How to Clean & Maintain Different Types of Tiles

These cleaning methods will ensure that your floor and wall tiles look their best and are always sparkling clean

Pooja Khanna Tyagi11 May 2021

Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016 an for architectural poetry in the year 2018. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi and Noida. Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392

Nowadays tiles are not restricted to the bathrooms and kitchen – they have become an integral part of the home decor. The best part about installing tiles on various surfaces is that they are long-lasting, highly durable and are available in multiple designs and materials. Although tiles are easy to maintain, they tend to build up a layer of dirt, grime or soap scum, or may get stained over a period of time. This guide will help you to remove dirt and retain the shine of the floor and wall tiles of your home.

JGP Consultants

Porcelain, ceramic and vitrified tiles
Porcelain, ceramic and vitrified tiles are some of the most affordable and popularly used tile materials.

For routine cleaning, sweep and mop these tiles with a mild cleaner. It is advisable to wipe spills and stains immediately.
Textured-finish ceramic and porcelain tiles will require deep cleaning as small particles of dirt may settle within the crevices of the textured tile. Mop your floor with a homemade solution using 3 litres warm water, either with 3 tablespoons vinegar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or with 1/2 cup each vinegar and baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap.
Scrub and clean the grout lines with a brush dipped in equal parts of baking soda and water.

Note: Never use steel wool for scrubbing the floor tiles as it might result in permanent scratches on the tiles.

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Corbin Reeves Construction

Natural stone tiles
Natural stone tiles stand out because they come with beautiful grain patterns, attractive colours, and tactile surfaces which range from glossy to rustic finishes. Natural stone tiles such as marble, granite, limestone, slate and so on are porous in nature and require a lot of care and maintenance to retain their original look.

Always clean natural stone tiles with a cleaner which is specially designed to clean natural stone flooring. Do not use conventional cleaners because they contain chemicals which may damage the stone surface.
Mix a non-abrasive dish liquid soap with warm water and use it for mopping the natural stone tiles on a daily basis.
Create a homemade solution with half a cup of isopropyl alcohol mixed with a litre of water. Avoid cleaning with cleaners, commercial or homemade, which contain acidic ingredients such as lemon or vinegar because they may etch the natural stone surface, especially marble.
Use a deep-penetrating sealer to protect the shine and lustre of marble. The sealer functions as an excellent barrier which prevents natural stone materials from staining.

Del Casa Homes

Cement tiles
Cement tiles are available in attractive colours and bold traditional motifs, which impart an ethnic look to the decor of the home. One drawback of installing cement tiles is that cement is porous in nature, which makes it prone to staining and absorbing liquid spills.

The routine cleaning of cement tiles involves sweeping and mopping with a soapy solution or a mild cleaner.
Cement tiles should be periodically sealed with two coats of a penetrating sealer to maintain the original look of the tile.
An acid-based cleaning solution is a strict no-no because it can wear away the layer of the sealer and damage the surface of the tile.

Trend Group Australasia

Mosaic tiles
A collection of small pieces of glass tiles is used to create colourful mosaic patterns in areas like the flooring, backsplashes and the shower area. The non-porous nature of mosaic tiles makes them resistant to stains and mould but their shiny surface shows finger prints, water marks and soap scum easily.

Dip a soft sponge in a solution of mild detergent and water to clean the mosaic floor and wall surfaces. Never use an abrasive sponge for cleaning the mosaic, as it may result in scratches.
Spray a solution of vinegar and water on the tiles and wipe. You can also dip a cleaning cloth in a solution of baking soda and water and wipe the tiles.
Mosaic tiles contain multiple grout lines, so it is essential to clean the grout regularly. Dip a toothbrush in warm soapy water, baking soda paste, or a solution of hydrogen peroxide and scrub the mosaic tiles gently.

Erika Bierman Photography

Terracotta tiles
Terracotta tiles are installed to infuse an old-world charm into the decor of the home. They are available as glazed and unglazed terracotta tiles, which work as dust magnets. These tiles absorb a lot of dirt and grime and have to be cleaned regularly.

Use a gentle floor cleaner or warm soapy water for mopping.
The terracotta tiles should be periodically sealed to block all the pores so that the tiles do not get dirty or discolour over a period of time.
Create a homemade cleaning solution with water and vinegar or baking soda and use it for mopping. Scrub the tiles with a scrubber or brush to remove stubborn stains and dirt.

Read more:
Which Tiles Are Perfect for Indian Floors?
4 Sure-Shot, DIY Ways to Clean Grout on Tiles

Tell us:
What kind of tiles have you used in your home and how do you keep the tiles clean? Share your tips in Comments below.