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Updated : April 25, 2025
Published : April 22, 2025
Guides
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When it comes to tiles around your home, whether that’s your wall or floor tiles in usually the bathroom or kitchen, it’s important to keep them clean and looking their best all year round. This is something that can be achieved with regular cleaning, however, not all tile material types should be cleaned the same way, as some tile types are more sensitive to ‘harsher’ techniques.

So we’ve put together a guide of cleaning techniques for different tile types to help you get them glistening in no time. We always recommend checking the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before you grab the bucket and sponge too. Just in case your tile is susceptible to damage from any strong chemical cleaners.

How To Clean Ceramic & Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain and ceramic are two of the most popular tile materials chosen to be used around the home and it’s easy to see why. They’re durable, versatile and there’s plenty of beautiful designs, colours and sizes to choose from.

Also, when it comes to porcelain in particular, it’s a non-porous material, which means it’s very resistant to water absorption.

A lot of this comes down to its density and the fact that many of the tiles made from this material are pre-sealed too. All of this adds up to make them a lot easier to clean.

As with any floor or wall tile, it’s a great idea to first either use a sweeping brush, vacuum or duster to remove any loose debris and dust from the surface of the tile. Of course, use the cleaning tools accordingly based on whether you’re cleaning a floor or wall tile.

Next up, using a mild cleaning detergent mixed with water is often the best cleaning solution. There are also specialist cleaning products on the market designed to clean tiles too, however it’s important that you read the ingredients before buying any, to ensure they’re compatible with the material used in your tile.

We always recommend doing a spot clean first, no matter what you use to clean your tiles. Just in case, you’re either not happy with the results or any damage occurs, however low the chances are that it occurs.

However if you’re concerned about potentially damaging your tile in any way and want to use something gentler, cleaning your ceramic or porcelain tile with just soap and water should also do the job. For tougher stains, you could also mix ¼ cup of baking soda, one cup of white vinegar and one cup of water to create a natural cleaning solution that’s great at lifting stains. However, make sure to stick to the ratios provided as too much white vinegar could damage tiles, especially porous materials such as ceramic.

We also recommend using soft cloths and sponges to clean your tiles, steering away from using abrasive cleaning tools such as scourers or hard bristle brushes, which can scratch or otherwise damage the tile surface. Be sure to clean in a gentle circular motion and once clean, rinse any cleaning residue such as soap with clean water, before towel drying the tiles.

How To Clean Gloss Tiles

Gloss tiles look fantastic around the home, whether they’re used on your bathroom walls or on your kitchen splashback, they’re a great choice. However they’re very susceptible to displaying water marks, fingerprints and mud, so it’s really important you regularly clean them to keep them looking as good as new.

First of all, if the gloss tiles are situated on your floor, grab a sweeping brush and sweep all the dirt and dust into one big pile on the floor. Next up, get your vacuum cleaner up and suck up all that dirt and dust. Be sure to use the crevice nozzle attachment to get into all the nooks and crannies too.

If you're cleaning your gloss wall tiles, we recommend grabbing a duster or microfibre cloth first and wiping down the wall in a circular motion to pick up all the dust and loose dirt present on the wall.

When it comes to the cleaning solution to use on your gloss tiles, we recommend using gentle cleaning solutions such as soap and water to avoid dulling the tiles sheen in any way. For more stubborn stains, it’s also fine to use a mix of equal parts vinegar and water to clean the tiles. We recommend putting this into a spray bottle to make it easier to distribute the solution across the tiles. It’s often a good idea to leave the solution on the tiles for ten minutes or longer to let it take effect before starting to clean the floor too.

We also advise using distilled water if possible, to avoid leaving any mineral deposits on the tile after cleaning. These appear as white or black stains and are caused by hard water that’s found in our taps in certain areas of the country.

Once again, be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge to clean your tiles in a circular motion. For floor tiles, you may find it easier to use a soft mop such as a microfibre one to clean the floor. It’ll be quicker and less strenuous than getting on your hands and knees to clean the floor too. Then after cleaning, be sure to dry the tiles to reduce the likelihood of any streaks or water spots.

How To Clean Matt Tiles

Matt finish tiles are another popular choice around the home due to its contemporary look and the vast number of styles, sizes and colour finishes that are available. They’re also a potentially safer choice for your floor tiles due to their anti-slip properties and are more likely to hide any scuffs, fingerprints and water marks too.

Now of course, just because dirt and stains are less likely to show up on matt tiles, that doesn’t mean they’re not there and in fact it can be tougher to remove them from the tile due to their surface. This is why it’s even more important to keep a regular cleaning schedule with matt tiles.

As with the other tile types we’ve covered (and essentially every tile material) the first steps to take are brushing, hoovering and wiping with a soft cloth such as a duster or microfibre cloth to remove any dirt and dust that’s present.

Next up, you want to use a mix of soap and water to clean your matt tiles and nothing much stronger. It’s important to avoid any harsh chemicals when cleaning them because it’s very likely to damage the surface of your matt tiles. You can create a mix of white vinegar and warm water and spray it onto your tiles for a deeper clean without damaging them though. For best results, spray the mixture onto the tiles and leave it on for 15-30 minutes before wiping them clean with a dry clean cloth.

Particularly with matt tiles, it’s important not to use too much water when cleaning, as they are more porous than most tile material types. So you don’t want them to absorb too much water as this can lead to cracks and other types of damage. Also only use a soft cloth in a circular motion to clean your matt tiles. Using scourers or other abrasive cleaning tools is likely to cause damage to your tile’s surface.

Once your tiles are clean, grab another clean cloth and wipe them dry, making sure there’s no dirt left to stain them.

How To Clean Marble Tiles

Marble tiles provide a luxurious look and feel, offer unique natural beauty and are a fantastic addition to any home, helping to elevate your space. They’re such a durable option too, looking as good as new for decades when properly installed and maintained.

It’s important to regularly sweep, dust and wipe your marble tiles as dirt and dust can cause minute scratches on the surface of the tile, which can dull the finish and allow dirt to stain the tile. So it’s important to regularly sweep and dust your marble floor and wall tiles.

When it comes to cleaning marble tiles, the technique is very similar to many other tile types in this guide. Use soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the tiles in a circular motion. It’s a good idea to put the soapy water into a spray bottle to more evenly distribute the water and not saturate the tiles too.

We recommend avoiding any harsher cleaning chemicals and waxes that claim to provide a shine finish as these aren’t formulated for marble and can cause tile damage and leave the tiles looking dingy and more slippery too. Once your marble tiles are nice and clean, once again grab a clean cloth and wipe them dry to prevent any water residue after cleaning.

When it comes to stains on your marble tiles, it’s always a good idea to act quickly and clean them in the moment or as soon as you notice them. Use a soft cloth and use gentle dabbing motions to ensure the stain isn’t spread any further. Rinse and repeat until the cloth no longer has any residue on it after cleaning. If a stain is still present, create your own marble cleaning product with a mix of 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia and apply it to the stained area with a cloth. Then grab a damp towel to clean the area and remove the mixture before drying thoroughly.

Cleaning Grout & Sealant

When cleaning your wall and floor tiles, one important aspect that’s often overlooked in the cleaning process, is your grout and sealant. Grout is a porous material, so it absorbs moisture, dirt and grime, which over time can cause damage. Whilst sealant is applied to protect your tiles from moisture damage and it’s important to keep it clean and maintained.

To clean the grout in between your tiles, you’ll want to use a mix of either baking powder or baking soda with water to create a thick paste. Then grab a toothbrush (an old toothbrush is better as the bristles are softer) and use it to apply the mixture to the grout between your tiles. Then proceed to let it sit for around an hour or so, before cleaning it off with water and wiping away any residue that remains with a clean soft cloth.

When it comes to sealant, your best choice is to use a specialist mould and mildew cleaner as these have been formulated to clean away the most likely type of ‘dirt’ you’ll find on your sealant. Be sure to check the product’s instructions and take extra care not to scrub off the sealant.

You may see others recommending a mix of vinegar and water, however we advise against this as whilst these mixtures may clean the dirt and grime off, they don’t kill the spores that are likely to be present and the vinegar could actually damage the sealant.

However, if the mould has settled too deeply into your sealant it’s probably a good idea to look to remove and replace the sealant entirely, rather than try to clean it.

Regular Cleaning Is Key

So as you can see, regularly cleaning your tiles is a good idea and can help to prevent any permanent damage to either your tiles, grout or sealant. But remember to follow our individualised tips for the different tile material types and your grout and sealant.

How To Clean Tiles - Our Ultimate Guide