There are so many activities that combine to leave your kitchen wall tiles dirty. For instance, over time, the build-up of splashes of grease and oily/dirty water on the tiles around the cooking and sink respectively would turn the once beautiful wall tiles into a dirty, ugly mess.
Some people say you can tell what kind of person you are dealing with by the way they treat their kitchen. Learning how to clean kitchen wall tiles is, therefore, something every homeowner must know.
Fortunately, wall tiles are not difficult to clean and there are several ways you can go about it.
There are several methods of cleaning kitchen wall tiles that involve the use of common household items. These are items you can find in your pantry or the basement storage.
Other methods require the use of tile cleaners specifically formulated for domestic use. Usually, this method is employed for removing stubborn stains.
How to clean kitchen wall tiles: 5 Ways using common household items
1. Use Vegetable Oil
It might seem ironic that you’d be splashing oil on your wall tiles when the whole idea is to clean off oils and other stuff that messed up your kitchen wall tiles in the first place. The fact still remains, though, that vegetable oil is an effective cleaning agent for your dirty kitchen wall tiles.
It is quite easy to use.
Simply get a sponge that is neither hard nor soft. Pour a small amount of the vegetable oil on the sponge and use it to wipe down the dirty tiles. Repeat this for all the wall tiles in the kitchen until all stains are removed.
If you don’t have a sponge, a paper towel would work just as well. This method is great for the cooking area where the grease buildup is high.
2. Clean with Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a natural substance that wise homeowners have been using for decades for simple household chores. When used correctly, it is very effective in cleaning all the dirt on kitchen wall tiles.
This method is mostly recommended for spot-cleaning of stubborn stains on the tiles.
Pour some of the borax in a bowl. The amount you’d use depends on the size of the stain. Simply use your judgment.
Add lemon juice to the borax and stir the mixture until it becomes a smooth paste. Then using a spatula or whatever is convenient to you, apply the paste over the stain and leave it there for some time to absorb to stain.
Finally, use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe off the paste. Do not scrub. The stain should come off with the paste.
3. Use White Vinegar
Vinegar is an excellent cleaning agent for tiles with several attendant benefits.
Apart from the fact that is a natural cleaning agent making it harmless, it is also an effective disinfectant with the added bonus of leaving no lingering odor or smell behind afterward.
Veteran home cleaners also recommend it for fighting smoke stains on tiles which is very common in kitchens.
There are two ways to use white vinegar: directly or as a solution with water.
When it is used directly, it is great for removing stubborn stains caused by grease and smoke. For daily, regular cleaning and maintenance of your kitchen wall tiles, a solution vinegar and water is highly recommended.
Simply spray either the vinegar or the water/vinegar solution on the offending tiles. Then wipe it off with a sponge or damp rag. The tiles would be as good as new.
4. Use salt
The common salt that is used for almost all cooking is another great way to clean your kitchen wall tiles naturally.
For fresh grease and oils on the tiles, simply sprinkle salt over them. Leave the salt for some time to soak up the grease and oil. Then clean it off with damp rag or sponge.
Then use either borax or vinegar solution to finish the job. The wiping down, as usual, should be done with a sponge or wet rag.
Another method, if the grease or oil stains have dried off, is to use a mixture of salt and alcohol on the stains. Vigorously rub the alcohol/salt solution liberally on the stains using soft cloth or sponge.
Your salt-alcohol mixture should be in a 1:4 ratio respectively.
5. Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is another common household item that would clean your kitchen wall tiles easily and efficiently.
If you have a gentle scrubber like a sponge handy, sprinkle the powder on it and use it to scrub the dirty and greasy kitchen walls. Don’t scrub too hard though.
When you are done scrubbing with the baking soda, use a piece of soft damp cloth/rag to clean the residues of baking soda off the tiles.
How to clean kitchen wall tiles using commercial cleaning solutions
Using a commercial cleaning solution to clean the tiles on your kitchen wall is even more effective than most natural methods. The best cleaning solutions are uniquely formulated with the right amount of safe chemicals to cut through grease and oil stains easily.
Fortunately, they are easy to get online and in malls. If you are unsure of the tile cleaner most suitable for you, there are several all-purpose cleaners that would work on most surfaces including kitchen wall tiles.
When you go to purchase the tile cleaner for your kitchen wall, it would be best to choose a product that comes with a spray bottle or is in a spray bottle. That way, it is just a matter of spraying your walls and cleaning it with a soft cloth.
If your preferred cleaner comes in a container without a spray cap, you can purchase an empty spray container or can. Then simply pour as much of the cleaning liquid into the spray can as you would need for the job.
Quick cleaning tips using a spray bottle
- First make sure that if the cleaner is a concentrate, follow the instructions on how to dilute it.
- Judiciously spray the dirty tiles with the cleaning solution. But don’t spray too much of it that it runs down the wall. That would be a waste of precious cleaning solution.
- For tiles around the cooking area, leave the solution for at least 15 minutes. This allows the chemical time to work its magic.
Note that some cleaning solution would specify how much time you should allow it to stay. Obviously, reading the instructions is the way to go.
When the 15 minutes or allocated time is up, wipe the tiles with a clean rag, soft cloth or a paper towel
- For the area behind the sink, you don’t have to wait for the specified time after dousing the area with the cleaner solution.
After spraying, immediately get a scraper, one made of plastic (plastic spatula and old credit cards would be okay) and scrape off those tiny dried bits of mess sticking on the tiles.
Then wipe it clean with soft cloth, rag or paper towel when you’ve finished scraping.
You can repeat this if you are not satisfied with the results. Use a toothbrush to clean the grout lines while you are at it.
- Other areas of the kitchen might not need as much solution on the wall tiles or a long time for the solution to get the tiles clean.
Dishwashing liquid diluted in warm water and sponge would clean the tiles in these areas very well if you don’t want to waste the cleaning solution.
- Finally, use a clean damp cloth to rinse the tiles to remove any cleaner residue.
How to Protect/Maintain Your Kitchen Wall Tiles from Cooking Splatters
Get splatter screens for frying pans – Grease and oils from frying pans are the main sources of stains around the cooking area. The screens, made of mesh, prevent splatter on the tiles.
The screens are easy to clean and come in different shapes and sizes
Use splatter guards – Like splatter screens, splatter guards prevent splashing oil from reaching the tiles while frying.
Splatter guards are three-sided and are usually installed around your stove to protect the wall tiles on three sides. They are portable and you don’t have to screw them on anything.
There are different designs including some with an adjustable barrier.
Use sealant – Sealants are recommended if you have porous tiles on your kitchen walls. The sealants prevent the tiles from absorbing the oils, food, and drinks that splash on them.
However, you can avoid the whole sealant idea by not installing porous tiles on your kitchen walls.
Clean the grout frequently – Dirty grout lines bordering clean tiles are bad aesthetically. Make time to clean them using a solution of baking soda and water and toothbrush to scrub the grout clean.
Use grout stain – If, like most people, you think cleaning grout lines is a chore you’d rather not do, use a grout stain instead.
Grout stains help you change the color of your grout from white to a different color. Dark-colored stains are the most common because discoloration or dirt is not easily noticeable.
Frequent wipe downs – Make it a habit to wipe down the tiles around the cooking area of the kitchen immediately after cooking. The splashes of oils and food debris on the tiles cause discoloration and staining if left unattended.
Besides, wiping down immediately ensures that when you decide to do a more comprehensive cleaning of the kitchen wall tiles, you won’t have a hard time.
How to clean cooking grease from kitchen wall
Conclusion
Clean wall tiles in the kitchen are usually the product of dedicated, regular cleaning by the homeowner. As one of the main hubs of the home that sees lots of traffic, only a few places in the home come close to elevating the mood as a sparkling clean kitchen.
Though it might seem like a chore, to clean kitchen wall tiles shouldn’t be difficult. With just a few common household items, you can have the clean kitchen wall tiles of your dreams. It doesn’t take up too much time and the envious eyes friends and family cast on your kitchen would be worth all the time and effort it took you to achieve such sparkling tiles on your kitchen walls.
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