There really are no better alternatives to ceramic tiles when you want to make your kitchen floors, bathroom walls and hallways look great, but keeping them in pristine condition all year round is a difficult task. If your ceramic tiles are starting to show the early signs of stains and molds, or you’re simply trying to bring new life to old ceramic tiles, we have a number of tips and techniques that can help you remove stains and avoid them in the future. Firstly let’s understand why ceramic tiles are prone to stains and mold, and trust us, it's not your fault!
Why stains and molds occur
No matter how often you clean, stains and molds will still frequently appear on your tiles, and that's because they are caused by various types of bacteria. There are many reasons why stain-causing microbes could initially develop on your ceramics, such as an increase in room temperature, causing humidity and moisture that bacteria thrives off, or food and drink spillages that leave behind microbes on ceramic floors and countertops. However, bacteria is all around us, and stopping it from coming in contact with your ceramics is almost impossible. Stopping it in its tracks before it causes stains and molds is the best way to keep those tiles looking beautiful for longer.
How to avoid stains on ceramic tiles in the kitchen
The following three steps will help you to avoid stains on ceramic tiles within the kitchen:
- Mop your ceramic tiled floor at least once a week with very hot water.
- Wipe up any food or drink spillages as quickly as possible to avoid them settling, and ideally, wipe the surface with an antimicrobial cloth afterwards.
- If you have stains and molds that won’t wipe away, try mixing half a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water and continue to mop the floor as usual. Rinse the floor with warm water after you’ve cleaned the stain and remove all of the liquid from the tiles (source). You’ll get the same results using this method for ceramic wall tiles and ceramic kitchen countertops.
How to avoid stains on ceramic tiles in the bathroom
Following the four steps below will help you to avoid stains and mold from appearing on your bathroom ceramics:
- Try to keep the room ventilated. A bathroom fan is ideal for this as it can keep the room from becoming too humid, which is what bacteria loves.
- Wipe the ceramics down at least once a week with a specialized cleaning solution to ensure stains and molds are unable to develop.
- If you have mold on your bathroom tiles that won’t wipe away, first make sure you’ve aired out your bathroom as a high moisture level makes mold almost impossible to get rid of. Wiping the tiles with a premade solution of 10% bleach and 90% water should remove most of the mold (source).
- For particularly tough stains, try mixing a solution of 25% bleach and 75% baking soda in a cup. Always test the solution on a small section of your ceramic tile before you tackle the mold (source).
How using antimicrobial protected ceramic tiles can help
If the advice we’ve given so far sounds like a lot of work, there is an easier way altogether. You can purchase ceramic tiles which have an antimicrobial protection built into them that are designed to inhibit the growth of stain and mold-causing microbes on their surface. This technology is built in at the point of manufacture and does not wipe off or wash away. You’ll find plenty of styles and designs of antimicrobial protected ceramic tiles from the likes of Daltile and Corona. As the technology works to inhibit the growth of stain and mold-causing microbes, your ceramic tiles are kept hygienic for longer, and stains and molds are less likely to occur.
Conclusion
The key to keeping your ceramic tiles free of stains and mold is regular and efficient cleaning. Simply wiping down your ceramics often with hot water can be enough, but for tough stains, try purpose-built cleaning liquids or use ceramic tiles that have antimicrobial protection built in.
