How To Keep Tiles Clean & Shiny This Festive Season

There is an age old ritual in Indian families which has been passing on from one generation to another. Ever seen your mother getting busier as the festivals come calling? Is it just a coincidence? Definitely not! We all want to look our best during festive seasons and our houses are no different. Especially towards the end of the every year, we get busy in beautifying our homes in the best way possible.

As they say, ‘Drive away the darkness and move into the light’. This is where tiles enter the fray. As tiles form a major part of our homes, cleaning them becomes the utmost priority. Pale, old and yellowish tiles can be noticed from far out and don’t go well with the festive-y feel.

Irrespective of the occasion, every home maker would want a spic and span feeling inside the house whether that means getting all the floor tiles scrubbed or hand cleaning the wall tiles or whitening the bathroom and kitchen tiles. 

Bathroom Tiles:

A 50/50 vinegar and water solution will clean tile, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in the shower.

A baking soda and water paste will clean stuck on gunk in the shower and tub (use vinegar instead of water for really tough stains).

For grout, sprinkle baking soda on the floor and spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a gentle toothbrush.

For wall tile, painted door frames, spots on the doors, outside of toilet, etc, my homemade all purpose cleaner will clean and disinfect.

Floor Tiles:

Clean tile with mild detergent and clean water, using a rag or chamois-type mop rather than a sponge mop. Change water frequently while cleaning.

If your tiles look hazy, use acid like fresh lemon juice on ceramic tiles (but never on marble). Rinse thoroughly with clean water, and buff dry with a clean lint-free cloth.

For great looking grout, clean using a paste of baking soda and water. Rub it on the stain, let it sit overnight, then scrub the stain in the morning with a stiff nylon brush (a metal brush will damage the grout).

Kitchen Tiles Grease:

Wrap a dusting rag around the bristles of a broom. Fasten it in place with safety pins or binder clips, arranging them so they won't scrape the wall.

Dust the wall from top to bottom with the broom. Get into the upper corners where spider webs and dust tend to collect.

Fill one bucket with ¼ cup of liquid cleaning detergent and 1 gallon of warm water. Add up to 1 cup vinegar if the walls have a grease film. Fill the other bucket with clear warm water.

Dampen a sponge in the soapy water. Wash the walls beginning at the bottom and working your way up. Wipe down the wall in small sections, using a circular motion.

Moisten food stains with a small amount of water and allow it to soak and loosen the stain for five minutes before wiping it off with the sponge.

Scrub stubborn stains lightly with a mildly abrasive sponge, taking care not to damage the paint or tile. Wipe the wall a second time with the clear water. Dry it with a clean towel.

With the most difficult areas of your house clean, cleaning the rest of the house is just a piece of cake :-) Have a great #FestiveSeason and celebrate the #BeautifulLife!

After all that has been said and done, tiles need your utmost attention as they occupy a larger portion of your home decor and interior design segment inside your house. Simply follow these tips and you’re good to go! 

Home Decor 101 – The Versatile Nature Of Tiles

Ever witness a house without tiles? Would be hard to find isn’t it? There’s a reason why this happens. ‘Tiles for home’ is like a buzzword since day and age. Because of the factors that tiles are essentially durable in nature and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, they are considered as the best fit for our households.

Whether you put vitrified tiles under the microscope or ceramic tiles for that matter, homemakers often feel spoilt for choice. That being said, these aren’t the only variety of tiles that are available in the market. Add to this, practical bathroom and kitchen tiles which touches the entire ‘tiles for home’ envelope.

Tiles are used for various reasons. They are easy to maintain, they are long lasting, the large variety ensures that your area stands out uniquely. But why limit the tiles to only make it easier to clean the kitchen backsplash or keep the walls of your bathroom from rotting.

 Tiles are versatile and you can use them as you like. Here’s how:

1.       Tiles as Inlaid rugs:

 No need to move for cleaning and vacuuming; not to mention they look stunning. The name says it all doesn’t it? The popularity of tiles as inlaid rugs is gaining popularity slowly but surely.

2.       Tiles as Headboards: 

Use interesting tiles to design the headboard. Your bed and your bedroom will have a totally fresh, new look! Tiles for home like never before!

3.       DIY Art on Tiles:

Create beautiful Warli art on the tile and see it transform into your own lovely piece of art. Adorn the walls of your house with it. You can use digital tiles and wall tiles as well. Floor tiles are usually avoided here as you wouldn’t want your guests to step on to the magnificent art that you’ve created.

4.       Tile Apron:

 It makes the modern bathroom a little more exciting. No need to move for cleaning and vacuuming; not to mention they look stunning as well.

5.       Tiles as Nameplates:

 Tile nameplates are in vogue - make a welcoming entry using them. Funny what tiles are capable of these days; all it takes is a little ounce of creativity.

Whichever way you use them - #TilesAreAwesome :-)

Now that we’ve established why tiles are the first picks whenever a house gets renovated or whenever someone’s building a new house, we sincerely hope that your home decor and interior design decision making will become a whole lot easier.