Glass tiles create bright, inviting spaces with deep colours, glistening edges, and reflections that create a sense of depth and spaciousness. Available in a wide range of artistic styles, shapes, and sizes, glass tiles are the first choice for creative designers.
Although not as common as ceramic or porcelain, glass tiles add a unique look to any room. Their only shortfall is that being made of glass; they are more susceptible to chips and cracks from impact.
Glass is impervious to moisture, stains, and contaminants, making glass tiles an excellent choice for wet areas like showers. Unlike porous tiles that can absorb moisture, glass tiles are easy to clean and do not grow mould or mildew like other materials.
How Are Glass Tiles Made?
Glass tiles are made from silica (sand), soda ash, and limestone, mixed with various additives to achieve the desired properties.
Recycled glass may be used in production to enhance sustainability. The mixture of raw materials is melted in a furnace at extremely high temperatures, typically around 1700°C (3090°F), to form a molten glass.
The molten glass can be formed into large sheets by floating or rolling. In the float glass process, the molten glass is floated on a bed to create flat, even sheets, which are later cut into smaller tiles. The cut tiles are then placed in an annealing oven (lehr), and slowly cooled to relieve internal stresses and improve durability. Alternatively, the molten glass can be poured into moulds to form individual tiles of specific shapes and sizes.
Sometimes, the tiles are tempered to increase their strength. This involves reheating the tiles and then rapidly cooling them.
Some glass tiles receive additional surface treatments, such as glazing or coating, to enhance their appearance and protect against scratches and stains.
Cleaning Glass Tiles
Although glass tiles might show grime and even fingerprints more easily than ceramic or porcelain tiles, the hardness of glass makes them impervious to mould, mildew, or other contaminates that can creep into clay-based tiles. Glass tiles may have to be cleaned more often because of fingerprints. Still, they are no harder to clean than a mirror.
Regular Cleaning
The easiest way to clean glass tiles is to wipe them immediately after a shower (shower squeegee), or with your dishwater in the kitchen after frying.
Warm water with at least 20% vinegar and a couple drops of dish soap can help break down any soap scum that begins to build, but rinse and do a final wipe to ensure you don’t leave streaks. A Microfiber cloth should be more than enough for abrasion.
In showers, it’s hard to avoid the inevitable soap scum buildup, even with regular cleaning your tiles will get coated and your grout will diminish in brightness. When it does, it’s time for a deep-cleaning.
Deep Cleaning
To remove scum buildup, mix equal amounts of water and white vinegar into a bucket or spray bottle, and stir or shake to mix them. The vinegar’s acidity will react with the soap’s alkaline, to break it down.
Using a sponge, spread the mix over the entire tile surface. After a few minutes, test the tiles by wiping with a rag to see if the scum is easy to wipe off. If not, reapply the vinegar solution and repeat. wait again. and let it soak while occasionally testing areas with a rag until the tiles can be wiped clean.
A mild soap solution wash down after will remove the smell of vinegar and pickup anything the vinegar solution left behind, but the final treatment should always be a rinse with fresh water and a wipe down with a dry microfiber cloth.
Cleaning The Grout
With regular tile cleaning, the grout should also remain reasonably clean. A toothbrush may help clean the problem areas.
Unfortunately, grout is more susceptible to contamination than glass tile, so over time, your grout will start to look dirty no matter what you do. Here are a few grout cleaning secrets you might try.
Deep Cleaning The Grout
If you’ve been cleaning your tiles regularly and the grout is starting to look dirty, it’s time for action. A soft bristle brush or a toothbrush, fresh water, and a microfiber cloth are all you need. Try the following solutions to brighten your glass tile grout:
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: Make a paste with baking soda and water and apply it to the grout lines. Spray the paste with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Let it fizz for a few minutes, then scrub it with a toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda: Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste for more stubborn stains. Scrub the paste into the grout lines, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub again with a toothbrush. Rinse well with clean water.
Note: in all deep cleaning solutions above, it is imperative to rinse the grout completely with fresh water and wipe the grout and the tile with a dry rag after.
WARNING: Limitations of Home Cleaners
- Water/Dish Soap (tile/grout):
- Effectiveness: It may not be strong enough for tough stains or heavy grime.
- Residue: This can leave a soapy residue if not rinsed thoroughly.
- Vinegar/Water (tile/grout):
- Acidity: The acidic nature of vinegar can damage certain types of tiles, such as natural stone (marble, travertine, granite).
- Odor: The pungent smell of vinegar can be unpleasant and linger in the bathroom.
- Toothpaste (grout):
- Limited Use: Effective only for minor, localized stains rather than large areas.
- Abrasiveness: Some toothpaste can be abrasive and may scratch certain types of tiles.
- Hydrogen Peroxide (grout):
- Effectiveness: Works well on grout but may not be as effective on tile surfaces.
- Discoloration: Prolonged use can sometimes cause discoloration of grout or tiles.
- Chlorine Bleach (grout):
- Harshness: Can be very harsh and potentially damaging to tiles and grout over time.
- Health Risks: Requires careful handling and proper ventilation due to strong fumes and potential health risks.
- Environmental Impact: Not eco-friendly and can contribute to environmental pollution.
Commercial Tile Cleaners
Cleaning tiles with common household products can be quite labour-intensive and time-consuming, often requiring substantial effort to achieve satisfactory results.
As safe and on-hand as these products are, they may be limited in effectiveness and not have disinfectant properties. This may leave bacteria and germs behind. Commercial cleaners are generally faster and more powerful, providing a deeper cleaning, and may even disinfect – in a fraction of the time (following safety guidelines).
You may want to consider one of the tile cleaning products available at your local grocery store, home supply center, or online. Research online reviews to help you shop.
Consider using safe products for regular cleaning in the manner described above. When build-up becomes a problem or your house needs absolute cleanliness, call in an expert like Pink’nClean. You’ll get a professional job done quickly, without any mess, at a reasonable price.
Preventive Measures
- Sealing Grout: After every deep cleaning, consider applying a grout sealer to prevent stains and moisture buildup.
- Regular Maintenance: A wipe down with a squeegee to the tiles and glass after shower goes a long way. Even a wipe down with the wash cloth after showering is better than letting the water and soap stand.
- Proper Ventilation: Keep the humidity down, ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated to reduce humidity levels. Helps prevent mould and mildew growth.
Following these steps, you can keep your glass tiles and grout looking fresh for years.