No matter how careful you are, spills and stains are always bound to happen. And when they do on tiles, it’s important to know how to remove them as quickly and effectively as possible. Tile is a great material for high-traffic areas because it is durable and easy to clean. But if a stain goes untreated for too long, it can be difficult to remove.
In this article, we will discuss different methods on how to remove stains from tiles. You will find several ways to remove stains from tiles across the web.
Here, we will mainly focus on home remedies with other solutions for tough stains. So, whether it’s the tile floors, kitchen, bathroom, or any other area of your home or office, we have you covered!
Important
Most of the time it depends on the type of tiles and stains that how easily and effectively you can remove the stains. There are various types of tiles like – porcelain, ceramic, marble, stone, and so on. Likewise, you will face different types of stains too. The method may also vary according to the type.
So, before following our methods, look for the type of tiles and stains. If you don’t know the type, it’s always better to go for the home remedies.
Most Populer Types of Tiles
Here we are giving you the idea of commonly used tiles –
1. Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tiles are the most common types that are used in households. Among all types of tiles, ceramic is mostly used for kitchen, bathroom, entrance, and other areas. It is made up of red or white clay.
2. Porcelain Tile
It is another type of popular tile and a denser and harder option as compared to ceramic tile. It is also less porous. This type of tile is made up of a white clay named kaolin.
It is then fired at a very high temperature which gives it a harder and denser quality as compared to the ceramic tile. They are impervious to water and staining. They come in various colors, styles, shapes, sizes, and costs. People use them for any area indoors or outdoors.
3. Stone Tile
Stone tiles are made from natural stones like granite, marble, slate, etc. They come in many colors, patterns, and textures. Granite and marble tile countertops are widely used in kitchens because they give a luxurious look to the kitchen. Marble tiles are highly durable and require low maintenance. But they are a bit expensive as compared to other tiles.
4. Glass Tile
Glass tiles give shiny look to any area. They are made of glass and they come in many colors, styles, shapes, sizes, and costs. They are mostly used for kitchen backsplashes and bathroom areas like shower or tub surround. But they require more maintenance as compared to other tiles.
8 Effective Methods of Removing Stains from Every Tile
While searching, you’ll find so many tile cleaning methods and agents but not all of them are effective. But no worries! We have done the research for you and gathered all the effective methods here in one place.
So, below are some of the effective methods for stain removal from tiles. Try out these methods and let us know which one worked for you!
Method 1: Vinegar and Baking Soda
Hard water stain on tiles is a very common thing. But there are ways to get rid of those stains. Well, for this you don’t need any harsh or abrasive cleaner. Rather, only by using vinegar and baking soda, you can remove those stains.
In a bowl, pour a generous amount of white vinegar. Soak a clean cloth into the vinegar and wipe over the hard water stain to wet the area. Let the vinegar sit there for a while so that it soaks the tile. Then wet the area again using vinegar.
Now, sprinkle an ideal amount of baking soda over the wet surface. After that, scrub the area with a brush or a damp sponge to remove hard water stains. Using a harsh scrubber can cause scratches on the surface.
Finally, wash the area with plain water and dry it with a clean towel. This method also works for cleaning stained grout of tiles.
Method 2: Lemon Juice and Borax
Rust stain is a common thing you will notice mainly in the bathroom tile. Metal items on tile surfaces come into touch with water for lengthy periods of time, which causes it. However, for removing rust stains from tiles, lemon juice and borax powder can work like magic.
All you need is to mix these two ingredients in equal amounts to form a paste.
Then apply this paste to the stained areas and leave it for about 30 minutes. Thereafter, use a brush to scrub off the rust and stains. You’ll see that the dark orange stains are coming off without any elbow grease. Finally, clean the area with water.
Method 3: Club Soda and Water
Greasy and fat-based stains are a common scenario in kitchen tiles. After cooking, you may notice oil and grease splatters on the tile. In such a case, all you need is club soda and water.
Take one part of club soda and mix it with two parts of water. Apply this solution to the stains with the help of a clean cloth. You will see that the grease and grime are coming off easily from the tile surface.
Moreover, this is one of the simplest methods for stain removal from tiles. You can also use non-abrasive floor cleaner afterward!
Method 4: Diluted Bleach
Whether it’s blood stains or ink stains, all you need is diluted bleach to remove them from the tile surface.
For this, take a cup of water and mix it with half a cup of bleach. Apply this solution to the stained areas with the help of a clean cloth. You can also use an old toothbrush for scrubbing off the stains. Use as much as the solution needed and scrub until all the stains go away.
After a few minutes of scrubbing, you will see that all stains have gone away from the surface. Thereafter, clean the area with plain water.
Method 5: Mild Detergent and Hot Water
Coffee, tea or juice spills are daily life incidents. People also don’t care about these stains too much and it becomes tough to remove after keeping them untreated for a few days.
For this, you need to mix a mild detergent with hot water. Apply this solution to the affected area and scrub them off with an old toothbrush. You will see that all the coffee, tea, or juice spills are coming off easily. After scrubbing, rinse the area with plain warm water and dry it out completely.
Method 6: Using Ice Cubes
Ice cubes work great on gum, wax, or tar spots on tile. For this, you need to place some ice cubes in a bag and put them over the stained area for a few minutes.
When you will see that the stain is solidified remove the bag of ice and use a blunt knife to remove stains from tile as much as possible. If there is any remaining residue behind, you can use non-inflammable paint thinner.
Thereafter, clean the area with plain water and dry it out completely.
Method 7: Hydrogen Peroxide is Great
Hydrogen Peroxide is a great solution for removing tough stains from tile. Not only tile marks but also it can remove any kind of stubborn stains.
However, for tile stains, take one part peroxide and mix it with two parts of water. Apply this solution to the affected areas with the help of a clean cloth. While wiping the stain, you will notice that the stain disappears. Finally, clean the area with plain water.
Method 8: Using Tile Stain Remover
The easiest way of cleaning tough tile stains is to use commercial tile stain remover. You can find this product in any hardware store near you. You can also order it online to choose from a wide range of other cleaners.
Read the instructions carefully before using them and follow the steps accordingly. You’ll see that the tile stain is gone within minutes.
These were some methods on how to remove stains from tiles. You can use any of these methods according to the type of stain you have on your tile surface.
Moreover, regular cleaning of tiles will also help in keeping them neat and clean for a long time. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead.
Prevention is Better than Cure
Even though there are different ways to clean stains from tiles, it’s better to prevent them from happening in the first place. For that, you need to clean the tile floors regularly with a good quality cleaner. If you do so, then you won’t have to go through the hassle of removing tough stains from tiles.
For avoiding tough stains on tiles, you need to take some preventive measures so that spills don’t turn into stains. You can do the following things:
- Wipe up the spills as soon as possible
- Place, mats or rugs on entryways to avoid dirt and mud
- Use coasters for glasses and mugs
- Put a sealant on natural stone tile floors
By taking these preventive measures, you can keep your tile surfaces clean and stain-free for a long time. So, follow these tips and enjoy stain-free tile flooring!
Caution
Choose the methods according to the type of stain and tile. Be careful enough while cleaning textured tile flooring. And before trying any method on the main stain, always test it in an inconspicuous spot to avoid any unwanted situation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does baking soda remove stains from tiles?
Baking soda is originally the form of sodium bicarbonate and is actually a salt. It has a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion like all the salts.
But ionically baking soda is neutral though the pH level is higher than neutral. That’s why it is slightly opposite to acidic nature and become such a good cleaner. Due to its abrasive nature, it can remove all types of household stains, not just tile stains.
All you need to scrub it over the spot and the stain will go away within minutes. Some people also mix one parts vinegar with two parts baking soda for particularly tough stains.
How do you remove stains from ceramic tiles?
You can either use a mild detergent mixed with hot water, or you can use a commercial tile stain remover. Also use ice cubes to remove gum, wax, or tar stains from tiles. If you got nail polish stains, then an acetone-based nail polish remover will be fine.
Actually, for cleaning stains from ceramic tiles, you can use any stain removal method mentioned above according to the type of stain. But whatever method you use, remember to use it first on an inconspicuous spot to prevent damage and protect it from scratch.
How do you clean stained bathroom tiles?
You can easily remove all types of stains from bathroom tiles only by using cleaning products. In that case, a good-quality bleach like Domex can be your best bet. You can directly use it over the spot or mix it with water to remove the stain and look the flooring like new again.
Can you use white vinegar to clean ceramic tile?
Vinegar is a multi-purpose cleaning product that may be used in every household. That’s why it’s safe to use on ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, and laminate tiles. A few drops of vinegar might help you get your tile flooring back to its original condition.
And not only for tiles, but vinegar is also useful for other household cleaning purposes too.
Wrap Up
It’s the wrap-up of this article and we hope that you find it helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave us a message in the comment section below. Also, if you want to share your own tips on how to remove stains from tiles, don’t hesitate to do so.
We would love to hear from you! If you find this article helpful, please spread the word by sharing it with your friends and family! Thank you for reading and Happy Cleaning!
Related Content: