Keep Tile and Grout Clean in Your Newly Renovated Bathroom
You’ve renovated your bathroom and have lovely new tile. How do you keep it clean?
Cleaning bathroom tile is different than other kinds of cleaning. While you can clean most things with soap and water, you don’t want to use that on tile because soap scum is one of the things you’re trying to clean off. Bathroom tiles also offer a particular cleaning challenge since they are a unique combination of smooth and rough with porous grout. Most bathrooms experience daily use and are bathed in constant moisture, making them the perfect breeding environment for mold and mildew. Here are some tips for cleaning your tile:
Start with the least harsh cleaning product. Try combining one cup each of vinegar, baking soda, and salt. This creates a paste that you can apply to tiles. Use a stiff brush and scrub in a circular motion.
If vinegar and baking soda doesn’t work, try cleaning with a spray-on bathroom cleaner and a scrub sponge. Rinse the area thoroughly when you’re finished.
Clean white grout with a diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution. For stubborn grout stains try a steam cleaner.
For difficult stains, turn to a commercial grade tile or grout cleanser. Certain stains need cleansers designed for rust or iron removal and some respond well to toilet bowl cleaning products.
Never mix cleaners together and use gloves while cleaning.
As a final step, you can sponge on lemon juice, which makes the floors shiny, disinfects the tile, and deters mildew.
Grout is not waterproof and often needs to be replaced. Seal tiled floors each year to keep them looking like they did the day your bathroom remodeling job was complete. Using a little car wax on wall tile can also help prevent the build up of soap scum.
Clean regularly. Mold feeds on itself, so the longer you go between cleanings, the more you will have.
Keep the bathroom well ventilated. Open windows and doors when possible and always use the bathroom fan. This can help prevent the development of mold and mildew.