5 Bathroom Tile Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Most people don’t enjoy cleaning their bathrooms, even if they do feel a sense of accomplishment afterwards. And you may be especially averse to scrubbing bathroom tiles in order to remove the soap scum that seems to be glued to the surface. But if you want your bathroom to be clean, beautiful, and safe for family members and house guests, you really can’t avoid this unpleasant task forever. So here are just a few tips that will help you to clean and maintain your bathroom tile with less elbow grease and tooth pulling.

1. Set a regular cleaning schedule. Like most modern adults, you’re probably splitting your time between a lot of different pursuits, including work and family. This could put home maintenance last on a long list of priorities. As a result, you might not get around to cleaning tasks until the situation becomes dire. But before you start to notice mold and mildew on bathroom tile, you might want to set up a cleaning schedule. Although you will have to dedicate time each week to cleaning your bathroom tile, you’ll find that a simple spritz and wipe will do the trick. If you wait too long, on the other hand, your five-minute job could turn into a half hour or more of hard labor as you scrub your tiles clean.
2. Choose the right products. There is no shortage of solvents claiming to offer the best solution for your bathroom tile cleaning woes, and it can be difficult to choose the right ones. But there are a few things to consider. For example, products that you spray on the tile after a shower really could help to slow the buildup of lime, rust, calcium, and soap scum, making your cleaning tasks easier and less frequent. What you may want to avoid, especially if you suffer from asthma, allergies, or other respiratory disorders, are harsh chemicals that can irritate your lungs and skin. These products certainly do the job, but with regular cleanings you won’t need them to be super strength. So think about switching to green cleaning solvents that do less potential harm to your health.
3. Steam-clean annually. Despite your best efforts, soap scum, grime, and other particulates can build up on your bathroom tile over time. So when you rent a steam cleaner to refresh your carpeting each year, make sure to get attachments that let you target your tile, as well. The combination of steam and cleaning solvents will have your tile looking brand new.
4. Keep an eye on grout and caulk. When you undertake bathroom tile cleaning, you might start to notice cracks in the grout, deteriorating caulk, and mold or mildew on both surfaces. Properly maintaining your tile includes making sure that the products keeping your tiles in place and stopping water from leaking into the walls are also well-maintained.
5. Replace tiles as needed. Over time, bathroom tiles can become cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged due to regular wear and tear. When this happens, you need to head to Tiles Direct or your local tile outlet of choice to find replacements. The reason is that cracks and chips could lead to leakage, potentially causing water damage. And of course, you want your bathroom tile to look clean and pristine for aesthetic reasons, as well.