How to clean tiles

You don’t need to wait till the springtime to clean your tiles.

Sometimes, there’s nothing more satisfying than giving them a good clean to help breathe life back into your home.

If you love your tiles as much as we do, it’s important to invest some time in them to ensure they are looking good for years to come.

Whether it’s your bathroom, hallway, kitchen or lounge, when it comes to tiles, cleaning and caring for them properly can be truly transformative for your home. And, if you’re looking some help on that front, then make sure to take a look at our range of tile cleaning products.

Why does grout get dirty?

The purpose of grout is to create a water-tight seal and prevent any debris and liquid from getting behind tiles. It is, however, generally made from cement and very porous in form, meaning it doesn’t take much to appear grubby.

One common cause of discoloured grout is dirty mop water, the used water can saturate the grout after you’ve cleaned your floor tiles. It’s important therefore to create a preventative routine as well as a cleaning routine when it comes to your grout.

How to clean wall tiles?

First on your to-do-list should be your wall tiles. Why? You don’t want to spend half an hour sweeping then mopping the floor only to have it covered again with the dirt from your walls.

When it comes to wall tiles, give some thought to the cleaning product you are planning on using. Some abrasive pads will be fine on plain ceramic & porcelain wall tiles but for anything patterned (or delicate) then only using a soft sponge or microfibre cloth. Never ever using harsh cloths on marble as they can scratch.

All that’s left to do then it to clean your tiles. A failsafe way of cleaning wall tiles involves mixing white vinegar with water and applying this to your walls either with a sponge or a spray bottle. If you don’t have vinegar to hand, then lemon juice is just as good at breaking down the dirt without damaging your tiles. And don’t forget to rinse your walls afterwards!

Another option is to use a suitable PH neutral cleaner. Depending on the footfall of your home and where the tiles are laid, porcelain tiles may need cleaning every few days. A great regime, however, starts with the right tools, and using the right cleaners make light work of looking after porcelain tiles.

We would recommend Fila Cleaner Pro as a suitable cleaner for all tiles surfaces including natural stone and marble, and if don’t worry if you have pets as it is pet safe too.

How to clean grout?

One of the quickest wins when tackling tiles is always cleaning the grout fist. Discoloured grout has the potential to ruin the look of a room so it’s worth devoting as much time as possible to this.

We would highly recommend using a grout stain remover or grout cleaner that’s safe for your tiles. A word to the wise though, make sure to test the cleaner in an area not visible first, just in case, before applying throughout your room.

Plus, wherever possible avoid using bleach-based products on your grout – as these have the potential weaken or damage the grout. They can also cause darker grout colours to fade.

Once dried, you can apply a topical grout protector which is usually a spray that dries in a few minutes. This will help stop the build-up of dirt, oil and grime and helps prolong the life of your grout.

How to clean floor tiles?

We’ve saved the ‘easiest’ till last. Wherever possible try not to use detergents on sealed floor surfaces as strong bleaches will remove the protective seal over time, instead we recommend using a suitable tile cleaner such as Fila Cleaner Pro. It is a suitable cleaner for all tiles surfaces, and if don’t worry if you have pets as it is pet safe too.

A tile floor should be “dry cleaned,” or swept or vacuumed, at least twice a week to get rid of the gritty debris that can dull the finish of the tile floor. Wet clean, or mop, the tile floor in the kitchen every two weeks and in the bathroom once a week.

If this still isn’t doing the trick, then one of the best ways to clean floor tiles is using a steam cleaner. They’ll work through pretty much everything in seconds and have your floor tiles looking box fresh in a matter of minutes. Please note that steam cleaners are suitable for all tile types so make sure to check before you start. Once complete leave the tiles to dry for while and then give the tiles a final wipe over with a cloth. All that’s left now is to stand back and admire your handy work!

Need more information?

If you have any questions regarding cleaning your tiles, then feel free to contact our Customer Services team using our web chat facility.