Our bathrooms are home to grime and grunge. The average bathroom floor has 764 bacteria lurking per square inch of space! This is why many people who use cleaning services like Maggy Maid always include the bathrooms as part of their cleaning areas.
But even if you thoroughly and regularly clean your bathroom, the tiles can quickly become dull, worn and lifeless. If you want to know how to revive your bathroom tiles without spending hundreds of dollars to replace them, this guide is for you.
Cleaning Your Bathroom Tiles
If you plan to give your bathroom tiles a makeover, you can start by deep-cleaning them. It’s a time-consuming process and fortunately, you only need to do it a few times a year.
- Run hot water in your bathroom for a few minutes to loosen up the ceramic pores and provide you with better access to the dirt and grime when you clean it.
- Don’t press to harshly on the bathroom tiles as doing so could damage them. Gently brush them in circular motion and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and wipe dry.
- If the grout has sunk, you need to replace them not only to improve the aesthetic but also to make sure mold and scum do not build up in those areas.
Natural vs. Store Bought Cleaners
You can use a natural cleaning solution for your bathroom tiles. Simply mix baking soda and vinegar and coat the entire area with the mixture. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then scrub away using a sponge or non-abrasive brush.
However if your bathroom tiles have some major problem areas natural solutions may not work. You can instead go for stronger and more potent products to tackle stubborn grime and soap scum.
Just be wary of formulas that could damage your tiles’ surface due to their strength/potency. Moreover you should not use an abrasive tool to rub this solution.
Painting Your Tiles
If, after cleaning your bathroom tiles they still don’t look new then you might consider painting them. Don’t worry it’s a simple process that you can do entirely on your own.
You can paint over your bathroom tiles but you may need to regrout them. First you should research which tile paint is suitable for your tiles and how much of it you’ll need.
After you’ve picked the paint and color, measure your bathroom walls to determine how you’ll need. Most paint tins will tell you the coverage capacity of their tub so calculating should be a straightforward matter.
Step 1: Remove the grout using specific tools you can buy in hardware stores.
Step 2: Clean your tiles before you paint them to make sure the paint will stick completely.
Step 3: Add the primer and be sure you let them dry completely before you proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Lightly sand the layer of primer so that the paint will have sufficient surface to stick to. Let it dry.
Step 5: Paint your tiles and allow to dry. Make sure there’s good ventilation and use a small synthetic brush for the corners. You’ll probably need a few coats for this.
Step 6: Finally, regrout. Be generous with your grout to ensure you cover all the edges and cracks.
Make Them Shine
Shining your bathroom tiles is a cheap and effective way to give your bathroom a brand new look. Simply create a solution of liquid soap and water and mop all over the tiles. Then wipe continuously and once clean, buff the surfaces using microfiber cloth. That’s it!
