Information on Cleaning Glass Tile: Tips & Tricks on How to Clean Glass Tile

Glass tiles are the fad of the day. Be it a shop or a home, glass tiles are used everywhere. The chief advantage of using glass tiles is that they are very easy to clean and maintain. A glass tile is non porous as opposed to the ceramic tiles that were previously used, thus less effort is required to make the tiles look squeaky clean. What’s more, glass tiles are available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes and are also less costly as compared to their ceramic counterparts. Though glass has been used in mosaics since times immemorial, it was only in the recent past that glass tiles were invented. Melting glass to make tiles required such high temperatures that apparatus for the purpose were unheard of until recently. It is the wonderful colors that glass tiles come in, which makes them so appealing to us. Today, almost every kitchen and bath space is covered with glass tiles. We give you some tips to keep your glass tiles sparkling new.

How To Clean Glass Tile
The chief sources of dirt on glass tiles are soap scum and the stain caused by hard water. While they can be easily cleaned, be careful about scratches that may appear on the surface while cleaning glass tiles.

Vinegar & Water
The easiest method to get rid of stains on glass tiles is to use a mixture of vinegar and water to rub them off. Mix equal amounts of water and vinegar and pour the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray the liquid on the tile surface and leave for around 10 minutes. The soap scum will easily come off by rubbing with a piece of cloth or soft brush. Do not use a very hard brush as it may cause scratches. Rinse with cold water and then wipe off to prevent dried water streaks.

Vinegar & Sodium Bicarbonate
Glass tiles used in the bathroom often get stained with a dark red color because of the constant contact with hard water and deposition of calcium and magnesium particles. If you have to remove these tough stains, you will have to use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda for the purpose. First pour vinegar on the stains and then sprinkle sodium bicarbonate above the vinegar. Wait for the formation of bubbles which denotes a chemical reaction necessary for cleaning the stains. Wash off with cold water and pat dry.

Toothpaste
If white vinegar and baking soda are not available at hand, you may use a regular toothpaste to clean stains from your glass tile. Though toothpaste is abrasive when compared to vinegar or baking soda, it will not cause any scratches on the tile surface.

Detergent
Another alternative to white vinegar and sodium bicarbonate is  your regular detergent. Make a detergent lather and use a sponge to clean the glass tile surface with it. Wash off with cold water for a sparkling clean tile surface. You may also sprinkle detergent on the surface and then scrub with a sponge while slowly adding water for lighter stains.