How to Clean Shower Tile (15 Methods With Pictures)

Do you want to know how to clean shower tiles?

The bathroom is more prone to dirt because it is used excessively than the other house areas. Mostly people clean closets, bathtubs, washbasins, and other accessories but ignore cleaning the tiles.

Cleaning shower tile is easy, and many natural cleaners, such as vinegar and baking soda are already in your home.

Store-bought cleaners can also be used, but purchase products with a minimum amount of acids or harsh chemicals. Frequently clean your bathroom tiles to prevent dirt buildup, which will be difficult to remove.

Cleaning Shower Tiles without Scrubbing

If you do not clean the grime and dirt from your bathroom on time, gradually, it will become hard, and you will look for abrasive tools to remove the dirt layer. Finally, you will damage the tiles.

Scrubbing can scratch your tiles; it looks annoying and damages your house. Therefore, shower tiles must be cleaned without using abrasive tools. Follow the methods mentioned below to get a sparkling bathroom.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Vinegar

Vinegar is the best shower tile cleaner because it is a natural product that is not harmful to your tiles. It is a very effective cleaner but be careful while using it because it can damage your tiles if left for a long time.

It is also harmful to cement grout because the alkaline property of vinegar will dissolve it. However, it’s cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and quickly removes the buildup of minerals and soap scum.

Method

1. Fill a spray bottle with an equal amount of water and vinegar.
2. Shake it well.
3. Apply it to all the tiles of the shower.
4. Leave it for 30 minutes.
5. Use a sponge to scrub it if required.
6. Rinse the tiles with warm water.
7. Dry it with a microfiber cloth.

 Clean Tile Grout in Shower with Baking Soda

Baking soda paste is the best way to clean shower tile grout. It is the easiest way to clean grout without scrubbing, and there are no harsh chemicals in it, so the grout will not be worn out using it. However, don’t scrub it too much.

Method

1. Take a bowl.
2. Pour one cup of baking soda into it.
3. Pour enough vinegar into it to make a thick paste.
4. Mix it well with a toothbrush.
5. Apply this to all the grouts of the bathroom with the brush.
6. Rub it mildly.
7. Now, leave it for 20 minutes.
8. Rinse it with water and during this, keep rubbing with a sponge.
9. Now dry the tiles with a towel.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Bleach or Bleach Products

When you have a hard layer of dirt on your tiles, you can clean them using chlorine bleach because it contains harsh chemicals. But, it is not suitable for your health and environment. There is also a risk of damaging the tiles.

So, use it carefully and choose this option if all the other methods don’t work in cleaning the tiles. You can select oxygen bleach to clean shower tiles because it is less acidic than chlorine.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Chlorine Bleach

Method

• Before using chlorine bleach, thoroughly read its manual and follow the guidelines because every product has different instructions.
• Make a solution of bleach and water according to the directions given on the label. Usually, for a gallon of water, one cup of bleach is used.
• Using a sponge, apply the solution to the tiles and especially focus on the hard layer of dirt.
• Wait for 30 minutes so that the bleach can work.
• Scrub the stubborn dirt with a toothbrush. With little effort, you will get success in cleaning the tiles.
• Rinse the tiles with water and sponge thoroughly and get a fresh bathroom.
• Repeat this process if necessary.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Oxygen Bleach

Method

• Take two gallons of water in a bucket.
• Add three tablespoons of oxygen bleach to it.
• Mix it well.
• Apply this solution to the tiles using a sponge.
• Leave it for half hour.
• Scrub using a toothbrush and wash with water.
• You can also use a paste of oxygen bleach instead of making its solution.

Cleaning Shower Grout and Tiles with a Steam Cleaner

Steam cleaning is a stress-free way to clean the tiles and grout of a shower. 50% of your problem will be solved with hot water.

1. Turn on your shower with hot water for 5 – 10 minutes.
2. Close the bathroom door and wait outside. Don’t allow the steam to go out of the area.
3. It will loosen the hard layer of dirt and open the pores.
4. Now, use any cleaning agent on the tiles.
5. Scrub the grout and tiles with a toothbrush.
6. Rinse with water.

Cleaning Bathroom Tiles with Baking Soda

Baking soda is the best bathroom tile cleaner and is easily available in every home. It’s low-priced, good for the environment, and an effective cleaner for every household item.

It’s ideal for removing dirty bathroom odor, stains on tiles, and much more. Its moisture-absorbing property makes it outstanding for grout cleaning.

Two types of baking soda are available in the market; food-grade and cleaning-grade. Choose baking soda used for cleaning purposes because it’s very inexpensive.

Method

1. Take a bowl and pour one cup of baking soda into it.
2. Pour one cup of water into it.
3. Mix it well.
4. Now, apply it to the tiles and grouts with a cloth.
5. Use excessively on stubborn stains.
6. Leave the area for a few minutes.
7. Scrub the grouts with a toothbrush.
8. Use a squeegee and water to rinse them.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Hydrogen Peroxide

It is normally used in hair bleach products. It is stronger than baking soda but not harmful to the environment and is easily available in the cleaner’s supply stores.

Method

• Take a bowl.
• Pour two parts of hydrogen peroxide and one part of the water into it.
• Mix it well.
• Keep this mixture in a spray bottle.
• Apply this spray to all the tiles.
• Leave this solution for 30 minutes.
• Use a toothbrush to scrub the tiles and grouts.
• For areas with a hard layer of dirt, scrub it for a few minutes.
• Use a sponge and water to rinse the tiles.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Dishwashing Soap

Method

• Take a bowl and add half a cup of dishwashing soap to it.
• Pour one cup of vinegar into it and mix it.
• Keep this mixture in the spray bottle.
• Apply it to the tiles and scrub with a toothbrush.
• Move the brush in a circular motion to get good results.
• Now, rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is an effective cleaner to remove dirt and mildew. It effectively removes the soap scum made around the grout lines because it contains citric acid, a natural acid. This acidic property breaks down the dirt and bacteria and cleans the area successfully.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Ammonia

Ammonia can be used as shower tile cleaner, but it discharges poisonous fumes, so open the windows and door while cleaning. It can cause skin irritation, so be careful.

Method

1. Mix one part of ammonia with two parts of water.
2. Place this solution into a spray bottle.
3. Use this spray on the shower tiles.
4. Wait for an hour to let ammonia work with it.
5. Now, wipe it with a cloth.

Cleaning Shower Tiles with Salt

Method

1. In a bowl, pour one cup of salt.
2. Add one cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of dishwashing soap.
3. Add one cup of hot water to it and mix this solution.
4. Use a sponge to apply this mixture to the tiles.
5. After 10 minutes, dip the sponge in clean water.
6. Now, wipe the tiles with it.

Using Cotton Balls to Clean the Corners of Shower Tiles

Sometimes the corners of tiles are left uncleaned because the brush or sponge can get excess to these places. You can use cotton balls for this purpose.

• Take any tile cleaning agent in a bowl.
• Soak a cotton ball into it.
• Place it in the affected area for a few minutes.
• Wipe it with a sponge.

Clean Shower Grout and Tile with Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a harsh cleaning product but can be used to clean the buildup of scum and dirt that has become hard.

• Take an equal amount of rubbing alcohol and water.
• Mix them and pour the solution into a spray bottle.
• Spray on the affected areas.
• Let it sit there for ten minutes.
• Now wipe with a cloth.

Borax as a Bathroom Tile Cleaner

Most people use it to remove odor from their feet and shoes due to its antifungal property. It can also be used to clean shower tiles.

1. Take half glass of borax.
2. Pour one liter of water into it.
3. Apply this mixture to the tiles with a sponge.
4. Leave it for one hour.
5. Rinse with a sponge and water.

Cleaning Scrub for Bathroom

A powerful scrub can be made for your bathroom tiles that effectively removes dirt, mold, and mildew.

Method

1. Take all these ingredients in equal amounts.
2. Make a paste and apply it to the stubborn stains and dirt layers.
3. Wait for a few minutes.
4. To scrub the area, use a toothbrush.
5. Rinse with a squeegee and water.

Reasons for Dirty Shower Tiles

The shower area gets dirty even after washing because the water your bathroom floor gets is wastewater. Gradually, the tiles grow mold, mildew, and grime due to this wastewater. Following are the main causes of dirty tiles:

• After taking a shower, if the residues on the tiles are not cleaned on time, it makes a hard layer with time.
• There is a high amount of minerals in the hard water. So, if the water in your area is hard, the minerals can stick to the tiles, making them dull.
• If you use soap and detergent on tiles, it will make soap scum due to their residues. This scum makes more dirt.
• The dirt and grime cannot easily be cleaned from the grout lines, even if you scrub the tiles.

Prevent Shower Tiles from Getting Dirty

Follow these tips to prevent your tiles from getting dirty.

• It is very necessary to clean your tiles once a week. In this way, the dirt, mold, and mildew will not be able to reside on the tiles, and the hard layer will not be formed.
• If you use liquid soap in your bathroom, the soap scum formation will be minimized.
• Grout is a porous material, and a humid and warm environment is a perfect place for it to grow mold and mildew. The bathroom is a moist area, so the growth of mildew and dirt is normal. You should re-grout your shower tiles once a year to eliminate this problem.
• A proper ventilation system helps in reducing the humidity of your shower. So, after taking a shower, open the windows to let the air flow.
• If you put little effort into wiping the tiles with a towel after each shower, you will greatly reduce the growth of dirt and grime.

What Should not be used on Bath Tiles?

Keep in mind that the following things must not be used on shower tiles:

1. Never use abrasive materials on your tiles because they can scratch them, and their natural texture will be damaged.
2. The cleaning agents that contain acids or bleach should not be applied directly to the tiles. They can discolor your tiles.
3. The powdered acids can clog the shower drain and then you have to work on unclogging them, which itself is a little bit of a headache. So, the wise choice is to not use them.
4. Don’t use extra water while cleaning the tiles; otherwise, the color of your tiles will become dull. To make shine on tiles, wipe them with a cloth after rinsing.
5. Harsh chemicals should not be used more than two times a week; they can permanently damage your tiles.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Queries

What is the Best Grout Cleaner?

The best grout cleaner is the paste of baking soda. Pour it into a bowl and add vinegar to make a paste. Apply this paste to the grouts with a toothbrush. Scrub and rinse.

What is the Best Way to Clean a Shower Tile without Scouring?

Cleaning shower tiles every week does not require any scrubbing. Pour water and vinegar into a spray bottle in a 50:50 ratio. Apply it to the tiles and leave for some time. Use a towel to wipe it.

How do Professional Cleaners Clean Showers?

Professionals do not clean shower tiles with natural ingredients. They use harsh chemicals or detergents to make the cleaning process quicker.

After applying the solution, they scrub the tiles several times while protecting the surface tiles. Thus, clean the tiles effectively by putting less energy and time.

What is the Best Tile Cleaner for A Shower?

Mix warm water and dishwashing soap to make a solution. Use a sponge to apply it to the tiles. Leave it for 30 minutes and scrub with a toothbrush if required.

How to Create a New Look in Shower Tile?

1. Once in a week, deep clean it.
2. Replace the grout every year.
3. After every shower, clean the tiles with a towel.

Final Thoughts

There are different ways to clean shower tiles. You must select a method according to your requirement. If the tiles have stubborn dirt which is hard to remove, use a powerful cleaning agent. However, don’t leave too acidic cleaner on your tiles for a long time.

The acidity of vinegar and lemon juice is high than other natural cleaners, so use them carefully. Bleach products are harmful because they contain toxic fumes.

They can make problems like skin irritation, so use them with precautions. If the hard layer of dirt and soap scum is unable to remove, contact a professional to fix the issue.