How to Clean Bath Shower Tile
Cleaning bathroom shower tile is an essential part in maintaining a clean home. Even though the shower is where you go to get clean, the tiles still get dirty. Soap scum, minerals in the water, mildew and dirt accumulate over time, leaving the shower tiles looking dingy. Porcelain, ceramic and stone are the most common types of tiles used in bathroom showers. Cleaning shower tiles with the proper products will have them sparkling in no time. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Empty spray bottle
- Water
- Distilled white vinegar
- Sponge
- Old toothbrush
- Cup
- Rags
- Bucket
- 1/3-cup household ammonia
- 1/2-cup baking soda
- Mild dish soap
- Stone cleaner
Instructions
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Cleaning Porcelain Tiles
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1
Fill an empty spray bottle with equal parts hot water and distilled white vinegar. Shake the bottle to blend the ingredients.
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2
Spray the vinegar solution onto the shower tiles. Allow it to remain on the tiles for about three minutes.
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3
Scrub the tile with a sponge to remove soap scum and other grime from the surface. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the grout.
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4
Rinse the tiles with plain water. Use a detachable shower head, if you have one. If not, use a cup to rinse the shower tiles. Buff the tiles with a clean rag.
Cleaning Ceramic Tiles
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5
Fill a bucket with seven cups of warm water. Add 1/4-cup vinegar, 1/3-cup household ammonia and 1/2-cup baking soda to the bucket. Mix together.
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6
Dip a sponge into the bucket of cleaning solution. Scrub the ceramic shower tiles with a sponge. Rinse out the sponge often while cleaning. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the tile grout.
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7
Rinse the ceramic tiles with plain water.
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8
Wipe down the tiles with a rag and soapy water to remove any film left from the cleaning solution. Buff the tiles with a dry rag.
Cleaning Stone Tiles
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9
Fill a bucket with water and a few squirts of mild dish soap. Avoid using soap containing bleach or any abrasive cleaners, as this may damage the stone surface.
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10
Dip a rag into the bucket of cleaning solution. Wring out the rag slightly.
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11
Wipe down the stone tiles with the rag and soapy water. Rinse out the rag frequently while cleaning. Use an old toothbrush to clean the grout joints.
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12
Rinse the stone tiles with plain water. Buff the tiles with a dry rag.
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13
Use a stone cleaner as an alternative method for cleaning stone shower tiles. Follow the manufacturer's specific cleaning instructions, as this will varydepending on the product.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always test the product you are using in a small, inconspicuous area prior to applying it throughout the tile.
Do not use vinegar, ammonia or any other acidic cleaners on stone tiles.
Avoid using abrasive cleaners on stone tiles.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit shower handle image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
