How to keep your ceramic tiles in tiptop shape

Because of their toughness, affordability and versatility, ceramic tiles are among the most popular building products. Whether you use them for your laundry room flooring, bathroom splashback, or kitchen benchtop, you most likely have them in your home.

Although ceramic tiles are very durable, you still need to do regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. Here are some cleaning and maintenance tips to help you make the most of your ceramic tiles.

Cleaning dry ceramic tiles

When kept dry, ceramic tiles rarely get dirty or damaged. Sweeping or vacuuming once every couple of days is good enough maintenance for dry surfaces. You just have to be alert in case spills occur. If anything is spilled on your tiles, particularly coloured liquids, be sure to wipe them at once and mop the surface afterwards.

It’s not advisable to use harsh chemicals such as bleach when cleaning your tiles since these chemicals can eat through the glaze of your tiles. Plain ol’ water is good enough to serve as tile cleaner in most cases, but for some stubborn stains or marks, you can also use a mild abrasive to scrape it off.

Cleaning wet ceramic tiles

Probably most of the tile cleaning and maintenance you’ll do will be for those in wet rooms such as your laundry room and bathroom. After some time, soap scum buildup and regular exposure to moisture can make your ceramic tiles look dirty and become less sturdy.

For soap scum, the best solution would be to give your ceramic tiles a good wipe-down every few weeks to avoid buildup. If the soap’s already hard to remove, try using some white vinegar or another acidic substance on your tiles. You can also let your tiles dry up, then scrub the soap scum off with a mildly abrasive cloth.

To avoid moisture damage, make sure that you keep your bathroom or laundry room well-ventilated so your floors and walls don’t stay wet or damp for too long.

Grout cleaning and maintenance

Most of the frustration that comes with cleaning tiles results from dirty, mouldy grout lines. The best way to prevent dirty, cracked grout is to keep your tiles and grout lines properly sealed. This means having to reseal them every couple of years to keep moisture from seeping through.

If your grout is already cracked or too dirty, have a tiler regrout them or regrout them yourself. Remember to have your new grout sealed to avoid it getting damaged again!

If you need help keeping your ceramic tiles clean, you can also hire a professional cleaner to do the job for you. Expert cleaners know how to handle all sorts of ceramic tile cleaning problems, so if anyone can transform your dirty tiles to mint condition, they can!