Home Addition Plus

Helping Homeowners Every Day


Home	How-To	Store	Ebooks	Bid Sheets	HouseSight	About Us	Contact

Visit My

Amazon

Tool Store

Take Years of Dirt off Tiles

How to Clean Ceramic Tiles so that they Continue to Shine for Years to Come

By Mark J. Donovan

Whether ceramic floor tiles or wall tiles, dirt and grime can easily cake up on them and make them look old and faded in relatively short order. Also, if the tiles are frequently exposed to moisture, unsightly mold and mildew growth can occur, particularly in the grout lines. The mold and mildew growth in the grout lines shows up as dark and dingy discolorations. You can take years of dirt off tile with some simple household cleaning products, however, it is imperative to use the right ones. Use the wrong ones and you can permanently damage and further discolor the tiles and grout lines.

To clean ceramic tiles simply use a sponge or firm soft bristle brush, and either a mild detergent or a bleach mixture cleaning solution. Rinse the tile down with water and then proceed to scrub the tile with the sponge or brush, and cleaning solution. You may need to use some serious elbow grease and have to repeat the process a few times to remove all of the dirt and grime from the tiles but eventually you’ll get them clean.

Do not attempt to clean the tiles with an alkaline or acidic type cleaning solution as they can remove the shine from the tile and/or discolor them. Also do not use a cleaning solution with ammonia in it. Doing so could discolor the grout leaving it a permanent ugly color. In addition, never use a cleaning solution with wax or oil, as again they can discolor the tile and grout lines. Finally, never use abrasive cleaners on the ceramic tiles as they will remove the shine from them.

After removing the dirt off of the tiles and restoring them to their original beauty, include in your normal cleaning schedule time to wipe down the tiles with a cloth and warm water.

Preferably you should plan to wipe down the tiles every week or so. Also, after wiping them down make sure to dry them with a clean dry towel to prevent mold and mildew growth. By keeping up with a regular tile maintenance cleaning schedule you can keep your ceramic tile floors and walls looking like new and prevent from having to do another ceramic tile cleaning marathon. Also, you may want to consider sealing the tiles and grout lines with a tile sealer after cleaning them. Tile sealer is easy to apply and it can slow the progression of mold and mildew growth.

Find a Qualified Ceramic Tile Contractor in Your Area

Get Free Quotes. Easy, Quick and No Obligations!

For the home improvement or home remodeling project that is too big for you, check out our partner NeedContractor. They are a national resource for finding pre-screened, insured, and licensed home improvement and remodeling contractors in your local area.