Tile Stain Remover

By Matt Oden | Comments | Tile and Ceramic Stains

Whether it's mildewed tiles in the bathroom or food-stained tiles in the kitchen, all of us are on the hunt for a tile stain remover sooner or later. Ceramic, porcelain or natural material tiles make for beautiful floors, showers, backsplashes and countertops, but cleaning these surfaces can be a challenge due to the delicate nature of tile and the grout that goes between them. Don't despair, however, of living with stained tiles forever -- there's a tile stain remover from almost any type of tile surface.

tile stain remover

Before you clean your tiles, make certain that you are using a tile stain remover that's safe for your type of tiles. Most natural stone or marble tiles and some ceramic and porcelain tiles can be damaged by harsh cleaners, which can permanently etch or discolor tiles. Check the label on any cleaner you use to make certain that it is safe for use on your tiles.

Tile Stain Remover - Mildew and Mold Stains

What You'll Need Before You Start:

  • Foaming Bathroom Cleaner (Scrubbing Bubbles makes several foaming cleaners suitable for bathroom tiles)
  • Soft Clean Cloth
  • Nylon Scrubber Sponge
  • Protective Gloves
  • Disinfectant Spray (Lysol, for example)

Bathroom tiles often fall victim to mildew stains. The combination of high humidity and exposure to water creates the perfect environment for mildew and mold to grow. You can prevent mildew from growing on your bathroom tiles by drying your tiles after your bath, and by providing ventilation through a bathroom vent fan, or just an open door or window that allows fresh air to circulate in your bathroom. Spraying your bathroom tile surfaces between cleanings with a disinfectant spray can also help to stop mildew in it's tracks.

In the meantime, here's how to clean bathroom tiles that are already hosting mildew:

  1. Don protective gloves.
  2. Following label directions, apply the foaming bathroom cleaner to the mildewed tiles.
  3. Wipe tiles with a soft clean cloth; remove any stubborn mildew stains on tiles or grout by scrubbing gently with a nylon scrubber sponge.
  4. Rinse thoroughly with water.
  5. Dry tiled surface with a soft clean cloth.
  6. Spray tiles between cleanings with a disinfectant spray that contains a mildew-inhibiting ingredient, known as a mildicide, to prevent further mildew growth.

Tile Stain Remover - Food and Drink Stains

What You'll Need Before You Start:

  • Baking Soda or Powdered Oxygen Bleach
  • Nylon Scrubber Sponge
  • Clean, soft cloth
  • Protective Gloves

In the kitchen, floor, counter or backsplash tiles can often be stained by food or drink spills. Tomato sauces, fruit juices and coffee are the most common causes of tile stains in the kitchen, and removing these stains and the discoloration that results is often a frustrating process; many stains are difficult to remove safely, without using chemicals that can destroy tiles or be dangerous for use around food. 

You can prevent stains from marring your kitchen tiles by periodically reapplying a tile and/or grout sealer as directed by your tile installer. Tile and/or grout sealers create a protective layer between your tiles and foods or other substances that can result in stains. However, routine cleaning can wear away sealers, so they need to be reapplied regularly.

Baking soda is a wonderful tile stain remover in the kitchen, as it gently scours stains away without damaging most tiles or grouts, and is safe to use around food. Here's how to use it to clean kitchen tiles:

  1. Don protective gloves.
  2. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain.
  3. Dampen a nylon scrubber sponge with water, and gently scrub the stain.
  4. Wipe away the baking soda residue with a clean, damp cloth.

More stubborn stains may require a more powerful cleaner; for stains that don't respond to baking soda, powdered oxygen bleach is an effective cleaner, and as long as it is rinsed away completely, is safe for use in kitchens. Follow these instructions for safely using powdered oxygen bleach to clean tiles in the kitchen:

  1. Remove any food or drinks from the area to be cleaned.
  2. Don protective gloves.
  3. Make a paste of powdered oxygen bleach and water.
  4. Apply to the stain, and let sit according to label directions.
  5. Wipe clean with a damp, clean cloth; if necessary, scrub the stain gently with a dampened nylon scrubber sponge.
  6. Dampen a clean cloth, and wipe away all traces of powdered oxygen bleach paste.

Tile Stain Remover - Grease and Oil Stains

What You'll Need Before You Start:

  • Liquid Dishwashing Detergent
  • Nylon Scrubber Sponge/ Mop
  • Clean, Soft Cloth
  • Protective Gloves

In kitchens - or anywhere you have tile, for that matter - grease and oil stains on your tile can be some of the most stubborn stains to remove. Harsh solvents meant to dissolve grease and oil are often unsafe for use on your tiles, nor would you want to use them in the kitchen. Thankfully, there's a perfect grease and oil tile stain remover right in your kitchen. You just have to know how to use it.

Even the gentlest dishwashing detergent is capable of making grease and oil stains on your tiles a thing of the past. What's more, liquid dishwashing detergent is safe for use on almost every type of tile. Diluted, it's perfect for mopping tile floors to prevent unsafe oil and grease from building up on your floors. Here's how to remove oil and grease from your backsplash or counter tiles using dishwashing detergent:

  1. Don protective gloves, if desired.
  2. Squirt dishwashing detergent onto a nylon scrubber sponge.
  3. Gently scrub the stain.
  4. Wipe clean with a damp, soft cloth, rinsing until all traces of the dishwashing detergent are gone.
  5. Dry with a soft cloth.

To remove oil and grease stains from your tile floors using liquid dishwashing detergent:

  1. Dilute one part dishwashing detergent to ten parts water in a bucket.
  2. Dampen a mop in the mop solution, squeezing out any excess water from the mop.
  3. Mop the floor with the solution.
  4. Rinse the mop well, and mop the floor in clean water until all traces of dishwashing detergent are removed.
  5. Dry with soft clean cloths or allow to air dry.

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