How to Clean Bathroom Tiles: Effective Techniques and Tips

The bathroom is undoubtedly a place reserved for relaxation, where you can enjoy the most pleasant moments in complete tranquility. It is also where you take a shower and put on makeup in record time, especially when you are late.
Who knows, maybe that is why we always put off cleaning this part of our home, even if we all want to admire shiny tiles and impeccable mirrors every day?
We must not forget that the cleanliness of the bathroom is necessary not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for the health of our family members. In this room, humidity and temperature are high, which causes the appearance of mold, rust and fungus on the surface of the tiles.
Let's see how to effectively clean the tiles so that the walls and floor of your bathroom regain their shine.
1. Prepare the bathroom
To properly clean the walls of your bathroom, you need to remove everything. Remove the shelves (you can wash them at the same time), the cosmetic jars, the decor. Clear the floor: you need to be able to reach all the nooks and crannies.\
2. Remove limescale: acid
As a general rule, hot water and a sponge are not enough to remove limescale from tiles. To do this, you need special products sold in stores (follow the instructions on the packaging). You can also use home methods, which work very well and are more natural.
The great classics: citric acid or white vinegar. They work almost as well, but vinegar has a small drawback: it gives off a fairly strong odor, which is why it is important to ensure that the bathroom is well ventilated.
- Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the walls well. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes and wipe it with a sponge (remember to wear gloves!).
- Dilute two tablespoons of citric acid powder in a liter of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the walls and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Then scrub the tiles with a sponge (wear gloves).
Remember to rinse this type of cleaner with plenty of water afterwards.
3. Cleaning with baking soda
Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to make a paste, then apply the paste to the walls with a sponge and scrub well. Be careful: baking soda crystals can act as an abrasive! So first test your mixture on an inconspicuous part of the tiles to make sure that the shiny surface will not be altered. For the same reason, do not use sponges or metal brushes: ceramic tiles can be scratched.
You can make an effective cleaning product by mixing two parts baking soda with one part white vinegar. Wait for the reaction to take place, apply the mixture to the tiles, scrub and leave to act for a few minutes.
Once you have cleaned all the tiles, rinse them with the shower jet.
4. Cleaning the tile joints
Prepare a paste based on baking soda as described in the previous paragraph and apply it to the joint area. Then scrub them well with a brush (you can use an old toothbrush or a small special brush).
If your grout is initially white and the dirt is very visible, you can dilute the baking soda in hydrogen peroxide instead of water. Apply the mixture to the grout, leave for 5 minutes, then scrub with a brush and rinse with water.
5. Eliminate mold
The best way to remove mold is to use a product specially designed for this purpose. But if you don't have one on hand, try applying a detergent containing chlorine to the moldy area. Leave for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub with a brush and rinse thoroughly with water. Wear gloves and, even better, safety glasses, and make sure the bathroom is well ventilated!
6. Cleaning the floor tiles
Cleaning your bathroom floor is usually not difficult and mainly depends on the type of tiles you have chosen. For example, for porcelain stoneware tiles, you can simply use water and black soap.
White vinegar is a good solution to consider if you are a fan of simple and natural products. It will not only clean the tiles of dirt, but also kill bacteria and fungi. Does its smell bother you? Perfume the solution with your favorite essential oil.
If natural stone is used in the design of your bathroom, keep in mind that this type of floor requires careful maintenance and cleaning. Avoid anti-limescale agents if possible, use bleach instead. Baking soda, black soap and Marseille soap will also be perfect in this case.
7. Household chemicals
A few words on the choice of cleaning chemicals.
Preparations containing acid are contraindicated for glossy tiles: otherwise their enamel fades and deteriorates.
Products containing chlorine are only suitable for white joints, they discolor colored joints.
We do not recommend using powder cleaners: they contain abrasives that can scratch the surfaces.
8. Last step
Finally, rinse the tiles thoroughly with water and put the shelves and objects back in place. That's it! The bathroom tiles are like new.