Every family member wants to have a clean bathroom. Having clean bathroom tiles is a very crucial part of home maintenance. No one wants the shame of having visitors who will encounter dirty bathroom tiles.
A bathroom is a damp place, and dampness is a breeding ground for mold and fungi. There can also be harmful bacteria on the floor and wall tiles. Between the tiles is the grout, which is another area that really attracts dirt and dust. In this article, we will show you how to remove stains from your bathroom tiles with vinegar.
A well-maintained bathroom will always bring an essential sparkle to your household. However, if not well cleaned it will soon lose its shiny touch. Several materials can bring that shiny touch to your bathroom tiles, but using vinegar to clean up your tiles is a safe, easy, and eco-friendly method.
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Benefits of using vinegar to clean bathroom tiles
- Vinegar is known for its distinctive smell, but at the same time, it is not harmful and disappears quickly when the room is aired out.
- Vinegar safely disinfects most hard and greasy surfaces and hard water stains. The molecule composition of vinegar is hydrophobic, meaning one side is attracted to water and the other is not. For instance, when sprayed on grease or grime the side that hates water bonds to the grease, going underneath it to lift it off the surface.
- Once it dries, vinegar leaves behind a fresh neutral scent.
Cleaning your tiles with vinegar
Before using vinegar to clean your bathroom tiles, it is good to understand the type of tiles you have. This vinegar solution works perfectly well for most tiles, except for stones like marble, granite, and travertine. Ceramic and porcelain are both easily cleaned using vinegar.
What you will need
To use vinegar to clean bathroom tiles you will need the following:
- ¼ cup of white vinegar
- 1 gallon of warm water
- A bucket
- A sponge
- A cup
- Rubber gloves
Procedure when cleaning bathroom tiles with vinegar
- Pour ¼ cup of white vinegar into your bucket containing water. The water should be at least 1 gallon to mix well with the vinegar. It is good to make sure that the water is hot as practically possible. Dilute the vinegar well to avoid issues of discoloration.
- Put on the rubber gloves and dip the clean sponge in your hot water-vinegar solution.
- If you are starting with the wall tiles, use the sponge soaked with the vinegar and water solution. Should you have surfaces that are mildewed, it is recommended to add a little extra vinegar by pouring it directly on the sponge and wiping it over the area.
- For the floor tiles, make sure you sweep them first. If you have a vacuum, you could also use it to collect dust and some particles that can scratch tiles during cleaning. Dip your mop into the solution and wring it out. Mop your floor with your vinegar-water solution when still hot, starting from one corner and working your way across.
- Once the mopping is done, it is recommended you give some time for the solution to be effective. 5 to 10 minutes should be okay.
- Now use warm, clean water without vinegar to rinse the wall tiles with a sponge that has already been dampened by the clean water. Rinse your mop and using the clean water to mop the floor tiles to rinse away the vinegar and water solution.
- For those who may not like the smell of vinegar, opening the windows to allow fresh air flow is ideal. The tiles will also dry faster.
For very stubborn stains, the vinegar-water solution may not work and you’ll need to add a little bit of baking soda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mix bleach and vinegar to make it more effective?
No, even if you have white tiles in your bathroom, never mix vinegar with bleach. This combination makes a very strong disinfectant that is very toxic, especially for people with respiratory issues. Using bleach could also be counterproductive because it will seriously damage your tile’s finish.
Using vinegar alone is sufficient. It is a weak acid that naturally disinfects and is not strong enough to damage the tiles, unless you leave it for too long. Be sure to rinse the floor with clean water and dry it immediately.
Can all tiles be cleaned using vinegar?
Vinegar can be used to clean most types of tiles. It is safe to clean with it on ceramic, vinyl, laminate, and porcelain tiles. It does not matter whether they’re glazed or unglazed. For other types of stone, like marble and granite, a neutral PH cleaner is recommended.
How long should vinegar be left on the tile?
Once the vinegar-water mixture has saturated the surface of the tile, allow it to penetrate the grime. Depending on the level of grime that needs to be removed, 1-5 minutes should be quite sufficient.
Why is hot water recommended when using vinegar to clean tiles?
Hot or warm water is recommended because of its ability to dissolve grease and hard water spots more quickly.
What are the components in vinegar that help clean tiles?
Vinegar has acetic acid that dissolves mineral and waxy deposits like grease. It also inhibits the growth of bacteria and mold.
Wrapping up
Most common store-bought cleaners are quite expensive. White vinegar costs less and is affordable and easily accessible to many households. It has the ability to effectively clean and disinfect without leaving any residue.
Your tiles will always be safe while using vinegar, as long as they are ceramic or porcelain.
Vinegar is safe to use around pets and children and every household should strive to have it as it is a very perfect eco-friendly disinfectant. The smell of vinegar may not be very appealing to many, but it disappears quickly with a good airing out. You can also mitigate the smell of vinegar by mixing some drops of your favorite essential oils into the mixture before the cleaning process.
It is recommended to clean your bathroom tiles regularly to keep them hygienic, dry and germ-free, and always looking their best. This is especially important when you have kids and elderly people at home who are at high risk of contracting infections.
