Routine cleaners should never contain harsh chemicals as these can damage tile. Acids can damage grout and the glazed surface of the tile. Ammonia can discolor grout. Regular dust mopping, sweeping, or vacuuming is recommended prior to cleaning with liquid products.
Don't use bleach or ammonia-based cleaners on your ceramic tiles either. These ingredients are just too strong and they will cause damage. It isn't just the cleaning solutions you use that can be harmful. Avoid using any hard or abrasive cleaning tools.
Harsh chemicals can be very damaging to ceramic tiles. They can strip away the sealant, causing the tile to become stained or discolored. They can also eat away at the grout, causing it to crack or crumble. Some examples of harsh chemicals that you should avoid using on tile are chlorine bleach and ammonia.
It really depends upon the actual product. Some industrial detergents will etch glass ruining the glaze on ceramic and glass tiles. Others are strong enough to soften or ruin the finish on vinyl tiles. Some require a lot of air circulation to prevent toxic/dangerous fume build-up.
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 granite, you should look for ph neutral cleaner that will not harm the material.
Bleach is safe when used as directed
It is safe for use on typical hard, nonporous surfaces in showers and bathrooms like glazed ceramic tile, vinyl, stainless steel, fiberglass and sealed grout. To protect surfaces, always follow instructions and don't use a stronger dilution or longer contact time than recommended.
Fill a bucket with hot water, a half cup of vinegar and a half tablespoon of dish soap. Don't use too much soap, or the soapy residue will make your floors look dull. Before you mop, rinse out the mophead under hot running water to remove any debris from last time you used it. Mop the tile floors with the soapy water.
Avoid oil- and wax-based cleaners and never use a solution containing acids, ammonia, or bleach on your glazed porcelain tiles. These products can alter the color of the tile and eat away the grout.
Next, ensure you're NOT scrubbing any of the tiled areas with bleach or ammonia products. Chemical cleaners, such as, Tilex, Soft Scrub, Scrubbing Bubbles, or ammonia products will nearly always result in your tile surfaces' grout becoming very discolored.
The acid likely etched the surface of the tile, which permanently damages the surface. Some glazed tile surfaces are more sensitive to acid than others, so it may work on some tiles, but not on others.
Ceramic Tiles Cons
Not as durable – The lower density of the ceramic tile makes it more prone to cracking and chipping and, compared to porcelain, may have a shorter lifespan. Water absorption – Ceramic tiles absorb more than 0.5% water, while porcelain tiles less than 0.5%.
Vinegar is often used in ceramic slurries to change the viscosity (thicken it). While there are more effective flocculants (e.g. calcium chloride, epsom salts), vinegar is popular among potters simply because it is so available. The effect is to gel the slurry.
What is the best tile cleaner? For the most effective deep cleaning, always use a PH neutral cleaner, a diluted white vinegar solution and orange oil.
Don't Use Abrasive Cleaners
Ceramic isn't indestructible the way carbon steel and cast iron are—i.e., there's no way to restore that coating once it's been severely damaged. Aside from only using non-abrasive tools and utensils, you should also avoid harsh cleaning agents like bleach, oven cleaner, and ammonia.
Rubbing alcohol is excellent for deep cleaning, but you don't want to overdo its use. Too much rubbing alcohol dries tile and grout, creating a dull appearance. Dry tile also becomes brittle over time, while overly dry grout loses its adhesion. To use rubbing alcohol safely, add just a capful to a gallon of warm water.
For cleaning and sanitizing, the CDC recommends a dilution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water. Diluting bleach decreases the alkalinity and is safe for regular use on all types of porcelain and ceramic tile surfaces.
Professionals often use steam to loosen the dirt and other particles trapped in the grout without needing to scrub manually. While every steam cleaning machine is different, you'll follow this basic process to clean grout lines: Use a steam cleaner with a small nylon brush attachment.
Grout is porous and usually sealed to resist stains. However, acid can degrade these silicone-based sealants, causing them to break down and wash away. Contrary to popular belief, this can happen with just one application of vinegar. Once the sealant is removed, dirt can penetrate the grout, leading to discoloration.
Do not use products containing acid or ammonia as they will damage your grout. Products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide should not be used on tile with colored grout. Always rinse with clean water to remove any cleaning solution residue.
USE OF CLOTHS AND ABRASIVE SPONGES
Scrubbing brushes and abrasive sponges should not be used, as they damage the tiles' surfaces, especially if they are glossy or honed or contain metallic inserts.
Some household members will use vinegar to clean porcelain tiles. However, experts suggest this is not a good idea because vinegar has a high acidic content which can damage the quality of the porcelain.
Tile cleaner
If you'd like one product that cleans everything in your bathroom, the famous blue bottle of window cleaner might just be it. Windex can also be used to clean tiles and grout, without causing any damage.
TLDR: professional cleaners use a detailed process to wash tile and grout. First, they start by vacuuming the floor to remove dry dirt. Next, they mop the floor to remove stains. After that, a thorough steam cleaning of your tile and grout occurs.
Many homeowners ask if Magic Erasers® can be used on porcelain or if they will damage ceramic tile. The good news is that they can be safely used on ceramic tiles and porcelain, so you have nothing to worry about if you plan on using them this way.