Ohio Tiles cleaning

Your Bathroom tiles are typically ceramic or porcelain tiles with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%. Like all ceramics, they are created by 'baking' the raw materials to 1400 degrees Centigrade.

This gives them the unique properties of being smooth, white, and hard - essential qualities for a bathroom.

Unfortunately, ceramics also have the weakness of being porous. This means that the tiles have small (perhaps microscopically small) holes in them.

Various tiles have different degrees of porousness, but all of them have it to some degree or the other.

Unfortunately, ceramics also have the weakness of being porous. This means that the tiles have small (perhaps microscopically small) holes in them. Various tiles have different degrees of porousness, but all of them have it to some degree or the other.

Why is this a disadvantage? Among other reasons, the pores allow dirt, and fungus into them. Since we're not using the tiles for structural reasons, this is not a worry. However, aesthetically (and possibly from a health angle), it does matter.

Most bathroom tiles are 'glazed' tiles. Glazing is a process that provides a glossy finish to the tiles, and forms a protective layer over it. This means that the pores are pretty much sealed up, and the tiles are therefore easy to clean.

However, the real difficulty is cleaning between the tiles. This is called 'grout'. It is made up of a mixture of cement, sand and water. It gets dirty very easily, and can present a real challenge to clean. It is impossible to use harsh chemicals, as these can discolor the tiles themselves. The idea while cleaning therefore, is to clean effectively between the tiles without ruining them.

Several people try and avoid cleaning grout altogether by selecting a grout color that is almost the same as the dirt itself! This is very convenient, but is not for everyone. What do you do if you already have white grout, that has become dirty?

Instead of using vinegar, which is acetic acid, and will weaken the grout over time, try using hydrogen peroxide. Put it in a spray bottle, and spray it onto the grout. Then let it remain like that for some time.

After that, you simply clean it up with a toothbrush, or with specialized grout brushes. This should do the trick!

In case you want a more permanent solution, you can consider using grout sealer. If your tiles are glazed, you don't need to seal them too. There are two types of sealers - Membrane sealers, and Penetrating sealers.

The former simply puts an impermeable membrane over the grout, preventing it from absorbing dirt, and water. It also adheres well only to unglazed tiles.

So if your tiles are glazed, you will want to use penetrating sealer. This goes into the very pores of the grout, and limits it's absorption capability, by filling them in.

The water will have no place to go, and will stay on the ground like beads of water on wax.

I suggest re sealing your tiles and grout twice a year or so. This will reinforce it, and ensure that your tiles look beautiful and clean for many years to come!