Cleaning rough bathroom floor tiles

gemmylou86

Hi all,
I've done a quick search to no avail so apologies if there's a post somewhere answering this question.

I've got beige bathroom floor tiles with a slight greyish 'marble' effect which is irritating as even when clean they look grubby... But even so they need a damn good clean. They are a rough finish, The grouting has gone pretty manky and grey, previous tenants painting efforts are dripped all over, and I've tried everything to get them looking good. If it was my own place I'd rip them out but landlord won't allow.
I've tried a normal mop, and h2o steam mop (good on centre of floor but no good in tricky edges and corners) bleach, flash, vanish, bio detergent etc. short of hands and knees scrubbing every inch with a nail brush I'm at a loss (although my baby is a few days overdue so that could do the trick to get me in labour lol!)

Any magic suggestions?
Thanks in advance

Emmala

To be honest, getting down on your hands and knees with a hand held scrubbing brush is your best option! Warm water with a dash of washing up liquid and dash of bleach. For the grout, mix a paste of bicar and water, make it quite thick, pat into the grout and leave it for a couple of hours, then scrub away with a toothbrush. Then wash the floor and scrub all over. Once it's really clean you won't have to do this every time, just steam clean and deep clean as and when required.


I have creamy kitchen tiles, non slip so have creases in them (it seemed like a good idea at the time!) and this is what I do.....yes it's a pain in the neck, and knees, but it's worth it. Then I just hoover/mop until it gets 'beyond' again and the scrubbing brush come out!!


If you live near me I'd happily come and do the floor for you.
Good luck with the baby!! xxx

gemmylou86

Molly I suspected that would be my only option, haha!
Thank you for the tips and the well wishes that will be my job for tomorrow!

spacey2012

Neat washing up liquid direct on floor and mop about, takes some getting up but the tiles will be like new, straight on the floor and spread a good half bottle around and leave for twenty minutes.

Emmala

If it's any consolation, after I nearly died giving birth to my eldest child, my mother in law pointed out that if I'd done more housework I'd have had an easier labour!!!!! So, go clean that floor woman........beats some of the other suggestions for bringing on labour, wink wink!!!!!!

Emmala

oh, and remember if you use bleach have the windows wide open and wear gloves xxx

DigForVictory

My midwife was all for me wiping the skirting boards, but she was not signing me up for hands & knees floor scrubbing. Pick your chemicals carefully?

At this stage in your pregnancy, be gentle with your kneecaps - you may be wanting their cooperation later!

(However, if scrubbing the floor is how you "nest", roll with it - loads safer than trying to hang curtains, & lovely clean floor...)

pollypenny

My bathroom vinyl is slightly textured. My new steam mop does the job, it's like new again.

gemmylou86

Thanks for the advice ladies!
Yes I think I must be nesting, I've gone a bit 'sorting out' crazy the past week - defrosting fridge, organising cupboards, washing sofa covers... And I literally cannot rest until this floor is sorted!

saxaphone

Best way by far after much experimentation. Spray warm water lightly all over the floor. Sprinkle washing powder all over floor and brush in with long handled broom. Leave for 30 minutes. Then with power washer clean each tile, sounds like a big job by it isn't. Don't try this unless the tiles are in Wet room with a floor drain. Thanks for reading.

Slinky

Hopefully the OP is sorted by now, this thread is from nearly 5 years ago.