Question
I have marble bathroom tiles that are quite heavily soiled with soap scum. Can you recommend a nontoxic but effective cleaner/sealer?
These tiles are quite dirty and "cloudy."
Answer
You will want to use a non-abrasive, pH-neutral solution -- one suggestion is borax and water. However, it sounds like the tiles might be a bit far gone for a basic domestic cleaning.
Consider hiring a professional tile-cleaning service that will not only clean the tiles and grout but will also apply a fresh coat of low-VOC sealer such as AFM Safecoat MexeSeal. (Locate green cleaning services near you in GreenHomeGuide's directory.) By resealing the tiles and grout, you can minimize scum build-up.
In the future, to reduce future maintenance of the tiles:
- Avoid using bar soap (unless it is pure glycerin soap), as traditional bar soaps will leave the scum you are currently experiencing. Liquid soaps work well.
- Lastly, squeegee all the tile surfaces in the shower after bathing.
For more information:
Check our eco tile Q&A to see what other homeowners and contractors are saying about maintenance of marble tile, glass tile, etc.
