May 02, 2023

How to Remove a Stain from Porcelain Tiles

A quick once-over with a damp mop will usually suffice for everyday dirt and grime on your tiled floor. But it’s a bit more intimidating when you have a stubborn stain on your beautiful tiles. In this easy-to-follow guide, we explain how to remove a stain from porcelain tiles.

So, if you’ve just noticed some tile stains and you have guests coming over, don’t fear. Read through the steps below and your floor will look good as new in no time. From proven home remedies to professional products, our expert advice will turn this chore into a breeze.

What this article covers:

How to Remove Stains from Porcelain Tiles
Professional Solution for Stained Porcelain Tiles

How to Remove Stains from Porcelain Tiles

From our experience, it’s usually really easy to clean porcelain tile floors, but stained tiles present a bit more of a challenge.

Can you clean a porcelain tile floor with bleach to remove these stains? Technically, yes. But a strong bleach solution may prove too harsh for some delicate porcelain tiles. And any color or patterns will also be damaged.

Rather use our simple stain removal method below to remove a stain from porcelain tiles. This home remedy uses ingredients that you probably already have in the home.

how to remove stains from porcelain tile

Home Remedy For Stained Porcelain Tiles

You’ll need the following:

Warm water
Vinegar
A bucket
Baking Soda
A rubber broom or brush/sponge
A squeegee-type mop

Make A Cleaning Solution

To clean polished porcelain tile that has light stains on it, make a solution of vinegar and water in the bucket. Gently pour your vinegar water solution over the floor, or apply with a mop or cloth. Let it sit for five minutes. Never use vinegar alone, always dilute it in water. Aim for a 50/50 solution.

Ordinary white vinegar is the best for this purpose, as colored vinegar may be unsuitable for porcelain tiles that aren’t white. Vinegar is a safe cleaner to be used on many surfaces in the home but always dilute it first.

Work The Solution Onto The Tiles

Use a rubber brush or sponge to gently scrub the floor tiles, working in both directions to lift stains and loosen the dirt. Don’t use a stiff wire brush or a similar tool. You risk damaging the surface of your tiles.

how to remove stains from porcelain tiles

Alternatively, use our nylon bristled Premium Grout Tile Brush to gently yet effectively remove dirt and stains from tiles and grout. It’s lightweight, resistant to both alkaline and acid-based cleaning agents, and is very affordable too.

Rinse Floor

Then mop up the cleaning solution and rinse with warm water to remove the loosened dirt and eradicate any lingering traces and smell of vinegar.

Absorb Excess Moisture

If you notice some stains have remained, leave the floor damp, but try to remove as much excess moisture as possible. Then move to the next step.

If all the stains are gone, you may mop the floor tiles dry now.

Baking Soda For Stubborn Stains

For any remaining stains, reach for the baking soda. Apply it to the stained areas while the floor is still damp. This is just as effective to clean grout haze off porcelain tile areas that an ordinary damp cloth wouldn’t fix.

Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can safely be used on its own or with a little water. For very stubborn stains, a paste of vinegar and baking soda works best. This will bubble and froth a bit, but don’t fear- it’s perfectly normal.

Use Gentle Pressure

Leave the baking soda for a few minutes to work its magic. Gently work it into the stains once it’s started to fizzle. This is a sign that the baking soda is working.

It will gently lift stains, and also eradicate any bad smells that the vinegar solution couldn’t tackle. If the stains are really bad, leave the baking soda to do its thing for a bit longer, like 10-15 minutes.

Rinse Floor Again

Then rinse with water to remove traces of the baking soda before mopping the floor dry. The stains on your porcelain tiles should have disappeared, but if they are particularly stubborn, it may take another one or two attempts.

Baking soda is a natural and effective treatment for most household stains and foul odors. It will not damage your surfaces, and can even be used on most carpets. Always be sure to have some on hand in the home.

Professional Solution for Stained Porcelain Tiles

If you’re a professional tile installer, you’ll be interested in our range of tile-cleaning products and tools. They help you to clean porcelain floor tiles after installation and have them haze-free in no time.

The best product to clean porcelain tile will always be one that’s specially formulated for use on tiles. Other harsh cleaners containing acids or ammonia, can damage tiled surfaces.

You simply can’t go wrong with Grout Master Tile & Grout Cleaner to clean porcelain tile grout and tile surfaces.

The Grout Master Method

This effective cleaner can be used on most types of tiles.

Because of our practical experience, we can assure you that responsible use won’t cause any harm to the surrounding kitchen or bathroom appliances or cabinets, although a wipe-down afterward is essential.

You’ll need the following:

Grout Master Tile & Grout Cleaner
Warm water
Application tool of choice - preferably an electric sprayer or pump action cleaning tool
Rotary floor cleaner

Choose Your Tile Cleaning ApplicationTool

Grout Master is designed to be used with an electric sprayer or pump, for best results. It can be used in conjunction with the sleek and user-friendly Westpak Tile Blaster Wand.

For professional commercial applications, with the Turbo Force Hybrid Tile Cleaning Tool. The latter is for professional use only, to be used with a truck mount.

Make A Cleaning Solution

Mix 1-2 scoops of the powder in a gallon of hot water.

Apply To Tiled Area

Using your application tool of choice, spray it down onto the tiled area, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.

Run Over It With Rotary Floor Cleaner

Over years of dealing with professionals in the cleaning industry, we agree that rotary cleaners are the best for all hard floor surfaces, including tile.

Our rotovac machine which converts to a tile and grout cleaning machine with a rotary scrubbing brush is the answer. It will lift any stubborn dirt and stains from your porcelain floor tiles and surrounding grout lines.

Conclusion

With our expert detergents, stain removers, and cleaning tools, no tile problem is too big for you to handle, including porcelain tiles. We have a wide range of products to suit your every cleaning need, from stained porcelain tiles and discolored grout, to dull wooden floors or soiled carpets.

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