How to Clean Bathroom Tiles

A well-maintained bathroom can bring an essential sparkle to your home. However, if not cleaned often, it can begin to look grotty and lose its shiny touch.

Your tiles are likely the first place that will start to show signs of hard water stains, mould and mildew, and built-up dirt. Cleaning them can be a hard task to put right if you’ve left it for too long. Luckily, we have prepared a guide on how to properly clean your bathroom tiles just for you. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to cleaning!

Make a Homemade Tile Cleaning Solution

To have sparkling clean tiles you need a great tile cleaner. Store-bought products usually contain chemicals that are bad for your health. While they will probably clean your tiles, there’s nothing better than a homemade cleaning solution that is good for your health and is environmentally friendly. We have created a list, containing the best DIY shower tile cleaners and how to make them at home.

Baking Soda and Liquid Soap

One of the simplest recipes for making your own bathroom tile cleaning solution is to make a mixture of baking soda and liquid soap. Here’s how to make this cleaning agent:

1. Mix two parts baking soda with one part liquid soap, and one part water. 
2. Pour the solution into an empty spray bottle. 
3. Spray it onto the tiles and let it sit for a few minutes to fully dissolve the built-up. 
4. Then wipe off with a damp sponge or microfibre cloth.

Lemon Juice

The acidity of lemon makes it an effective tile-cleaning agent. Fill a spray bottle with lemon juice and spray it onto the bathroom tiles. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe away with a damp sponge. 

As an alternative solution, you can use baking soda mixed with lemon juice. Sprinkle your tiles with a thin coat of baking soda before spraying it with lemon juice. Then, scrub it thoroughly with a sponge and wipe down with a cloth dipped in warm water.

Use Vinegar as a Mould Cleaner

Vinegar is a great non-toxic mould cleaner. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, and pour the mixture in a spray bottle. Spay the tiles and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then wipe off with a dry towel.

Bathroom Tile Cleaning Process

Use The Power of Steam to Pre-Heat the Tiles

Pre-heating your bathroom tiles before cleaning them will loosen the dirt and make it significantly easier for you to remove. 

To do that, you need to close all doors and windows and turn on the water to the hottest setting possible. Bringing your bathroom to a sauna-like condition. If you own a bathtub, you can fill in a few centimetres. You can splash hot water on dirtier spots as well. Then, wait a few minutes while the heat does its job.

Work From Top to Bottom

It’s important to start from the highest possible point and work your way down. This will increase your cleaning efficiency, as you won’t have to clean the grime running down or dropping to already cleaned areas.

Scrub the Tiles

Once you’ve spread your cleaning agent, it’s time to scrub it clean. Be aware that while your tiles are hard, the grout is significantly more porous. Make sure you use a non-abrasive sponge or cloth so that it won’t damage the filler.

Rinse and Dry

When done scrubbing, rinse down with hot water starting from the top and working your way down. Then, wipe with a dry towel and turn the ventilation on. If you don’t have any ventilation, you can simply open all doors and windows. The airflow will prevent the buildup of mould and mildew.

How To Prevent Mould and Mildew On Bathroom Tiles

Battling with mould and mildew in the bathroom is a common problem. If mould appears once, it will be very hard to get rid of. That’s why you need to prevent it from showing up in your bathroom. Here are some tips that will prevent mould and mildew from building up on your bathroom tiles.

Keep the bathroom dry

The key to a mould free bathroom is in keeping it dry. Exhaust fans are your best friend when it comes to battling with moisture and keeping the bathroom dry. Keep in on while you shower and for at least 20 minutes after you’re done. If you don’t have an exhaust fan, you can consider installing one. Alternatively, if you have windows in your bathroom, leave them open while you shower.

Treat small stains as they appear

Whenever you spot a sign of mould on your tiles and grout, treat it as soon as possible. No matter how small it is. Clean the tiles with your favourite tile cleaner and for the grout, you can use white toothpaste. Rub the toothpaste into the stained grout and let it sit for a few minutes. Then scrub it away with an old toothbrush.

Squeegee the walls

It’s not the most fun task to do, but it surely helps a lot. Taking a minute or two to run the squeegee on your bathroom walls, after taking a shower, will reduce more than fifty per cent of the moisture in the room.

If you don’t have a squeegee, you can simply use an old towel to wipe the tiles.

Maintaining Bathroom Tiles

Keeping your bathroom clean is an essential part of a healthier lifestyle. There are all sorts of germs and potential diseases that come with dirty tiles. Cleaning your bathroom tiles once or twice a week will save you a lot of time in the future. The more often you do the small chores the less often you will need to go on a big cleaning spree. If you’ve tried cleaning them but there are still hard water stains and dirty spots, it may be better if you turn to a professional.

Takeaways

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