Things You'll Need:
- Spray bottle
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Water
- Large sponge
- Clean rag
- Grout sealer
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Step 1
Don't use abrasive cleaners on your wall tile. Over time this can dull and even scratch the finish, even on ceramic tiles. Even using a scrubbie sponge can gradually mar the tile surface, so only use a scrub sponge when you really need to. Otherwise use a soft sponge or rag. Use a mild general household cleaner instead of harsh abrasive ones.
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Step 2
Make your own wall tile cleaner. Mix a 50:50 solution of white vinegar and water and add a couple of drops of dishwashing detergent. The vinegar works better than anything to clean hard water spots from tile and freshens up the grout. The detergent cleans any grease or oily dirt and fingerprints. If the tile is not heavily soiled or you only need to clean off hard water spots, you can skip the detergent.
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Step 3
Sponge the whole surface of the tile with your cleaning solution. Rinse the tile and grout with clear water and a clean rag. Use a lint free rag or toweling so pieces of fiber don't get stuck along the grout lines. Rags or a clean sponge work better than paper towels for this reason.
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Step 4
Use a soft toothbrush with the cleaning solution to scrub grimy grout. If it doesn't come clean, check your local hardware store for grout cleaner which has lightening agents added to freshen up the grout.
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Step 5
Make sure your wall tile is spotless and apply a tile and grout sealant. This will help keep it cleaner in between washings and should be redone about every 6 months, especially in areas which get heavy use, like above the kitchen counters.
