Sealing a tiled floor

[littleomar]

Our kitchen floor is ceramic tiles with a fine textured pattern, which is a very effective dirt magnet. The only way I can get it clean is on my hands and knees with a scrubbing brush and lots of elbow grease. I haven't got enough time to do it justice so it's permanently filthy.

Is there any varnish or topcoat I could use to fill the cracks and make it smooth and moppable?

Hi littleomar - it may be that your tiles need properly sealing; some do, and should be done at regular intervals. You saturate the tile with it and get the excess off and it acts as a seal, both protecting your tiles and making them easier to clean as dirt can't penetrate. A good way to test is to drop a bit of water on the tile; if it soaks in, you need to seal, if it sits on the top, then sealant is either not required, or does not yet need re-sealing. Lithofin sell good sealant, it's water like, so you can use a mini roller to apply. If you do go through the sealing process, use a mild cleaner afterwards, nothing harsh, and never a steam cleaner, as these will strip the sealant :)