How to clean and restore your shower tile

Find out the Steps to Restore your Shower Tiles.

Step 1

Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. Spray the tile walls generously with the vinegar and let it remain on the tiles for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Turn the shower on -- mostly hot water, so it steams -- after 10 minutes, and allow the steam from the hot water help dissolve soap scum. Let the water run for two minutes.

Step 3

Wipe the tile with a damp sponge. Rinse the sponge regularly as you wipe. Thoroughly rinse the tile and dry it with a towel.

Step 4

Apply 1 tablespoon of car wax to the damp sponge or a car-wax applicator. In circular motions, apply the wax to the tile starting at the top of the shower. Scoop up additional wax as needed to cover the tile. Only apply the wax to the tile walls. After the wax turns cloudy, approximately 15 to 20 minutes, wipe it off of the tile with old, clean rags. Remove all traces of wax residue from the tile.

Routine Care

Routine care and maintenance of your bathroom tiles helps maintain their characteristic sheen. Regularly mop or sponge your tiles with 2 tablespoons of all-purpose cleanser mixed into a gallon of hot water. For added shine, dry the area with a microfiber cloth, buffing to a glossy finish. For shower tiles and other particularly grimy areas, pour this solution into a spray bottle, spritz and wait at least 15 minutes for it to set. Wipe clean with a damp sponge to reveal bright, sparkling tiles.

Natural Solutions

Both baking soda and vinegar have a variety of cleaning applications, including bathroom tile cleaning. For a simple refresh, sprinkle baking soda liberally over your tiles and sweep away to simultaneously clean and deodorize. Heavily soiled areas benefit from a thorough wipe down with a cleaning solution of 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1/2 cup of ammonia and 1/4 cup of a borate detergent mixed into a gallon of warm water. While natural solutions offer gentler options, wear gloves as even these can be harsh on delicate skin.

Getting at Grout

Shiny tiles look bad when adjacent to grungy grout. Shower tile and grout cleaning by creating a natural paste of equal parts cream of tartar and lemon juice. Spot-clean particularly dirty areas with an old toothbrush to apply the paste before rinsing with a wet sponge. For larger areas, a scrub brush with soft bristles avoids scratching or dulling the glazed surface. A mixture of equal parts baking soda, warm water and salt also effectively cleans tile. Bigger jobs may require stronger methods: tile restoration services successfully remove most grout stains but be careful to seek out non-abrasive cleaners.

Tough Treatments

Hard water leaves tiles obscured by ugly mineral deposits and soap scum. A lime scale remover -- available at large supermarkets and discount department stores -- effectively dissolves and removes the effects of hard water. Look for mild formulas that do not strip protective tile finishes or cause harm to people, pets or the environment. Warmed vinegar spritzed directly onto scaly deposits and left to sit, helps to loosen and remove these deposits without the use of harsh chemicals or abrasives.

Heavy Duty Shine

When you want heavy-duty shine on your bathroom tiles, you can employ a trick of the housekeeping trade: spray furniture polish or lemon oil over the surface and buff using a soft, microfiber cloth. When the furniture polish is completely buffed away, gleaming tiles remain. Avoid using furniture polish or lemon oil on shower and tub floors, as these surfaces become dangerously slick with its application.

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