You can safely use vinegar to clean ceramic or porcelain tiles, whether they are glazed or unglazed. For other types, however, like terracotta, marble or grante, we recommend you look for ph neutral cleaner that will not harm the material.
Vinegar is one of the best multi-purpose cleaners available at every house. It is safe to use on laminate, vinyl, porcelain, and ceramic tiles. A few drops of vinegar can help you restore the original look of your tile floors.
Although porcelain tiles are stain resistant, care must be taken to immediately clean any stain, especially on polished bench tops. The best way to ensure stubborn marks do not occur is to wash away stains such as red wine, food and drinks, using warm water and a soft cloth.
Vinegar will slowly dissolve the sealer on the grout and tile, allowing dirt, oils, and stains to penetrate deeper into the grout. Using Vinegar on grout can also cause the grout to breakdown overtime. And, that strong acid could damage the finish on the tile too.
Do not use cleaning products that contain acids or ammonia (and other harsh chemicals) as these can damage grout and glazed surfaces of the tile. Choose products that are compatible with your grout to avoid damage or discoloration of the grout. Always dry your porcelain thoroughly after cleaning.
Whilst the right solution is a completely safe, natural, and vegan-friendly cleaner for your floors, you do have to be careful with how you use it. This is because too much exposure to strong vinegar could strip away the finish on your porcelain.
Although porcelain tiles offer exceptional durability, there are few products and techniques you should avoid at all costs. Never use a product that contains harmful chemicals such as ammonia or bleach (or any type of acid-based cleanser). These type of chemicals can alter the colour of the tiles and/or the grout.
Mix a solution of washing soda or detergent (not soap) and warm water. Scrub with a soft-bristled brush or cloth. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry.
To care for the tiles properly, always avoid: harsh chemicals, such as bleach and acid, including lemon and vinegar, for routine cleaning; these can cause damage to the tiles and grout if used regularly and are also health hazards as well as posing danger to other property near the tiles.
In a bowl, combine 2 cups water, 1.5 cups baking soda, 1/3 cup vinegar, and 1/3 cup Dawn. Using a spoon, gently stir, making sure there are no lumps. Add the mixture to a clean spray bottle. Spray the floor with the mixture.
As they are not liquids, they are very unlikely to stain. However, leaves and dirt do contact acids which could penetrate the porcelain and change the colour.
For most types of tile, including porcelain and ceramic, you only need one key ingredient: A DIY mixture of warm water and dish soap will do the trick. Follow these steps to clean tiles: Spray the water and dish soap solution on the tile surface. Wipe the area with a damp microfiber towel or cloth.
Porcelain tile is very durable. Unglazed porcelain tile is normally durable, but even thought technically it is impervious, it can stain. During the manufacturing process there are out-gassing that creates microscopic pores that sometimes can trap in stains.
A good water-based sealer is very effective in protecting porcelain, though because porcelain is so dense, a solvent-based product can more easily penetrate into the stoneware. The point is to impregnate the porcelain so it is protected from the inside out.
Though popular for being gentler alternatives to harsh chemical cleaners, baking soda, Borax, and even salt can harm the finish of your porcelain fixtures. As gentle as they are, these compounds are still abrasive and will scratch your finish, especially with regular use.
Because of its acidity, vinegar makes an excellent natural tile cleaner. A vinegar cleaning solution will eat away at grime caught in the cracks and prevent bacteria build up. This cleaning solution is easy to make, completely natural, and will leave your tile floor streak-free and shiny.
Once you spray the tile surface with vinegar cleaning solution, allow the solution to penetrate the grime on the tile. Let the solution sit on the tile for 1-5 minutes, depending on the level of grime you need to remove. Rinse with water.
Flood the area with plain cool water to weaken the acetic acid. You can do this by holding the stain under a running cold water faucet or by dipping a white cloth in cold water and blotting the stain. Wash the stained item following the care label guidelines as usual.
Efflorescence. Efflorescence is the white residue that is commonly seen on tiles. It is caused by water penetration, specifically when the minerals in water crystallize on the tile's surface. It's an indication of failed/cracked grout joints or possible leaks in your ceiling, walls or floors.
TL;DR: Combine baking soda & white vinegar to create the perfect cleaning solution for tile grout. Scrub with a toothbrush and voila! For floor tiles, combine baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, apply paste, let sit, then scrub away and rinse off with warm water. Grout gets dirty and unsightly – quick!
Use a Vinegar Solution on Any Stains
A solution of vinegar diluted 1-to-1 with water or a diluted commercial ceramic tile cleaner can be used to clean stains.
When it comes to mopping tiles, they can collect a lot of dust and dirt. If we don't brush this away before mopping, it can build up and cause the tiles to look unclean. Even when not mopping, we recommend doing this anyway as part of a regular maintenance cleaning process.
While hydrogen peroxide is not normally used for cleaning surfaces, there is nothing in normal glazed porcelain that it would damage.