How To Clean Mastic Ceramic Wall Tile

How on earth do yous clean ceramic tile and grout…and what products piece of work best?

This was a question I was pondering while taking a shower the other day. Primarily because the grout on our shower'south ceramic floor wasn't looking so skillful.

I effort to keep our shower clean, but with 2 adults and 2 kids, information technology's pretty darn hard to maintain Mr. Make clean's level of tidiness (hey, the guy has no hair and that helps a lot with keeping showers looking immaculate).

We have small-scale 2-inch by two-inch foursquare tiles on our shower floor (sound familiar) and my main goal was to make up one's mind the best fashion to make clean them. I also wanted to come across if the aforementioned solution used to clean the ceramic tile could make clean the grout.

Here's what I used

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner
Chlorox

I've read and so many articles on the awesomeness of OxiClean (oxygenated bleach) and wanted to run into for myself how it would piece of work on ceramic tile & grout.

My wife bought Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner from a salesperson in our neighborhood because it'southward supposedly non-toxic and kid-friendly. We've used it for general cleaning and it seemed similar a good thought to endeavour information technology on the shower, too.

And as a last resort, I tried Chlorox bleach. It'south not my preference due to the noxious fumes and the likelihood you'll ruin your wearing apparel using it.

Absolutely I hitting a roadblock the starting time few times I used OxiClean. I'll share my experience because information technology sheds lite on the amount of OxiClean I found to have the most ability. At the very least you'll want to scroll through the pictures since I was growing my cheesy mustache to raise money for prostate cancer awareness.

Let's get started!

How Much OxiClean Powder Should exist Used to Clean Ceramic Tile & Grout?

This is a dandy question because everyone'south ceramic tile & grout has a unlike level of dirtiness.

Let's showtime discuss how the makers of OxiClean recommend using it for hard surfaces similar tile & grout.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile & Grout-OxiClean

The directions on the OxiClean container say to fill the OxiClean scoop to line 4 and add it to 1 gallon of h2o. It's also suggested that a more full-bodied solution/paste may be required for surfaces like grout and I'thou certainly going to hash out this point.

They so recommend applying the OxiClean & h2o solution to tile with a sponge or brush or by pouring it directly on top of the surface. And the terminal step is to permit the OxiClean stand on the tile & grout for 5-30 minutes and to not let information technology dry out out.

Okay, that's what you'll read on the OxiClean box.

I performed 3 different tests on my ceramic tile to come across what concentration of OxiClean would work all-time. My promise was that I'd only take to do i experiment and POOF, I'd be be a cleaning genius.

But no such luck.

The first test I did used 1/2 loving cup of OxiClean added to ane gallon of hot water. I let the solution stand on the tile & grout for xxx minutes and scrubbed for about 5 minutes. This produced somewhat cleaner grout merely the tile didn't expect any meliorate.

The second test used i cup of OxiClean added to 1 gallon of hot h2o. Over again, I let the solution stand up on the tile & grout for thirty minutes and scoured for 5 minutes. The results were a mixed bag. The grout was clean in some areas and dirty in others every bit was the tile.

The third test involved 2 cups of OxiClean added to one gallon of hot water. This time I permit the solution stand for sixty minutes and scrubbed for 5 minutes at the beginning and stop. Every bit a result, the tile & grout looked much better. The tile in item sparkled and some of the grime I couldn't get off with the scrub brush in tests #ane and #2 was completely gone.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-How much OxiClean to Use

My conclusion is that ii cups of OxiClean mixed with one gallon of hot water will defintely clean ceramic tile. I barely had to use the nylon scrub brush to get the tiles looking brand new. This concentration will also eliminate mild grout stains and dirt.

But there were still sections of discolored grout. Maybe my grout was too far gone to be cleaned by OxiClean but that doesn't mean I gave up.

Why Should You Employ Oxygenated Bleach to Clean Ceramic Tile?

I attempt to stay equally healthy as possible. And one certain way to go sick is to expose yourself to harsh chemicals. Plus, my kids apply the aforementioned bathroom and shower as usa. So the last thing I want to practise is use chlorine bleach or another product that could impairment their lungs & peel.

Oxygenated bleach contains sodium percarbonate. When oxygenated bleach is dissolved in water a chemical reaction occurs that releases hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate.

This reaction is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Plus, oxygenated bleach doesn't incorporate chlorine. So you don't have to worry about it discoloring carpets or clothing while cleaning tile & grout.

( IMPORTANT , never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide every bit this reaction forms peracetic acid which tin cook lead bullets. I mention this because many people might attempt vinegar to make clean tile THEN use OxiClean, a bad idea birthday!!)

Can Eco Orange or Chlorox Clean Shower Tile & Grout?

At this point in my experiment, the shower tile was immaculate. The grout was driving me basics. Fifty-fifty though each successive OxiClean treatment improved the grout'southward look there were still discolored grout lines on some portions of the shower floor.

Enter Eco Orangish Citrus Cleaner. This stuff is expensive at $80 per gallon. Like I said in the introduction nosotros've used it to clean different areas of our dwelling like sinks, bathtubs, floors, etc. It'southward marketed as being safe and non-toxic which is important to usa because nosotros have 2 young daughters.

It works really well as a general cleaner (as information technology should for that price, holy mother of mercy).

I used i part Eco Orangish to two parts water. In this instance 2 cups of Eco Orange to iv cups of warm water. Once mixed thoroughly I poured it onto the shower tile & grout and scrubbed the grout for 5 minutes with a nylon brush.

And then I rinsed the shower floor with clean water. Unfortunately, the grout was still discolored. If I had to just tidy upwards the shower flooring I'd most certainly use Eco Orange because it would practise a good job eliminating superficial dirt. Merely grout renewer information technology is not.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner

Moving on to Chlorox bleach.

I really dislike using Chlorox bleach, but wanted to see if information technology could make a paring in my grout. Afterward putting on rubber gloves, a respirator, and centre protection I mixed iii/four cup of Chlorox with 2 cups of water.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Chlorox bleach requires protective gear

This is super full-bodied simply that's the point. I didn't desire to perform multiple experiments with bleach.

I scrubbed the tile grout for 5 minutes and let the Chlorox stand up on the tile surface for another x. And so I rinsed with clean water.

After saying a trivial prayer to the grout gods (just kidding, only if they existed y'all know I would kneel in reverence) and waiting 10 minutes, I checked on the grout.

Sorry folks, Chlorox merely didn't assist in this case.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Chlorox bleach

And so what shall I do?

The shower tile is looking fantastic but the grout is notwithstanding discolored in some areas.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Mixed results

I started Home Repair Tutor to share my wins and losses to help others. This is a tie 🙂

My hope was that one of these three products could have cleaned both the tile and grout in our shower. I'k confident that OxiClean tin can clean anyone'southward ceramic tiles. And while it didn't fully live upward to my grout cleansing expectations I think you should try it since information technology helped brighten up nigh 60% of our grout lines.

It'due south relatively affordable at $7.52 and worth a shot since it'due south not-toxic.

I may try a few other products in order to get my tile grout looking better.