How To Clean And Polish Ceramic Tile?

How on earth do yous make clean ceramic tile and grout…and what products piece of work all-time?

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

I endeavour to go along our shower make clean, but with 2 adults and ii kids, it's pretty darn hard to maintain Mr. Clean's level of tidiness (hey, the guy has no hair and that helps a lot with keeping showers looking immaculate).

We take small ii-inch by ii-inch square tiles on our shower flooring (sound familiar) and my primary goal was to decide the best way to clean them. I as well wanted to see if the same solution used to clean the ceramic tile could clean the grout.

Here's what I used

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner
Chlorox

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

My wife bought Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner from a salesperson in our neighborhood because information technology's supposedly not-toxic and child-friendly. We've used it for general cleaning and it seemed like a practiced thought to endeavour it on the shower, too.

And as a concluding resort, I tried Chlorox bleach. It's not my preference due to the noxious fumes and the likelihood yous'll ruin your clothes using it.

Admittedly I striking a roadblock the first few times I used OxiClean. I'll share my feel because it sheds light on the amount of OxiClean I constitute to have the nigh power. At the very least yous'll want to curlicue through the pictures since I was growing my cheesy mustache to raise money for prostate cancer awareness.

Let'due south get started!

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

This is a nifty question because everyone'southward ceramic tile & grout has a different level of dirtiness.

Let's kickoff talk over how the makers of OxiClean recommend using it for hard surfaces like tile & grout.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile & Grout-OxiClean

The directions on the OxiClean container say to fill up the OxiClean scoop to line 4 and add information technology to 1 gallon of water. It'southward also suggested that a more than concentrated solution/paste may exist required for surfaces like grout and I'thou certainly going to hash out this point.

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

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

I performed 3 different tests on my ceramic tile to encounter what concentration of OxiClean would work best. My promise was that I'd only have to exercise one experiment and POOF, I'd be exist a cleaning genius.

But no such luck.

The start examination I did used i/2 cup of OxiClean added to 1 gallon of hot h2o. I let the solution stand on the tile & grout for 30 minutes and scrubbed for about 5 minutes. This produced somewhat cleaner grout but the tile didn't expect any better.

The 2d test used 1 cup of OxiClean added to 1 gallon of hot water. Again, I let the solution stand on the tile & grout for xxx minutes and scoured for 5 minutes. The results were a mixed handbag. 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 1 gallon of hot water. This time I let the solution stand for hour and scrubbed for 5 minutes at the start and end. As a event, the tile & grout looked much amend. The tile in particular sparkled and some of the grime I couldn't get off with the scrub brush in tests #1 and #2 was completely gone.

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

My decision is that two cups of OxiClean mixed with ane gallon of hot water will defintely clean ceramic tile. I barely had to employ the nylon scrub brush to become the tiles looking brand new. This concentration will also eliminate mild grout stains and dirt.

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

Why Should Yous Use Oxygenated Bleach to Clean Ceramic Tile?

I try to stay as healthy as possible. And one sure way to get sick is to betrayal yourself to harsh chemicals. Plus, my kids apply the aforementioned bath and shower every bit united states. So the last thing I desire to do is use chlorine bleach or some other product that could harm their lungs & skin.

Oxygenated bleach contains sodium percarbonate. When oxygenated bleach is dissolved in h2o 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. And then you don't have to worry about information technology discoloring carpets or clothing while cleaning tile & grout.

( IMPORTANT , never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide as this reaction forms peracetic acrid which can cook pb bullets. I mention this because many people might endeavor vinegar to clean tile THEN utilize OxiClean, a bad idea altogether!!)

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 nuts. Even though each successive OxiClean treatment improved the grout's look at that place 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 we've used it to make clean unlike areas of our home similar sinks, bathtubs, floors, etc. It's marketed as being rubber and non-toxic which is of import to u.s.a. because we have two young daughters.

It works actually well as a full general cleaner (as information technology should for that price, holy female parent of mercy).

I used ane office Eco Orangish to ii parts water. In this instance 2 cups of Eco Orange to four 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 so I rinsed the shower flooring with clean water. Unfortunately, the grout was even so discolored. If I had to simply tidy up the shower floor I'd most certainly use Eco Orangish because it would do a skilful task eliminating superficial dirt. Simply grout renewer it 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 brand a dent in my grout. Afterward putting on rubber gloves, a respirator, and centre protection I mixed three/4 loving cup of Chlorox with 2 cups of water.

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

This is super concentrated merely that'southward 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 on the tile surface for another ten. And so I rinsed with make clean h2o.

After proverb a little prayer to the grout gods (just kidding, but if they existed you know I would kneel in reverence) and waiting x minutes, I checked on the grout.

Lamentable folks, Chlorox just didn't help in this case.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Chlorox bleach

Then 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 1 of these three products could accept cleaned both the tile and grout in our shower. I'm confident that OxiClean can make clean anyone's ceramic tiles. And while it didn't fully live upward to my grout cleansing expectations I think y'all should try it since it helped brighten up about 60% of our grout lines.

It's relatively affordable at $7.52 and worth a shot since it'southward non-toxic.

I may attempt a few other products in lodge to become my tile grout looking ameliorate.