Finally, it’s time to install the new bathroom tile that you’ve been planning for years. You’ve gotten everything you can out of your current tile and saved up the money to do the job right. But what tile should you choose so you don’t run into the same cleaning issues as with the pebble tile inherited from the previous homeowner? I’m sure they thought it was unique, but try removing dirt from all those oddly shaped, uneven surfaces!
What is the easiest bathroom tile to clean? It’s hard to name just one, as some of them have similar characteristics that make them easy to clean. You want a tile that has a smooth texture, uses minimal grout, is not very porous, and has a polished surface. Vinyl, porcelain, and laminate are probably the most popular and cost-effective tiles that are easy to clean. If you’re willing to spend more money, there are numerous other options.
There seem to be endless possibilities when it comes to choosing tiles for your bathroom. If you want to select the one that makes cleaning as easy as possible and at the same time maintains your strong sense of style, you need to do a little research. Here is a guide to the best tile materials when cleanliness is the most important factor for you.
Contents
- 1 Universal Tile Cleanliness Factors
- 2 The 7 Easiest Bathroom Tiles to Clean
- 3 1. Porcelain
- 4 Polished or Glazed Porcelain
- 5 Unpolished Porcelain Tile
- 6 Textured Porcelain
- 7 2. Ceramic
- 8 General Ceramic Cleaning
- 9 Removing Stains from Ceramic
- 10 Random Ceramic Cleaning Tips
- 11 3. Glass
- 12 General Cleaning
- 13 Removing Mineral Deposits
- 14 Random Glass Cleaning Tips
- 15 4. Slate
- 16 Sealing Slate
- 17 Cleaning Slate
- 18 Random Slate Cleaning Tips
- 19 5. Vinyl
- 20 General Vinyl Cleaning
Universal Tile Cleanliness Factors
While the material a tile is made of is the most important factor in how easy it is to clean, there are some things to look for while shopping that will make cleaning any tile easier. Here are some characteristics that are important for an easy-to-clean bathroom tile…
- Absorption Rate: The more porous a tile material is, the harder it is to clean. If the material absorbs water, there is a higher likelihood of mold formation and stains setting in. While this property relies mainly on the material, tiles with surfaces like glaze or sealant help reduce the absorption rate and make the tiles easier to clean.
- Size: Not all tile materials are available in every size, but to make cleaning easier, you’ll want to get the largest tile possible. Grout and irregularities make cleaning a tile more difficult. Dirt and mold tend to accumulate in the gaps between tiles, and grout is much more porous than any tile you will choose. The larger each tile is, the fewer gaps there are, and the less grout you will use.
- Texture: The smoother a tile is, the easier it is to clean. Dirt tends to get caught on rougher tiles. The more friction a tile creates, the harder it is to sweep and wipe. To have the easiest bathroom tiles to clean, look for a tile that is as smooth and even as possible.
The 7 Easiest Bathroom Tiles to Clean
Here are 7 of the easiest bathroom tiles to clean. However, keep in mind that uneven surfaces and lots of grout can make any tile floor difficult to clean, so look for the flattest tile possible with each of these suggestions.
1. Porcelain
Porcelain is the most popular material for bathroom floor tiles. Its popularity is partly due to its easy cleaning. Technically, porcelain falls under the ceramic material family, but it is harder, more durable, and more scratch-resistant.
More importantly, when looking for an easy-to-clean tile, porcelain absorbs less water and is also more resistant to dirt, especially the polished tiles. Porcelain tiles come in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can choose a tile that looks good and is easy to clean.
There are three basic types of porcelain tiles. Each has a different level of cleaning that needs to be done. Here are the three listed, from easiest to hardest to keep clean and how to clean them.
Polished or Glazed Porcelain
Polished or glazed porcelain has a surface treatment that makes the tile appear less porous and easier to clean. Cleaning is extremely easy; just follow these simple steps.
- Get rid of loose dirt: Sweep, vacuum, or dust mop away loose dirt. If sweeping, use an untreated, dry mop.
- Wash: Use a mild cleaning solution and wipe the floor.
- Rinse: Use clear water to thoroughly rinse the porcelain tile.
- Buff: Dry the floor before the rinse water has completely dried, to enhance the shine and avoid water spots.
Unpolished Porcelain Tile
Unpolished porcelain requires a bit more attention as it is slightly less porous than the finished tiles. Here are the steps
- Remove loose dirt: Sweep or vacuum dirt off the floor.
- Wash: Always cover only small sections of the floor with cleaning solutions and hot water. Let it sit on the floor for 5-10 minutes, making sure it doesn’t dry out.
- Scrub: Use a scrub brush to scrub the wet area clean. If the stain is especially stubborn, you may need to use a floor machine equipped with a scrubbing pad or a stiff-bristle brush.
- Wipe: Wipe away the cleaning solution. Use clean, clear water with a mop to rinse the tile surface.
- Air dry: Now you can let the tile air dry.
If the tile remains stained, you may need to use a more aggressive cleaning method.
Textured Porcelain
Textured tiles require additional cleaning, as standard wet mopping won’t effectively clean this tile. It also requires more frequent cleaning. Follow these steps to clean textured porcelain floor tiles…
- Get rid of loose dirt: Sweep or vacuum dirt off the floor. When sweeping, make sure to use a broom with soft bristles and sweep in two directions. First follow the direction of the tile. Then, sweep diagonally. This should ensure that any foreign matter hiding in the texture of the tile is removed.
- Wash: Mix a neutral cleaning solution with hot water and cover the surface of the floor. Let the solution sit on the floor for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the floor using a brush with the same two-direction method as before.
- Rinse: Remove the cleaning solution by rinsing with clean, clear water.
- Occasional Scrubbing: Many sources recommend scrubbing a textured porcelain floor on a daily basis and wet mopping on a regular basis.
2. Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are another extremely popular bathroom floor tile option. It has many of the same characteristics as porcelain, it’s not very porous, it comes in many sizes, shapes, and colors, and it’s easy to clean, but ceramic is cheaper. Ceramic is slightly more porous than porcelain, but the price makes up for this small difference.
General Ceramic Cleaning
Ceramic has the same basic types of tiles as porcelain, and you would clean them in the same way. However, there are some things to keep in mind when cleaning ceramic…
- Don’t forget to remove loose dirt: Loose dirt can scratch and damage your tiles if you start wiping directly.
- Don’t use a sponge mop: A sponge mop pushes dirty water into the grout and dirties it. Use a cloth or a squeegee instead.
- Change the bucket with cleaning solution frequently: Dirty water leaves a cloudy film on a tile floor. Changing the water frequently can prevent this. If you end up with a film on your tile, you can remove it with an all-purpose cleaner, as long as it’s not abrasive.
- Make your own cleaner: If you don’t have a cleaner on hand, you can make one by mixing lemon juice with vinegar or hot water, both of which are good for ceramic tiles.
- Always dry polish: It brings your ceramic tiles to a shine. You don’t have to go the extra mile, just take a bath towel and push it across the floor with your foot.
Removing Stains from Ceramic
There are additional steps you can take when your ceramic tile gets stained, depending on what caused the stain.
- Coffee, Tea, or Juice: Wash the tile surface with hot water and detergent, then dab with hydrogen peroxide.
- Grease: Wash the tile surface with club soda and water. You can also try with a commercial floor cleaner.
- Ink: Soak a cloth in diluted bleach and place it on the stain. You can leave the cloth in place until the stain is gone, and then rinse thoroughly.
Random Ceramic Cleaning Tips
Remember, the best way to keep tile floors clean is by keeping the grout clean. Dirty grout equals dirty-looking floors. By regularly cleaning your ceramic tile floor properly, the grout will stay clean as well.
To keep the grout clean, you should also spray it with grout cleaner or a mild bleach solution. Use a toothbrush or a small brush to remove stains and minor mold formation.
3. Glass
These tiles have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their incredibly easy cleaning and limitless individual customization. Glass tiles, like porcelain, are resistant to stains, bacteria, mold, and mildew since they are non-porous.
Although glass tiles seem perfect, they show dirt easily and display fingerprints and footprints. They are also susceptible to soap scum and mineral deposits, so some cleaning will be needed. Cleaning tends to be more frequent due to the nature of fingerprints and the like, but glass tiles are easy to clean.
General Cleaning
To clean glass tiles, you should…
- Create a cleaning solution: The solution should be equal parts vinegar and water and put it in a spray bottle.
- Spray tiles: Once you’ve covered the surface of the tiles, let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Wash tiles: Use a soft brush and scrub them thoroughly.
- Rinse: Use cold water, dry it with a towel, and watch the glass sparkle.
Removing Mineral Deposits
If you have hard water in your home, mineral deposits will accumulate on your tiles. Normal methods may not be able to remove them. Here are a couple of techniques that can get the job done…
- Spray vinegar on the tiles.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the vinegar-covered tiles. A reaction between the two should cause some foaming.
- Clean the tiles with cold water and wipe them dry with a towel.
Or, you could…
- Put a few drops of regular cleaning liquid in a bucket of warm water.
- Dampen a cloth with the solution and scrub tiles.
- Rinse with cold water.
Random Glass Cleaning Tips
To keep the tiles truly clean consistently, get a glass cleaner at your local store and wipe the tiles down every few days. Just make sure not to use any abrasive cleaners as they may scratch or etch the glass.
4. Slate
If you’re willing to spend a bit more money on your bathroom tiles, slate is a wonderful choice. It is one of the hardest natural stone tiles on the market. It is resistant to cracks, scratches, breaks, and chips. However, it needs to be regularly sealed to prevent excessive moisture absorption and staining.
Sealing Slate
If your slate floor was not sealed upon installation, you should apply the sealant yourself. A slate sealer should be available at any stone/slate dealer.
To apply the sealant, you should use a cotton applicator. Apply two to three coats according to the instructions on the sealer. Be sure to wait at least 30 minutes between each coat.
Cleaning Slate
Do not use acid-based cleaners, even natural cleaners like vinegar, when cleaning a slate floor. They will damage your floor to the point where you may need to replace it. You can use a specially formulated slate cleaner, available at any stone/slate dealer, or a mild cleaning agent.
To keep slate looking clean and fresh, you should…
- Remove loose dirt: Sweep the slate with a broom with soft bristles to make sure all loose dirt is removed from the entire surface.
- Dry wipe: Wipe over the floor with a dry mop to remove any remaining fine residues. Wipe in one direction. Do not use a back and forth motion method.
- Wet mop: Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water and 1/4 capful of slate cleaner. Dip a mop into the bucket, wring out as much as possible, then wipe all surfaces of the floor with slow, gentle movements. Rinse and wring the mop frequently if you have a large floor.
- Air dry: You don’t need to rinse. If there is foam or residue on the floor, wipe again with warm water. Let the floor dry completely on its own.
Random Slate Cleaning Tips
- Make sure you are using a high-quality mop, one that is not oil based. You may need to dry wipe daily
- It is a good idea to use bathroom rugs or carpets with a slate floor. Slate can be extremely slippery when wet, so it can be dangerous to step out of the shower if there is no surface to step onto. However, avoid mats with rubber backing as they will stick to or damage the slate.
- It is okay to vacuum slate floors. If you are using a vacuum cleaner on your bathroom floor made of slate, be sure to use only a soft brush attachment and avoid banging or jerking the vacuum cleaner on the floor.
5. Vinyl
Vinyl used to be the most popular tile for your bathroom, but it has become more popular in recent years. Nevertheless, it is a cheap option that is easy to clean. It has a similar look to ceramic but is less likely to break or chip.
General Vinyl Cleaning
Just like with any tile, wipe up any spills immediately with clear water to keep them from staining.
To mop the floor clean, just follow these steps…
- Remove loose dirt: Vacuum or dry mop to remove dust, hair, and dirt.
- Mix cleaning solution: There are commercial cleaners for vinyl floors that you can buy, but mixing apple cider vinegar with water works great for vinyl. The acid in the vinegar removes dirt without leaving a soapy film.