How to Clean Old Bathroom Floor Tiles? [Everything You Need to Know]

Did you recently purchase a lovely vintage home but it comes with a filthy old bathroom floor? Sadly, nothing seems to work while cleaning the dirt and stains off the floor. But don’t get disheartened just yet.

How about we help you with how to clean old bathroom floor tiles?

For starters, you need to clear off any dust and debris that might be on the floor. Then, using a warm cloth, wipe down the floor. Apply grout and tile cleaner to get the hard stains off. You might need to use diluted bleach. And lastly, dry your bathroom properly using a fan or open the window and doors for ventilation.

If you want to learn more about this, we recommend reading the article. We’ve provided a step-by-step procedure along with all the tools you’ll need.

So, without further ado, let’s get these filthy floor tiles cleaned.

7 Steps to Clean Old Bathroom Floor Tiles

Spots or stains on bathroom tiles diminish the room’s overall appeal. Cleaning your bathroom tiles is a difficult task especially when it’s an old bathroom.

But we’ve some simple cleaning procedures to help you get the job done in a short time.

Tools Required

Before getting into the steps, you need some tools that will help you with the cleaning. Let’s take a look at the equipments you’ll require-

• Cleaning gloves
• Vacuum cleaner or dust mop
• A cleaning cloth
• A fan or dehumidifier
• Bleach
• Tile & Grout Cleaner

Got all the tools? Great, let’s go ahead and start the cleaning-

Step 1 of 7: Remove Debris

Before putting any water or cleanser on the tile floor, remove dust, and other loose particles. Use a dust mop or a vacuum to clear out the debris. This guarantees that any subsequent scrubbing will not scratch the floor tiles. 

Step 2 of 7: Check Your Tile Material

While tile floors are quite durable, several types of tile require specific attention. Porcelain and ceramic floor tiles are low-maintenance. Whereas finer tiles like granite, limestone, or marble require special care. 

Knowing what kind of tile you have is crucial. This will help you to clean them more efficiently.

Step 3 of 7: Wipe with Warm Water And A Cloth

You don’t want to oversaturate old floor tiles with water when washing them. Because vintage encaustic tiles are porous, they have the ability to absorb cleaners and solvents.

You should wipe the tiles off with a warm rag but don’t scrub the tile. The tile structure could be damaged otherwise.

Step 4 of 7: Apply Tile and Grout Cleaner

Tiles can have varying levels of tolerance to cleaning solutions. And cleaning the grout between floor tiles is especially hard as they can easily crack due to overuse of a cleaner. 

So, it’s best to start with a cloth and a small area that won’t be noticed. If no negative effects are showing then proceed to clean the rest of the floor. When applying the cleaner, use a spray bottle to avoid oversaturating the tiles.

After using the tile and grout cleaner, wipe the tile with water. Now you may wonder which tile and grout cleaner would be the best one. Don’t worry, here are some of our suggestions-

Step 5 of 7: Apply Diluted Bleach

Use bleach only in extreme situations. Such as when there is a foreign substance on the tiles. Because it can cause color fading of tiles and damage them.

It is highly recommended that you dilute bleach before using it.  To dilute it, mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water. As you’re working with a strong chemical, you’ll need to keep the area well ventilated. 

Step 6 of 7: Drying

You can dry the floor in a few different ways. To begin, hand-dry the tile using a dry, non-abrasive cloth. This ensures there’s no water sitting in the shower tray.

The second option is to dry the tile with a fan and a dehumidifier. Certain old tiles have sponge-like characteristics. Allowing them to air dry could cause the grout or tile to crack.

Step 7 of 7: Clear Coating

You may apply a clear coating on the floor to extend their longevity. In some cases, clear floor varnish can be used. Depending on your type of old tile floor, you can apply clear wax to it.

These procedures should make cleaning your old floors a breeze. However, remember that bathroom floors can easily get dirty again and start forming mold. And it’s very difficult to clean the mold once it starts to form.

So from now on, make sure you maintain your bathroom by cleaning it on a regular basis.

FAQs

Question: Is it okay to use vinegar on tile and grout?

Answer: Grout can be ruined by vinegar. Vinegar will degrade grout over time if it becomes lodged in these areas. If the area has unsealed grout, you should not use vinegar to clean it.

Question: Is it true that Coke cleans grout?

Answer: Coca-Cola can help you get rid of grout stains as it’s caustic. Pour some coke on the grout and wait for some time before wiping it off with a clean cloth. Repeat until the grout is completely clean.

Question: What are the methods used by professionals to clean tile and grout?

Answer: The majority of experts recommend a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water. This procedure is frequently more successful than specialized Ph-neutral grout cleaners.

Final Words

That’s all from us regarding how to clean old bathroom floor tiles. We hope we were able to help you get the awful stains off your tiles. 

If the stains are too hard to get off, our advice is to get help from professionals. It will be more expensive, but it will make the procedure more efficient and fast. 

Please keep us updated on how everything went for you. Good luck!