) or strong (pH 9-10) detergent solution can be used, followed by rinsing. The standard UNI 11493 advises against using impregnating or film-forming products as the films are liable to retain surface dirt more strongly than the tiles themselves, making long-term cleaning more difficult. Tiling in public or commercial spaces should be washed using a strong detergent solution (pH 9-10), if necessary with hot water. To remove traces of alkalis or limescale, an acid detergent with pH 5-6 should be used, followed by thorough rinsing. To wash large surface areas, it is advisable to use cleaning machines equipped with electromechanical brushes. Finally, for tiling in industrial spaces, the standard does not lay down any particular conditions apart from the use of detergents suitable for removing the specific kind of dirt.