What with all the limescale, soap residue, and hair, who really likes to clean the bathroom? Don't worry, help is at hand! Our tips for cleaning floor tiles will help you get the job done in no time at all.
The ultimate trick for cleaning bathroom tiles is doing it regularly! We all know that it is not much fun to remove limescale and scrub the bathroom clean of dirt. To prevent dirt deposits from forming in the first place, and to prevent limescale or dried shampoo and soap residue from getting in the way, it's worthwhile to simply wipe tiled surfaces in the bathroom regularly with a damp cloth.
You can also clean the tiled wall in the shower or bathtub with an old towel or a clean cloth after every use – okay, maybe only after every other use! It's also a good idea to wipe down tiled shelves or tiled mirrors around the washbasin after brushing your teeth or applying make-up. This way, you save yourself the time-consuming scrubbing and descaling later on, and you'll be done with the bathroom cleaning in no time.
You can clean the tiles in your bathroom easily with these simple products:
- Soft Scrub® Oxi Cleanser
Cleaning the tile floors on a regular basis means less work on the whole! Simply pour a small amount onto the surface of your tile or grout, allow the cleaning agent to penetrate, and then gently scrub and rinse or wipe clean.
- Vacuum or sweep away coarse dirt
Before cleaning with any products, clean the tiled surfaces in your bathroom with a vacuum cleaner or hand brush. You can easily remove dust, flakes of skin, and hair so that nothing will stick to your cleaning rag afterwards. Antistatic dust cloths are a good choice for quick cleans in between – they attract and trap fine, loose dirt.
- Acidity – natural yet effective against limescale
For cleaning the floor tiles in the bathroom, a bucket of lukewarm water with a few drops of mild household cleaner is usually sufficient. Dish soap will also do the job. If you live in an area with particularly hard water, however, you know that you will need a little more cleaning power. The solution? Acidity! If you add a little vinegar or citric acid to the dish soap and water mixture, the acid contained in the water gently dissolves the limescale from the tiles. You can also simply wipe tiled surfaces with a damp cloth soaked in vinegar, lemon juice or other kind of acid. If you plan on using or trying multiple methods on the same surface, please be sure to thoroughly rinse with water before introducing a new product/mixture. By the way, the acidic smell after cleaning the bathroom tiles quickly disappears by itself. If not, simply wipe again with a damp cloth, sponge or microfiber cloth.
- Remove more stubborn dirt on bathroom tiles
Residues of shampoo, shower gel or shaving foam, as well as streaks from bath salts or conditioners, rock-hard toothpaste clumps or smudged make-up can usually be removed with a little extra elbow grease. If you're still struggling, try soaking them for a while beforehand. A scouring pad or a brush are also helpful for cleaning tiles with more stubborn dirt. However, you should be careful with tiles with a glossy surface – they can become dull very quickly if scrubbed too intensively or with harsh cleaning products!
- Brighten up tile grouting
You are done cleaning your bathroom tiles, but the grouting has seen better days? It's time for some TLC! First, mix some baking powder with water – or even better with a dash of vinegar – until the paste starts to foam. Then apply it to the joints with an old toothbrush. Leave it to work for a short time and rinse or wipe it off with clear water.
For more tips on bathroom cleanliness, check out our guides to cleaning the toilet and cleaning the bathtub