cleaning bathroom tiles

toniq

We use stardrops and a window cleaning squeegy from pound shop it extends so reaches top tiles easy x it has a sponge on one side and a rubber scraper on other, makes it easy for someone of my height! xxxx

zippychick

this thread discusses this very thing

Have a read and ill merge this later
Zip

Mumsie

Can anyone suggest something - anything - to clean some old red kitchen floor tiles. I have scrubbed with a hard brush and some biological washing powder and scraped with a blade scraper. The floor is extremely uneven and worn in places, but there are still black marks up corners. I have no idea what could get this off....it could be old sealant? My next probability is peroxide, but I've never used this as a cleaner before. I can't afford to buy expensive chemicals to clean the floor and am quite prepared to get down on my hands and knees and scrub it with a hard brush! All ideas gratefully accepted and will be tried.
I'm sorry if I am putting this on as a reply to a thread, but I can't seem to go back..........

Mumsie

It's unfortunate when you live in a hard water area and I really sympathise because it is hard to get the scale off once it has a hold....however, my daughter does and she has just discovered a product called VIAKAL. At the moment it is on special offer in Morrisons (May 2106) and for £2 you can buy it in a spray bottle. This will tackle the hard limescale build up on your tiles. The orange colour is soap and skin scum and all the other nasties that build up over time. You need to cut through this with either soap (I use fairy washing up liquid) or if you don't mind using bleach then put some in a spray bottle, spray on and leave overnight. Be careful with this though as it is harsh) You could then scrub this with a toothbrush/textured cloth and this should bring your tiles up shiny again. Hope this helps.......if I could I would come and do this for you and show you how!

Tiddlywinks

Mumsie wrote: »

Can anyone suggest something - anything - to clean some old red kitchen floor tiles. I have scrubbed with a hard brush and some biological washing powder and scraped with a blade scraper. The floor is extremely uneven and worn in places, but there are still black marks up corners. I have no idea what could get this off....it could be old sealant? My next probability is peroxide, but I've never used this as a cleaner before. I can't afford to buy expensive chemicals to clean the floor and am quite prepared to get down on my hands and knees and scrub it with a hard brush! All ideas gratefully accepted and will be tried.
I'm sorry if I am putting this on as a reply to a thread, but I can't seem to go back..........

Have the marks been 'absorbed' into the tiles? If so, they may be there forever.

Do the marks really look that bad? As the floor is already uneven the marks could just be adding to the old world character of the place .

The only other thing to try is cover it up - good old fashion doorstep type paint... could you paint over (in a well matched colour) just the black bits that are annoying you?

Mumsie

Yes it is a very old uneven floor but it is like black treacle stuck to corners and where the doors open. I have thought about covering the floor with red tile paint but do you know if this flakes off over a period of time? Thanks Tiddlywinks for your reply.

Tiddlywinks

I tend to take the path of least resistance so just meant touching over the black bits to minimise their appearance rather than paint the whole thing.

If it's a build up of 'clag' then maybe it needs something applied and left on it to break it down.

My favourite weapon of choice for deodorant build up (different I know, but bear with me) is to rub in bio washing liquid, then apply a very thick mix of white vinegar and citric acid crystals. I leave the granule mix until it dries out (few hours) and then add more vinegar and scrub a bit more. It seems to break down the build up in a way that nothing else does.... I don't know why it works but it does ... you could give that a go.

I'd also try soaking cloths in various cleaning products (one at a time) and laying the wet cloth on the stain for a long period to see if prolonged contact might eat into the build up.

Good luck.

Edited to add: Have you tried oil? That sometimes 'lifts' residues where cleaners won't. Or the opposite, cleaners for oil spills on drives etc?

Mumsie

Thank you very much indeed. You seem to have acquired quite a knowledge of "clag on floors". I can't imagine how!
I will give the citric acid a try with vinegar tomorrow. I will be interested to see if that works. Do you happen to know if an uneven floor could be sealed after it has been cleaned? If so......what with? Everyone talks about sealing floors but I've never had experience of "sealing floors" but think this will be the way to go. Seems like hard work to scrub and scrub and then not protect it in some way. I did think that after I have cleaned it this time I will dress it with some linseed oil but really, I don't think this is quite suitable other than to give it a shine (and make me fall over!)

Tiddlywinks

I've no idea about sealants to be honest.

Ask on the DIY board as there are quite a few tradesman that help out there.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=39