Some stains on tiles and grouts appear due to high humidity in the bathroom, others due to irregular cleaning. There are different types of plaque, but for each of them there are proven methods of cleansing. To do this, it is not necessary to buy expensive chemicals — in many cases, solutions and mixtures can be prepared independently from improvised means. In the article we will tell you how to clean the tiles in the bathroom, as well as what measures to take to prevent plaque and mold.

All about tile cleaning

Types of pollution and their prevention
improvised items
— Laundry soap
— soda
— Vinegar
— ammonia
— Lemon acid
Special funds
— Glass cleaner
— Chlorine powder
— Dish shampoo
— Sprays and gels from plaque
Useful Gadgets
— Melamine sponge
— Steam cleaner
Features of washing different surfaces
— Glossy
— matte
— Embossed
How to wash the seams

Types of pollution and their prevention

  • Mold. Appears due to high humidity in the bathroom. To prevent this, turn on the hood more often or leave the door open for better ventilation. After each shower, wipe all walls and sides dry so that no moisture remains anywhere.

  • Rust. May occur through contact with sewer pipes or metal shelves for storing bath accessories. To prevent such a problem, it is necessary to replace the elements in which the corrosion process has begun in time.

  • Lime scale. Popular issue. Water contains a lot of deposits and salts, so even small drops can leave unsightly white marks. It is solved by installing main fine filters.

  • Soapy plaque. At first glance, it is easy to confuse it with lime, it accumulates due to irregular cleaning of the bathroom and rare washing of surfaces. To prevent it from forming, you should also wipe the walls and sides after each shower.

How to wash the tiles in the bathroom from plaque using improvised means

They told in a short video what home remedies will wash the tiles

1. Laundry soap

Suitable for cleaning white tiles and grout. It cannot be used on colored surfaces, otherwise the shade may fade and lose saturation..

The sponge is moistened in water and lathered well, abundant foam is applied for half an hour. Then with the same sponge you need to wash everything off and wipe it dry with a clean cloth. The method does not work with very old and stubborn stains.

2. Soda

With baking soda, you can easily wash off fresh rust and mold.

  • Wet the surface with water. Pour baking soda on a wet sponge, rub the area thoroughly and leave for half an hour. During this time, the plaque will become softer, and it can be removed with the hard side of the sponge.
  • Make the composition in the proportions of 100 grams of soda per 500 ml of water. Apply the resulting slurry to the dirty area and also leave for 30 minutes. Next — intensively clean and rinse.

3. Vinegar

It cleans well the tiles in the bathroom from limescale and mold. It is best to apply vinegar with a spray bottle and leave for 20-30 minutes. It is mandatory to carry out the procedure only in protective gloves and a mask so as not to harm the respiratory organs.

A mixture of salt will help against rust. To do this, moisten a rag with vinegar, dip in salt and rub the dirty area.

Both methods are effective, but can compromise the integrity of the cement groutand therefore not suitable for regular use.

4. Ammonia

Suitable for dealing with various types of pollution. It cannot be used in its pure form, it must be diluted with water. So, for one liter, you can add about 30 ml of ammonia. It is also better to apply the mixture with a spray bottle for 5 minutes, then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Such a composition can be used both for basic cleaning and for the finishing stage after working with other products.

5. Citric acid

It is suitable for removing all types of plaque. Acid crystals must be dissolved in water in proportions of 1: 2 and rub the tile with the resulting mixture. It is impossible to apply the powder on a sponge and treat the surface with it in a dry form, otherwise small particles will scratch the coating.

Leave the solution and wait for white streaks to appear — this is a sign that the product has begun to work. After that, it should be washed off with water or with a sponge. If streaks remain, rinse again with water.

Try not to get acid on the seams, otherwise, under its influence, the grout may begin to collapse.

ShutterStock

Special funds

The above substances are found in other products that are intended for different purposes. Some of them are also suitable for cleaning tiles from plaque and mold.

1. Glass cleaner

It usually contains ammonia. At the same time, the method of cleaning the tiles will not differ in any way from washing mirrors or windows. You also need to evenly spray the solution from the spray gun, wait a bit and wipe it dry with a rag.

This technique is not suitable for very old pollution, but for prevention it can be used regularly. — The surface will remain shiny longer.

Pexels

2. Chlorine powder or white

The most powerful weapon against all types of plaque, which is also an excellent disinfectant. The powder is diluted in water, then the solution is poured into a spray bottle and evenly sprayed over the tile. After 15 minutes, the dirt with bleach is first removed with a sponge, and then wiped again with a wet cloth.

Such a composition can be prepared independently or bought ready-made whiteness. The only drawback of bleach is that it really bleaches great, so it can harm the colored grout between the tiles. In addition, it is aggressive, smells strongly, and it cannot be mixed with any other chemicals or home remedies.

3. Dish detergent

Any dishwashing gel will cope with fresh dirt and stains. It must be beaten with a sponge until foam is formed and applied for 10 minutes, then rinsed with warm water. This is a gentle cleaning that can be done even without gloves.

4. Plaque sprays and gels

In household chemical stores, you can find special products that are designed specifically for cleaning tiles from various contaminants. Many of them also have a disinfecting effect. It is better to choose formulations with a liquid or creamy consistency without abrasive particles. In the instructions for use on the packaging, manufacturers indicate for which class of tiles this or that composition is suitable.

Useful Tools

1. Melamine sponge

It can be used without special cleaning agents — you just need to wet it with water and start right away. Despite the ease of the process, it cleans even old and dried dirt. Suitable not only for tiles, but also for grouting. Interestingly, the less intensively you rub the surface with this sponge, the better and faster the result will be.

2. Steam cleaner

Another way to clean the tile from plaque without detergents. It helps not only to remove dirt, but also to disinfect surfaces with hot steam. It penetrates deep into the pores and gently removes even the mold on the grout without destroying its structure. Included with such devices are usually nozzles and brushes for different types of coatings.

Features of washing different surfaces

ShutterStock

Glossy tiles

Polished ceramic looks very beautiful in the bathroom, but it needs more careful care. Do not use sponges and brushes with metal elements — they can cause deep scratches. Soda and laundry soap are also considered aggressive. They can leave marks on the surface or make it cloudy. And to enhance the shine, liquid for washing glasses and mirrors on a regular basis is suitable.

Despite the aesthetic appeal, soap stains, dried drops and limescale are very well visible on glossy tiles. Because of this, she begins to look sloppy even the next day after cleaning. To minimize this, immediately after laying it can be coated with a special water-repellent impregnation.

Matte

Such a coating is more practical, because traces of water are less visible on it. Therefore, caring for it will be much easier and faster. There is a misconception about the porosity of such tiles, so it is believed that special tools are needed to clean and prevent pollution. This is not true. Of course, it all depends on the texture, but a flat surface has no pores.

Wherein even for a matte finish, it is best not to use metal utensils or abrasive cleaners. Of course, the loss of luster does not threaten him, unlike gloss, but from this it quickly wears out. And already in these scratches and dents, plaque and mold can linger.

Embossed and lapped

This surface is decorated with the smallest textured details. On a wood-like tile, this can be an imitation of thin veins, on concrete — the illusion of careless chips and scuffs. The embossed pattern makes the tile look more like a natural material.

But it is in such small fragments that dirt can accumulate, which is difficult to see with the naked eye in the early stages. The finer the texture, the more difficult it will be to thoroughly wash such a tile with an ordinary sponge.. To do this, you can additionally use an old toothbrush, the bristles will better reach the small depressions in the surface.

How to wash the seams

ShutterStock

We figured out how you can wash the tiles in the bathroom. Now let’s talk about ways that will help clean the tile joints without destroying them.

There are two types of grouts on the market — cement and epoxy, and it is the first that is prone to contamination. Many owners still choose a cement composition for bathrooms because of the relatively low price. In addition, craftsmen are more willing to work with this material than with epoxy — it requires special skills and very careful handling. Cement grout has pores that absorb moisture and dirt well. Because of this, it can turn yellow and become moldy.

  • To bleach yellowed grout, make the following solution: hydrogen peroxide — 1/4 tbsp, water — 1/2 tbsp, liquid soap — 1 tbsp. l. All this must be thoroughly mixed and applied to the tile joints 3-4 times. After this procedure, they will become much lighter.
  • Laundry soap and chlorine powder are also suitable for cleaning only white grout. They wash out coloring pigments, so they cannot be used for other shades.
  • Special markers are also sold for whitening. The rod contains white ink with high penetrating power and an antiseptic. If we are talking about severe contamination, it is better to first clean them with special products and only then use a marker.

  • Without detergents and chemicals, even very dirty seams can be washed with a steam cleaner and a melamine sponge.
  • Using a toothbrush, soda powder can be applied to contaminated areas and rubbed gently so as not to damage the seams. Then rinse with warm water and pat dry.

To prevent plaque or mold from appearing on the seams after cleaning, they should be treated with a special antifungal compound.

[ad_2]