How to Clean Bathroom Tiles: A Complete Guide

Cleaning bathroom tiles can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques it doesn’t have to be. In this blog post we will outline the best ways to clean your bathroom tiles with a combination of professional and household cleaning methods, safe remedies and pro-tips to keep them looking new for years to come.

Methods for cleaning bathroom wall tiles and floor tiles

Cleaning bathroom tile of stains and grout always asks for extra effort, all the work might overwhelm a homeowner and make them question how to clean bathroom tiles?

Cleaning bathroom tiles becomes a lot easier when the right techniques to clean your bathroom are applied.

We have listed the best tried and tested methods to choose from. Choosing the most effective cleaning agent, employing an old toothbrush to get into those crevices you can’t reach, and then wipe the dampness with a clean cloth, use these basic cleaning hacks for a clean bathroom tile and a gleaming bathroom.

Depending on the material of the bathroom tiles such as ceramic tiles, or placement of tiles; like shower tiles, wall tiles, or bathroom floor tiles determines which bathroom cleaner is best suited for you.

Different soap and water stains on a bathroom tile with the right tile cleaner, like elbow grease it works on everything!

Using a Commercial tile cleaner

There is a wide range of all-purpose cleaning products available in the market to aid your cleaning processes. The products come with the manufacturer’s instructions to give you the right direction and that direction is clean tiles.

Liquid solutions come in a spray bottle while powdered solutions need to be mixed with water and filled in spray bottles.

Clean bathroom tiles by applying the cleaning agent directly to the surface in the instructed quantity and rinse thoroughly for a refreshing look.

Scrub any build up on bathroom tile with a scouring pad. The scouring pad is an amazing tool to clean tiles, it spread the tile cleaning agent all over the surface and dislodges all the grime.

Using Vinegar

Commercial cleaners and solutions can be very effective for cleaning, but often have a lot of chemicals in them that can be bad for humans and the environment if not used correctly. What if I told there’s natural ingredients that are safer and can make the job even easier? The most inexpensive and practical solution found in every household is our universal cleaner: the distilled white vinegar. With its anti-bacterial and degreasing properties, vinegar has uses in many cleaning and disinfecting methods including cleaning shower glass and bathroom tiles.

To keep your bathroom tiles shiny and fresh, here is how you can use vinegar in easy steps:

• For your cleaning solution to reach every corner, use a spray bottle and fill it halfway with warm water.
• Add an equal amount of distilled vinegar to the bottle and shake well to make the mixture. Equal amounts produces an effective cleaning agent
• Spray the vinegar all over the tiles, especially reaching the corners, and let it soak for a few minutes.
• Clean bathroom tiles using a rag to scrub and work until the tiles are spotless.
• Rinse and wipe dry using a damp cloth for a shiny, flawless look or give the tiles a buff dry
• Use a squeegee for a streak free finish
• you can air dry the tiles by letting them dry for a few minutes

Distilled vinegar makes a great alternative to everyday cleaning products.

Using Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a great alternative to vinegar in cleaning, but it also performs the job while leaving behind the smell of a natural air freshener.

If you see stains like soap scum building up on your wall or floor tile, here is how you can make use of lemon juice to wipe the minerals away:

• Fill a spray bottle with all parts of lemon juice and spray over the area of tile directly.
• Let the acidic juice work on the stains for some minutes and then wipe the surface down using a damped sponge.
• Once treated, rinse the tiles with warm water and wipe off the water using a microfiber cloth for spotless results.

Using baking soda

With the property of breaking down minerals, baking soda can be employed to remove stubborn stains and hard build-ups from the tiles.

For heavy-duty cleaning, here is how baking soda can do the magic:

• In a bowl, mix half a cup of baking soda with one teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one-fourth cup of hydrogen peroxide. Mix well
• Fill a spray bottle with the prepared mixture and spray it all over the area.
• Let the mixture rest of tile for 10 minutes and wipe the tiles with a damp sponge or rage
• Once done, rinse the tile with clean water and wipe it off using a dry soft cloth or paper towels.

Using Bleach or Ammonia

Both bleach and ammonia are effective cleaning methods when stains and buildups are tougher to get rid of from ceramic tiles. Using chemicals on tiles is perfectly fine and will not damage any fittings.

Here is how to involve these products for heavy-duty cleaning:

• Combine one part of bleach in three parts of water or 1 part of ammonia with 2 parts of water and mix the solution
• Add the solution to the spray bottle and spray over the spaces you wish to clean. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes
• Once done, wipe the tiles clean with a microfiber cloth dampened in warm water.
• Use a squeegee to remove the remaining moisture

It is advised to take safety measures such as using gloves while employing any cleaning method. However, with ammonia and bleach, you need to take extra care. Avoid using ammonia with any bleaching agent and ventilate the area while using it. Wear thick rubber gloves to avoid skin irritation.

Using Steam Cleaner

If you have a large surface area and want to make the job of cleaning through them easier, it is not a bad idea to invest in a steam cleaner. Often employed to do heavy-duty cleaning, just as a vacuum cleaner performs the task, a steam cleaner makes use of a water-based machine to suck any unwanted material from the surface.

To deep clean every corner of your bathroom surface, simply turn on the steam cleaner and push it along the bathroom tiles. Once all the minerals are sucked off the surface, wipe the area using a dry cloth or paper towel.

How to remove mould from grout?

Cleaning tiles may not be as overwhelming as cleaning the grout. The grouting is the cemented area between the tiles, and often has the most unwanted mineral build-ups, mould, and bacteria. Bathroom condensation will often lead to mould, and if left to itself can spread easily and cause quite a lot of issues further down the road – so it’s worth cleaning frequently. With its stubborn nature, it needs more work than cleaning a tile face.

Here are the methods you may imply to get sparkling clean, white grouts:

Baking Soda Paste

One of the most effective cleaning sources, the bicarbonate of soda with its leaving properties works well against calcium and magnesium build-up.

To deep clean the grouts, combine baking soda and water in equal amounts to make a thick paste. Apply the mixture and scrub the grout using a stiff-bristled brush or an old toothbrush. Once satisfied, wipe off the mixture using a damped cloth or sponge.

If you have a washing machine placed in your bathroom, make sure to pay special attention to the area surrounding the washing machine.

Salt and Vinegar

The reaction of chlorine and acetic acid from salt and vinegar gives rise to stain-cutting properties.

In a container, combine one cup of white vinegar with one cup of salt, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.

Prepare a mixture by adding one cup of hot water. Dab a sponge in the mixture and scrub over all the grout space in the bathroom. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes before you rinse the tile with water or use a clean damped sponge to wipe it off.

Bleach

Direct application of bleach has the ability to cut through the toughest of buildups.

To deal with it, use a stiff-bristled grout brush or a bristled sponge to apply bleach on the surface. Thoroughly scrub in a circular motion and rinse the grout with clean, tap water.

How to treat marble tiles and natural stones

Although most of the cleaning methods use household cleaning products, tiles made from marble and natural stones possess the ability to lose their colour and shine if cleaned with harsh chemicals or acidic solutions.

If you have a bathroom designed with marble tiles or natural stones, wipe the tiles and grouts using a mixture of gentle dishwashing soap mixed with warm water. Use a soft sponge or microfibre cloth to apply and wipe off the mixture to prevent tiles from scratches.

If faced with tough stains and hard buildups, cover the area with a thick paste of baking soda and water and cover with a cling film to avoid reaction with the air. Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe away the solution.

Tips for effective cleaning of bathroom tiles

• Always know the material type of tiles you are going to apply cleaning methods on. To avoid damaging the surface, only use material suitable products and cleaning equipment.
• Avoid using acidic products like lemon or vinegar on certain tile materials like marble or natural stones.
• Before applying any method, run a hot shower all over the place you in intent to clean to create steam and open the ceramic’s pores.
• Always remove grout buildup first before cleaning tile stains.
• Safety first! Always ventilate your bathroom by turning on the extraction fan and opening the door and windows before using heavy chemical products like bleach or ammonia.
• Avoid using bleach and ammonia together.
• For an extra sheen to your tiles, apply car wax to the tiles.

Final thoughts

We hope this article has been helpful and has broken down all the steps, ideas and methods you can use to get your tiles gleaming in no time. We hope you now feel confident with how to clean bathroom tiles and it enable you will have a cleaner shower and bathroom for some here on out. Happy cleaning!

Thinking of spousing up your bathroom? Checkout our guide to vanity units here: