If used correctly, vinegar is a safe and effective tile cleaner for many tile materials including porcelain, ceramic and glass. However, do not use vinegar solutions on natural stone, travertine, wood tiles or unsealed grout, because the materials are too porous and will absorb the acid.
Vinegar is an outstanding non-toxic cleaner, but it is not perfect for every type of surface. If you have natural stone tiles (like travertine), it's better to stay away from vinegar. It could easily remove the sealants and even discolor or etch the stone!
Using Vinegar on grout can also cause the grout to breakdown overtime. And, that strong acid could damage the finish on the tile too. Making the sheen on the tile look different and uneven.
As with stone, vinegar can eat away at certain metals over time. Although the weak acidity in your cleaning solution won't do much harm, cleaning and rinsing away any remaining vinegar after using it will protect your shower door tracks, sink drains, and faucets.
Cleaning Grout with Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner and disinfectant you can use all around the house. Pour or spray undiluted vinegar onto your grout and let it sit for 10 minutes before using a toothbrush, scrubbing in a circular motion. Next, rinse away the dirt and mildew.
Spray the floor with the Dawn and vinegar mixture. Use the mop and gently scrub the tile. For stuck-on areas or to spot clean, use a soft bristle brush and scrub the area. After scrubbing the entire floor, rinse the mop.
Rinse the shower tiles with clean water and use a squeegee to dry them. To clean shower grout with white vinegar, mix one part vinegar to two parts water and scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse with clean water and mop or towel-dry the grout.
Cleaning The Shower Walls And Bathtub
Bathtubs provide the perfect spot for bacteria, dirt and grime to accumulate over time, and a white vinegar solution can be very useful in getting rid of them. Just spray the solution around the tub and the shower walls and let it rest for some time.
Cons of cleaning bathroom with vinegar
Additionally, vinegar can be acidic and cause damage to the tiles over time if used frequently.
Grout that hasn't been sealed, needs to be resealed, or is in poor shape should not be cleaned with vinegar. The vinegar penetrates into the pores of the grout, further weakening the material. Over time, vinegar will deteriorate the condition of the grout by etching or wearing it away.
You can safely use vinegar to clean ceramic or porcelain tiles, whether they are glazed or unglazed.
What do professionals use to clean grout? Whether you believe it or not, most professionals use a solution of white vinegar and water with a 1:1 ratio.
Use vinegar to clean porcelain and ceramic tiles.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is an effective all-natural cleaner that can be used on all kinds of different surfaces around the home. Vinegar that contains 5% acetic acid, like white vinegar, can kill germs and remove soap scum and mineral deposits on surfaces.
Let the vinegar solution sit for up to an hour. Then, use a cloth, sponge, or old toothbrush to rub the mess off of the fiberglass tub. Rinse and enjoy!
Apply your natural cleaning solution (vinegar, baking soda or Murphy® Oil Soap) and allow it to sit on the floor while you run the shower for a few minutes. Let the steam build up in the room, and keep the door closed. The humidity in the air essentially amplifies the cleaning power of the cleaner.
Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.
Preventing Mold Growth with Vinegar
For warm, damp areas prone to mold, like the bathroom or laundry room, add vinegar to your cleaning routine to stop an infestation before it starts.
While white vinegar is best known for its culinary uses, it can work wonders in the bathroom. Praised for its powerful acetic acid solution, vinegar helps to dissolve mineral deposit, bacteria, dirt, grease and grime.
“Of course, vinegar does eliminate some things, but it's important to note it's not a complete solution to disinfectant. It is only 90% effective against bacteria and around 80 percent effective against viruses and mold or mildew. Bleach, however, eliminates 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and mold or mildew.
Vinegar is better for cleaning.
But that's because bleach isn't intended for cleaning, but for disinfecting. And, by the way, if you want to use bleach for disinfecting, make sure the area you want to treat is clean (and rinsed clean, if you used vinegar!)
The most common and effective homemade grout cleaner is a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Cream or tartar and lemon juice is the best all-natural solution for whitening. Avoid using highly-acidic solutions like vinegar because they can corrode grout.
A good way to clean bathroom tiles is with vinegar. Simply create a 50:50 diluted solution with white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray directly onto the surface. It can be used to clean soap scum from any surface including glass and tiles. All you have to do is buff it dry to avoid any streaks.