The best ways to clean bathroom tiles from limescale and soap deposits

A sparkling clean bathroom is the pride of any housewife. But cleaning this room is associated with certain difficulties. It is important not only to clean the plumbing fixtures until they shine, but also to wash the tiles in the bathroom from limescale and dried soap stains, and, if necessary, get rid of mold and mildew. Special industrial products and folk methods proven over the years will help you cope with pollution.

Causes of pollution

When putting things in order in the bathroom, you have to deal with several types of pollution at once, each of which has its own nature of origin.

• Limescale appears due to the salt and lime content in tap water. Despite the fact that the water entering the city water supply is pre-treated, a small amount of mineral substances remains in its composition, which settle on the tiles in the form of whitish deposits.
• Soap stains remain on the walls of the shower stall, sink and bathtub if detergents are used carelessly.
• Mold and mildew are formed and develop due to high humidity in a warm room.Puddles of water in the corners of the bathroom caused by a leaking faucet or toilet, condensation on the walls and floor, infrequent cleaning - all this leads to the formation of unsightly black fungus in the seams between the tiles.

Old, dried stains are much more difficult to clean off than newly formed ones. Therefore, you should clean your bathroom at least once a week. And if fungus is noticed on the walls, it is recommended to immediately begin removing it, because the spores pose a real threat to the health of household members.

What is the best way to clean tiles?

Manufacturers of modern household chemicals produce special compounds that can quickly deal with stains from limescale. Moreover, there are complex effects that can be used to remove white lime stains, mold, and mildew in one session.

When choosing a chemical, you must take into account the material from which the tiles in the bathroom are made, and adhere to the following recommendations:

• The cleaning product should not contain abrasive particles. Powders with hard crystals can scratch the glossy surface of the tiles. It is better to buy a gel or liquid detergent.
• Do not use metal sponges or hard brushes.
• To wash tiles at home, you should choose a special product and not use anything designed for cleaning plumbing fixtures. Otherwise, the tile may lose color and shine.
• After washing, matte tiles are covered with mastic of a suitable color.

Modern cleaning products not only effectively remove limescale, but also disinfect the surface of tiles.Thanks to fragrances, gels and emulsions fight unpleasant odors, leaving behind a wonderful aroma of lemon or alpine flowers.

The most commonly used methods for cleaning tiles are:

• "Mister Muscle",
• "Silit"
• "Domestos"
• "Sif"
• "Santik"
• "San Klin".

Before using a cleaning agent, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations, since treating the tiles with an unsuitable solution will only make the stain stronger.

Folk remedies

A worthy alternative to industrial household chemicals are folk remedies that involve the use of special products and substances. They are much cheaper, do not cause allergies, and clean tiles just as well as store-bought chemicals.

Acetic acid

9% table vinegar will help clean the walls and floors of the bathroom from lime and soap deposits. With the help of this inexpensive product, you can restore the rich color and shine of the tiles in one cleaning.

Cleaning is carried out as follows:

1. acetic acid (9%) is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed over the surface of the wall, not missing the joints between the tiles;
2. wait 5–10 minutes for the acid to act on the lime deposits;
3. Using a soft sponge, wash off the acid with clean water, clean the cracks between the tiles with a toothbrush;
4. Wipe the cleaned surface dry with a soft microfiber cloth.

After such cleaning, the tiles will shine with pristine cleanliness, and the unpleasant odors of dampness and mold from the bathroom will disappear.

Ammonia, soda and vinegar

A cleaning mixture of soda, acetic acid (9%) and ammonia will remove even the most stubborn stains from bathroom tiles. To prepare the product, take 7 tbsp for 1.5 liters of water. l. soda, 4 tbsp. l. vinegar and the same amount of ammonia.Mix thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle. The mixture is sprayed on the walls, and after half an hour it is washed off with clean water.

Lemon acid

Acetic acid can always be replaced with citric acid. After treating with this product, the bathroom will be filled with an amazing citrus aroma. For cleaning, you can use both powder and solution (a tablespoon of citric acid per half liter of water). If the problem area is not too large, you can clean it with a slice of fresh lemon.

Bleaching powder

This product is suitable for cleaning white tiles. New stripes and stains may appear on black or dark tiles after bleaching. Bleach powder in an amount of 30 g is diluted in 1 liter of water, poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the walls. This product will not only clean the walls and floor, but will also disinfect the entire room and get rid of fungus and germs. At the end of the work, the walls are washed with clean water and wiped dry with a soft cloth.

Bleach contains toxic compounds, so all work should be carried out with rubber gloves and a gauze bandage. If chlorine solution gets on the skin or mucous membranes, the affected area should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water.

Dishwashing gel

For everyday cleaning of the bathroom, regular dishwashing detergent or laundry soap is sufficient. With the help of these substances it is unlikely that it will be possible to remove stubborn stains, but it will be quite possible to refresh not too dirty tiles.

Liquid detergent is applied to the tiles using a soft sponge. And laundry soap is first ground on a fine grater and dissolved in water, and only after that is used to wash tiles.

They wash the walls in the bathroom from bottom to top, and wipe in the opposite direction, moving from the ceiling to the floor.

There are many ways and means to get rid of complex limescale stains. To avoid having to resort to drastic measures, it is better to regularly care for the plumbing fixtures and tiles in the bathroom.