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The Best Way To Clean Kitchen Tiles

Hand cleaning tiles to remove mould and dirt

Kitchens tend to be the heart of the home, the place in which we spend most of our time and as one of the most used rooms in the house, kitchens tend to get messy, quickly. So keeping your kitchen tiles clean can help to make a huge difference in making the room feel brighter and more welcoming.

If your kitchen tiles and the grout in between them are looking a bit dull, this helpful ‘how to’ cleaning guide includes all you need to know. We’ll cover the following:

cloth and bucket for cleaning

What you’ll need

Before you start your deep clean, you’ll need the following:

  • Warm water
  • Vinegar solution, hydrogen peroxide or dishwasher liquid
  • Baking soda
  • Cloth
  • Scourer
  • Mop
  • Old toothbrush
  • Spray bottle
  • Tile cleaning agent (optional)

How to clean kitchen tiles

Keeping your kitchen tiles clean isn’t just good for hygiene, you’ll also extend the lifespan of your tiles, and reduce the risk of future problems including damp issues caused by water penetration through old and damaged grout.

It’s worth noting at this point that different types of tile may require different cleaning methods and equipment.

For example, both ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles tend to be pre-sealed and hardwearing meaning that these types of tiles can be cleaned using abrasive cloths or brushes and more aggressive cleaning agents. Natural stone tiles on the other hand are extremely porous, prone to staining and require a gentler approach, using a natural cleaning agent combined with less abrasive cloths or brushes.

Wall tiles

Rinse with warm soapy water

If your wall tiles aren’t too dirty and are free of any particularly tough stains then washing them down with a damp cloth and soapy warm water solution should do the trick (dish soap should suffice).

Tip: Make sure to give them a quick brush down to remove any grit or debris that may scratch or damage the tiles or tile grout.

For more stubborn stains and hard to remove grime you may need to use a more aggressive cleaning solution. In all circumstances, we recommend testing your chosen cleaning solution on a small area to ensure that it does not damage nor cause any discolouration or staining.

We stock a range of tile cleaning products that will help keep your kitchen floor tiles looking their best. From heavy duty tile cleaning products to surface sealers that help protect the tiles.

Vinegar solution

Super simple, simply mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water and voila, a natural cleaning solution, safe to use on all ceramic and porcelain tiles. For other tiles including terracotta, marble or granite we would recommend choosing a more pH neutral mix.

Hydrogen peroxide

Another friendly alternative to bleach is this hydrogen peroxide – water mix. Recommended ratios do vary, but we recommend starting off with 1 cup of peroxide and 1 gallon of warm water. Safe to use on all types of tile, simply spray on and allow a few minutes dwell time before wiping clean. Repeat as necessary.

Baking soda

You can also use baking, or bicarbonate soda mixed with a little water to create a paste to rejuvenate your tiles. Easier to remove dirt can be removed with a cloth, whilst tougher stains can be tackled with something slightly more abrasive such as an old toothbrush.

After cleaning

Once you’ve removed all the dirt and stains, use some warm water and a clean cloth to wipe over the tiles and remove any excess tile cleaner. Finally, dry the tiles with some kitchen roll or a clean cloth for a glossy finish.

Kitchen floor tiles

Floor tiles tend to get a bit messier and often have some tougher stains on them, but cleaning them follows the same basic principle as above, although you can also use a mop as this stage to cover large areas with ease. You can use one of the above cleaning solutions, but there are also a wide array of cleaning agents available which may be able to better tackle any particularly hard to remove stains.

Follow our step by step guide to ensure they are sparkling:

  1. Vacuum the kitchen floor before cleaning, as this removes any excess dirt and debris that you don’t want to scrub into the floor
  2. Use a good quality floor cleaner mixed with warm water and scrub the floor with either a microfibre soft cloth or a mop, depending on which you prefer
  3. Leave the floor to dry and try not to walk on it until it’s fully dry! If you notice any areas that need some extra attention, then repeat the process until you’re happy

The best way to clean grout

Grout can be the hardest part of tiles to clean and can easily discolour over time due to dirt and grease in a kitchen. No matter how sparkling your tiles are, discoloured grout can mean your kitchen still won’t look its best.

To create your own grout cleaning solution:

Simply:

  1. Mix the baking soda with warm water to form a paste. You can also substitute warm water for white vinegar if you’d prefer! For a little stronger solution, try a mix of 1 part baking soda to 1 part hydrogen peroxide, left to dwell for 5-10 minutes
  2. Use your scourer or toothbrush, and a little elbow grease, to really work in your homemade grout cleaner in between the tiles
  3. Leave the paste on for 30 minutes before rinsing off with warm water and a clean cloth
  4. Repeat in areas that need extra work

Regular maintenance on your kitchen tiles

If you want to keep your tiles looking fresher for longer then there are a few small ways you can maintain your tiles that are quick and easy.

  • Vacuum your kitchen floor tiles regularly so no food or dirt gets stuck to the tiles for a long period of time
  • Clean up any spillages as soon as they happen to ensure stains don’t appear
  • Regularly wipe tiles to avoid the build-up of dirt and grease

If you follow these small steps regularly, then it will make cleaning your kitchen tiles much easier and less of a chore. This will avoid the build-up of dirt and keep your kitchen looking fresh and clean every day.

Get in touch

If you’d like advice on the best tile cleaning solution for your kitchen tiles, or would like to find out more about our kitchen tile selection, then get in touch with our team who are always happy to help:

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