The bathroom is the room we absolutely have to keep clean, but at the same time, it is the most difficult to do so. It’s the only room in the house that is always wet and damp, the humidity levels are still high, and it’s the most likely room to build up mildew. Plus, it’s the most used room.
Have you ever cleaned the entire bathroom and all the surfaces, the counter, the toilet, the sink and the shower, but it still looks dirty? That’s because of the dirty tiles, either they are in the bathroom or a wet room’s floor. Having dirty tiles ruin the look of your bathroom. Thus, every time you clean the bathroom you should also clean the tiles as well. But how can you clean them? Let’s find out!
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What type of bathroom tile are you going to clean?
Before starting the cleaning process, you should determine the type of tile for preventing any damages. Because not all kinds can be cleaned the same way, not all cleaning products can be applied everywhere.
You can’t clean marble, for example, using abrasive cleaning cloths and lemon or vinegar since they have acids and they’ll damage them. In contrast, porcelain and ceramic tiles can be cleaned with almost all cleaning agents.
How to clean your bathroom tiles?
No matter the type of tile you have in your bathroom, you can find the right branded product. Follow the instructions labelled on the package and get rid of any grime, mildew, and soap scum build-up. But in case you don’t want to use any chemicals, you can run into your kitchen cupboards and get ingredients that will help you make your own bathroom cleaners and make your dull, dirty tiles fresh and shiny. Either way, here are all the detailed instructions to make cleaning tiles a walk in the park.
The basic way
Regardless of the type of tiles you have in the bathroom, there’s just one way to start with cleaning them. Run a hot shower first. It’ll open the tile pores and soften the grime for better cleaning results. The next step is to clean the grout lines (see how to clean them below), as their dirt will move on the tiles.
Note: Whether you’re using a commercial or a DIY cleaning agent, you should keep the windows and the door open, or if there’s no window turn on the bathroom fan, to eliminate fumes and odours.
The white vinegar solution
One of the ultra-natural cleaning solutions, disinfectant and most used agents for all purposes, is vinegar. You can clean everything, from your silvers, up to countertops, walls and… tiles.
Here’s what you need:
- A (spray) bottle
- Distilled vinegar (white)
- Water
- A cloth or a clean, soft, microfibre cloth
Then, follow the next instructions:
- In the bottle, mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Shake the bottle very well and spray the tiles.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe the tiles down.
- If you wish, get a soft cloth and soak it into the vinegar solution.
- Wipe the tiles and finally continue with rinsing them with water.
The baking-amazing-soda solution
Another excellent cleaning agent with great results, especially for stubborn stains. Combining it with hydrogen peroxide, you’ll get a tile cleaner suitable for the hard stains of limescale, and dirt that a tile accumulates.
You’re going to need:
- A (spray) bottle
- ½ cup of baking soda
- A teaspoon of dish soap
- ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide
- A damp sponge/ cloth
Then:
- Mix in the bottle ½ cup of soda, a teaspoon of dish soap and ¼ cup of peroxide.
- Spritz the solution on the tiles.
- Let it stay for 10 minutes.
- Finally, use a damp sponge/cloth to wipe the tiles.
The lemon juice solution
Lemon is a natural whitening product for cleaning projects. To clean your tiles with lemon you’re going to need:
- A (spray) bottle
- Lemon juice
- A cloth
Now, follow the below simple steps:
- Fill the bottle with lemon juice.
- Spray the juice on the tiles.
- Use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe the tiles.
Instead, you can fill a bowl with juice from lemons, soak a cloth in the juice and wipe the tiles. Once you’ve finished rinse with water.
The bleach solution
In case the tiles are really dirty, you can use it combined with water to clean them.
You will need:
- A (spray) bottle
- 5 tablespoons of bleach
- 15 tablespoons of water
- A cloth dampened in water (lukewarm to warm)
Now, do as follows:
- Mix it with water in the bottle and spray the tiles.
- Then, soak a cloth in water, wring it very well and wipe the tiles.
The ammonia solution
Ammonia is a powerful cleaning ingredient that can perfectly clean the tiles from dirt, splashed watermarks, and other possible stains someone can find on a bathroom tile.
For this method, you’ll need:
- A (spray) bottle
- 5 tablespoons of ammonia
- 10 tablespoons of water
- A cloth
Once you’ve gathered all the needed ingredients and tools, follow these steps:
- Make a mixture of 5 tablespoons of ammonia and 10 tablespoons of water and fill the bottle.
- Spray the tiles with the ammonia solution.
- Let it act for an hour.
- Dampen a cloth and wipe the tiles.
How to clean marble tiles?
In case you have marble tiles in your bathroom, you can’t clean them using vinegar or juice lemons. Acid products, as well as abrasive tools, can damage them. So you have to choose carefully the cleaning product you are about to use.
The best way to clean your bathroom marble tiles is just to wipe them with water and a soft microfibre cloth. For extra dirty tiles, you can simply dilute some dish detergent into water. However, if you want to get rid of a stubborn stain, then you can try the baking-cleaning-everything-soda way. Create a thick paste of soda and water, apply it to the stain, cover the stain with clingfilm and let it sit for 24 hours. Then with a cloth wipe the paste.
How to clean grout?
As we already explained, you should clean the grout first, since its dirt will move on the tiles. Cleaning it might sound like a hard task, but in the end, you’ll realise that it isn’t as tricky as you first thought. It might take you a little longer to clean it than the rest of the bathroom, especially if there’s a large area to cover.
Grouting cleaning can be achieved either by the use of branded cleaning products or by DIY ones. We suggest, though, leaving the commercial cleaners in the end, in case you can’t remove a stain or mould signs.
The ingredients and tools you need for the grouting are:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- A bowl
- A clean cloth
Now, follow these steps:
- Mix in a bowl some soda and vinegar to make a paste.
- Use a toothbrush to apply this paste on the lines and start scrubbing.
- Let the paste sit for about 30 minutes.
- Then, rinse the surface with cold water and use a clean cloth to wipe the residue.
That was a natural way. You can still clean grout tiling with bleach. Just remember: every time you use it, always put on gloves and open the windows and the door.
To clean with this method you need:
- A pair of gloves
- Bleach
- A stiff-bristled grout brush
- A cloth
Now:
- Dip the grout brush in the solution and start scrubbing.
- Once you finish, use the clean, damp cloth to rinse the grout.
How to clean the floor tiles?
All the ways that are mentioned above, can be applied to the bathroom floor tiles. But if you have a large bathroom, maybe it’s time to think about purchasing a steam cleaner.
In case you want a more traditional way then you’re going to need:
- A mop and a bucket
- Warm water
- A cleaner
This is how to do it:
- Fill the bucket with water and add the cleaner. Just make sure you use half the amount of what is suggested to avoid sticky and slippery floors.
- Soak the mop in the bucket and wring it very well to remove the excess water.
- Now it’s time to mop your tiles. Working towards the door, use a figure of 8 patterns to trap all the dust. Don’t forget to rinse your mop several times. For extra care: use a steam mop.
In case the lines are really dirty, then before mopping apply a DIY cleaning solution.
You’re going to need:
- Water
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
- A sponge/cloth/old towel
Then:
- Mix all three ingredients until you get a paste and apply it to the grout.
- Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, use the toothbrush to scrub the grout lines. Lemon juice is a natural whitener.
- Next wipe with a sponge/cloth/old towel to get your fresh, new, shiny grout line.
Extra tip: While cleaning your bathroom, leave the floor tiles for the end. Think about all the dirt and splashed water that is about to fall from the walls. You don’t want to clean the same spot twice!
How to clean shower tiles?
Shower tiles might be the most challenging part when it comes to cleaning the tiles. They’re usually full of soap residue, limescale and the ones that accumulate the most grime.
To thoroughly clean your shower tiles, you will need:
- A bowl and a spray bottle
- White vinegar
- Water
- A stiff bristle brush
- Warm water
- Baking soda
- A sponge
- A scrub brush
- A clean towel
The first thing you should do is run the shower in hot water for at least 10 minutes to open up the tile pores and soften all dirt types. Then:
- Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in the bottle and spray the shower tiles. Don’t use all the solutions. Save some for later on.
- Let the solution sit for 5 to 30 minutes (depending on how dirty the tiles are) to soften the soap scum.
- Scrub the tiles with a stiff bristle brush to soften the soap scum more.
- Rinse with water.
- Mix in a bowl 3 parts of soda and 1 part water to create a thick paste and apply it on tiles with a sponge.
- Next, mix the paste with vinegar and apply it.
- Use a scrub brush to scrub the tiles and a toothbrush to clean any small crevices.
- Rinse with water again.
- Finally, wipe dry the tiles with a clean towel.
How to keep bathroom tiles clean?
Cleaning your bathroom, in general, is hard and somehow, a gross chore. Referring to cleaning the bathroom, we also mean the tiles on the floor, the walls and the shower, which is time-consuming and in demand of some elbow grease. It should be done though, regularly, to prevent the dirt residues and keep them clean. Nonetheless, there are some things you can often do to avoid that challenging task.
- Clean everything in the bathroom a little every day. Don’t panic! You don’t have to pull everything out and scrub all the surfaces. Just do a spot-cleaning on a stained surface like your mirror or the floor tile. Don’t forget to wipe the counter.
- Vacuum and mop. Every time you vacuum and mop the rest of your house, do the same to your bathroom. Vacuuming will collect hair and debris from the floor and wall tiles.
- Keep everything dry. Excess moisture in bathrooms is usual and inevitable, leading to mildew, black mould on the walls, ceiling and tiles. You can, though, eliminate it by drying everything as much as possible. For instance, after a hot shower, wipe dry the wall tiles and mirror and keep windows and doors open or turn on the fan to completely dry and remove the condensation. Consider installing a bathroom extractor fan could also be a solution.
- Always work from top to bottom. Whether you are about to perform an everyday cleaning or a thorough one, you should always start from the top ending to the bottom. This way you won’t have to vacuum twice the floor or the counters.
Cleaning bathroom tiles needs powerful cleaning products and some elbow grease. But the result will compensate you. Apply the above-mentioned cleaning methods according to your needs and enjoy a new, shiny bathroom.
