A bathroom is a room that associates with purity and brilliance. However, this is not always the case. Many housewives are looking for information about how to clean the tile in the bathroom from the fungus and plaque, as these contaminants spoil the whole impression of the room.
Causes of pollution
To cope with the pollution on the tile, you should be familiar with the causes of their occurrence. Knowing all the nuances, you can quickly return the original look to ceramics. The bathroom often uses water, in which there is lime and a variety of salts. When these elements fall on the tile, they leave streaks, turning into lime later. It is quite difficult to eliminate this type of pollution.
Mold with fungus occurs due to:
- high humidity;
- the presence of dirt in the joints between the tiles;
- constant contact with tap water;
- exposure to high temperatures;
- bacteria multiplication;
- neglect of care for the surface.
Facilities
Bathroom tile cleaners are sold in many stores. The following products are popular:
- Cillit bang copes with limescale, rust. Special composition contributes to the breakdown of fat and give an attractive gloss surface.
- Domestos will help eliminate mold and all germs from the bathroom. The most convenient way to use the spray.
- Mr Muscle not only actively eliminates lime and soap stains, but also helps to get rid of greasy traces and germs.
- Trademark Comet offers a wide range of products that help in cleaning the bathroom and other rooms. With the help of a spray, you can quickly remove plaque, grease and dirt.
- Melamine sponge is an alternative to chemicals. The sponge consists of melamine foam, which penetrates the pores of the tile and eliminates plaque and pollution.
Many housewives prefer to use home remedies that are in almost every home. The most popular are the following methods:
- The combination of table vinegar and baking soda. These ingredients remove lime and salt in 10 minutes. Using table vinegar without soda will help you not only to cope with the dirt, but also to get an attractive shine on the tile.
- With the help of citric acid you can get rid of the dirt on the tile. You will need to rub the surface with lemon juice or citric acid. After treatment, the wall should be wiped with warm water.
- Calcium fights lime, fungi and dirt. Keep in mind that this substance has an unpleasant smell, so you should observe safety precautions when using it. As a rule, this method is resorted to when cleaning the joints between the tiles.
These folk methods, you can quickly and painlessly for tile remove various contaminants.
In addition to the list of recommended tools, there is a list of substances that destroy the surface of the tile. Experts do not recommend using the following products for cleaning bathroom tiles:
- acid-containing detergents;
- abrasive preparations;
- brushes with coarse teeth;
- scourers of metal;
- Do not clean the surface with hand-held powders;
- substances used in the dishwasher;
- products for cleaning stoves and sinks;
- substances intended for the toilet.
How to remove stains?
To remove stains from the tile in the bathroom, you need to decide what pollution you plan to deal with. Each type of stain has its own effective method. Many grab their heads after repairs in the bathroom, as the sealant and traces of rust seem, at first glance, a daunting task.
Limescale
Many housewives face a problem when lime strikes the tile surface, soaking into the grooves between ceramics and other gaps. With the help of purchased tools, you can clean the tiles with high quality until the mirror shine appears. Means are developed for pollution of different types which attack a surface not only walls, but also a floor. Many products add disinfectants that eliminate fungus and germs.
In order to clean the tile in the bathroom to shine, pay attention to the composition of the substance.
Do not buy products in which there are acids and cleaning agents. You also need to carefully study the instructions for use of the selected drug. Gel-like agents show the best result, as they are easier to use and more effective.
A good result in the fight against lime showed a tool for cleaning glass with ammonia. You will need to spray the spray on the desired area, then simply wash the tile on the wall.
Grout
Many were faced with a situation where, after repairs on the tile, traces of grouting remained. This type of contamination is easy to remove. Wait until the grout becomes lighter and wash the tile surface with water. When the layer becomes softer, it can be easily removed.
Epoxy is harder to remove. It is best to immediately use a special tool that is sold in the store.
To avoid such situations, you should use a masking tape or film when grouting.
Sealant
To scrub the sealant crust dried after repair, you will have to try. To eliminate pollution, you can use the following methods:
- Try to remove the substance during the laying. For these purposes, you can use a rubberized spatula or a damp cloth.
- If the sealant is already dry, liquid ammonia or vinegar can be used to eliminate it. Acetone is effective against the polymer mass, but in this case, cleaning the tile should be done carefully.
- Silicone is well removed tools that use a solvent.
- Grinding can also be used to soften the sealant. Then use a spatula or a hard-type sponge.
Ingrained dirt
In the bathroom, you should monitor not only the surface of the walls, but also the cleanliness of the floor. Its surface is also exposed to moisture, soap solutions and other items. Dirty floors are not only ugly, but also dangerous. Such a floor can even injure its owner, as it is easy to slip on it.
When working with floor tiles, you can use abrasive detergents. Unlike tile for walls, it is more resistant to abrasion. The following methods are also recommended:
- If a light tile is used on the floor, clean with warm water and a small amount of soda ash. One pinch is enough.
- Dark tile should be washed with warm water and liquid floor detergent.
- If the contamination is serious enough, moisten the floor and sprinkle it with soda, then rub it with a brush. After some time, you can spray vinegar. Substances are removed with a mop.
- There is an anti-slip coating on the floor tile, so it is recommended to immediately wipe the floor if water is spilled on it. By following this rule, it will be easier for you to return the shine to the tile.
Welding
When replacing pipes in the bathroom, you may need a grinder.After its use, the tile is covered with black dots, which causes many housewives to panic. How to get rid of traces of welding on tile:
- It is better to take care of this situation in advance. Take preventive measures. Cover the area around the pipe with a cloth, holding the ends of the material with masking tape. Polyethylene should be discarded, as welding will burn such a surface.
- Frozen metal droplets can be removed with hydrochloric acid. Dilute the solution with a small concentration and apply it on the desired area for 10 minutes. Do not inhale vapors of acid, it is hazardous to health and carry out activities in gloves and a mask.
- At the end of the reaction, only iron salts will remain on the tile. They are easily washed with cold water. In place of the drops, only craters will remain, which you will not be able to get rid of.
Based on these recommendations, you should take care in advance about the prevention of the appearance of welding droplets on the tile. In the case of contact of welding with tile, you should immediately consider the question of buying a new tile, since the craters are very noticeable on the light glazed surface.
Rust
To remove rust from the tile, you can use different cleaning methods:
- Cream of tartar. This substance is sold as a powder. To remove rust, sprinkle the desired area with the powder and wipe it with a sponge moistened with water. To make the procedure faster, pre-treat the surface with 3% hydrogen peroxide.
- Vinegar and Baking Soda effective against rust. Work should be in rubber gloves. Dampen a sponge with a 6% solution of vinegar and sprinkle it generously with baking soda. When the two substances react, proceed to the processing of tiles.
- Lemon juice with salt effectively copes with rust on tile. Juice can be replaced by citric acid. The required area should be moistened with plenty of juice and leave for 25 minutes. Then sprinkle the surface with finely ground salt and with the help of circular motions remove rust spots. Use only salt without crystals and stones.
Remove mold and fungus
Mold can hit not only the joints of tiles, but also the walls, the ceiling in the room. It is necessary to fight the fungus at the initial stage, since such a formation carries harm to the human body.
Many trademarks produce special tools that help eliminate blackness at the seams of tiles in the bathroom. However, the cost of such products is quite high. Alternatively, you can use budget methods to eliminate the fungus:
- The steam cleaner perfectly destroys germs, fights against grease, dirt and mold.
- With the help of "Whiteness" or bleach, you can say goodbye to the mold for a long time. Leave on the surface for one hour and rinse with plain water. Do not forget about the precautions and the need for airing the room.
- Mold can be removed from the joints with soda ash and a coarse brush.
- Hydrogen peroxide helps in bleaching the seams. This solution does not require rinsing.
How to clean the joints?
Joints that are located between the tiles can be cleaned using the following methods:
- powder for washing clothes;
- soda ash;
- cleaners for the kitchen (use the composition without a large abrasive).
To clean the grooves without dirt, coat them with epoxy paint.
Joints are filled with a composition in which there is cement, resins, wax and glue. Ingredients form a rough and polluted surface. You can wash them with "Whiteness". Cleaning is done with tile.
Toothbrush and toothpaste also cleans the space between the tiles. When the seams are dry, coat them with acrylics. The paint forms a film that is able to prevent dirt from being absorbed in the future.
If the seams cannot be cleaned, refresh the surface. Wipe off the top layer with vinegar.Other components should not be used, as they can damage the tile. Already on the dry gap can be applied grout, guided by the instructions. The excess must be removed. The surface of the seams cover with acrylic paint.
Remember that for walls it is recommended to use seams that are lighter than tile by several tones. If you are updating the grout on the floor, then underline the joints with a darker pigment.
Surface features
Before removing dirt from the tile, pay attention to its surface features. To work with each type has its own subtleties. For example, matte tiles are best and easiest to clean with special compositions. If pollution is severe, to clear without staining the surface will allow liquid ammonia. After it you can use the emulsion for matte ceramics. This method will help keep the surface of the walls attractive and bright.
To make the matte surface glisten, apply a polishing wax to the dry ceramics. Many people prefer to save money and buy wax designed to process a car body. It helps protect the walls of the bathroom, but is immediately washed away upon contact with hot steam and water.
To clean embossed ceramic tiles at home, you can use specialized products for complex surfaces that are sold in stores. When cleaning rough ceramics or decor materials, follow these rules:
- exclude products with aggressive composition or abrasives;
- Excellent reviews received Cillit Bang. It well cleans a rough surface from pollution;
- With the help of a steam generator, you can remove all excess substances from the porous surface;
- For a more comfortable washing process, use Picobello mop.
There are several ways you can easily wash a mosaic. Even if your pottery has lost its attractive appearance, you can quickly transform an old tile with the help of cleaning grout. When choosing a similar method, consider the type of grout used in your bathroom and your capabilities.
When working with cement grout, start the process by removing the top layer and dust. New material can be applied only after processing the old surface. Use a special cleaner for this purpose, which is applied for five minutes. The washed seams should dry.
If the mosaic is connected with epoxy grout, remember that this material is more dense and more difficult to remove. If the seams are contaminated by 70% or more, the tile will have to be removed and the new one laid out.
Using these rules, you can improve the efficiency of removal of dirt in the bathroom. In your work, always consider what type of tile is in your home, since the porous, matte and glossy surface must be treated in different ways.
Care instructions
To tile in the bathroom for a long time retained its attractive appearance, it should be properly maintained. Follow the following tile care guidelines:
- wipe the tile with a damp cloth in places where the tile is in contact with water;
- take care of the hood to prevent the formation of mold and mildew;
- clean the bathroom tile once a week;
- change grouting every few years to prevent mold.
These recommendations will help to avoid the appearance of lime scale, mold and other contaminants on the tile in the bathroom.
How to clean the tiles in the bathroom to the crystal purity, see the next video.