Two and a half years ago a contractor installed 1,000 sq ft of porcelain tile condo. It still seems to be giving off dirt that forces me to wear socks all the time and suggest guests do the same. The socks need to be bleached they are so dirty. I purchased a Hoover floor scrubber, floor feels clean but no for long. Tile distributor tells me this is normal, but I've lived through other tile installations over the years and this never happened before. I've been to the big home improvment stores and tried their suggestions with no lasting results. Any advice would be appreciated.
I assume this is unglazed porcelain tile? Are you sure the dust is coming from the tile and not the grout? If the grout was even sealed to begin with, some household chemicals can break down the sealant. I think sealing the grout is the first thing I would try, after testing for color change in an inconspicuous spot. I have heard of people sealing the porcelain tile itself, but have never seen it recommended by the manufacturer. All of the sealers I've seen make the floor more slippery, and dirty socks beat a broken hip any day.
