Ceramic Tile Cleaning Archives - West Cheshire Tile Doctor

Ceramic Shower Cubicle Tile Grout Renovation Lower Whitley

Deep Cleaning Shower Ceramic Cubicle Tile and Grout in Lower Whitley

We were recently contacted about cleaning a Ceramic Tiled shower cubicle by a landlord in Lower Whitley which is set in the rural countryside of Cheshire. The area was once part of Lord Daresbury Estate, the Greenall Whitley brewery and only a short drive from my base in Warrington.

The client had been renting out their cottage and following the end of a long lease they discovered the shower cubicle had never been cleaned properly and was now full of mould. The grout lines in particular had attracted a lot of staining and in some places were orange with the dye that occurs in soap and shampoo. It would be difficult to attract a new tenant with the bathroom in this condition, and so I was asked to clean the shower tiles and the grout and make it presentable again.

Ceramic Shower Cubicle Tile Grout Before Cleaning Lower Whitley

Deep Cleaning a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

I started by spraying the grout lines with Tile Doctor Duo Clean which is a double action grout and mould remover and was designed for situations like this. After leaving it to dwell for ten to twenty minutes the grout lines were scrubbed with hot water and a stiff brush then rinsed off with more water.

There was still some staining left so I coated the wall tiles and grout with Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel and again left it to soak in, being a gel, it stays put for longer so it can get to work breaking down the dirt.

As this was soaking in, I removed all the old silicone around the cubicle, between the tiles and shower glass and shower tray. Once this was done, I gave the stubborn areas a further scrub and rinsed the soiling off with more water. When working on these type of jobs, rinsing is much easier in the shower. In other situations, where immediate drainage is not an option, we use a wet vacuum to extract the soil away.

I forced dried the tiles and grout and then set about replacing the silicone sealant I had stripped out earlier.

Sealing a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

The last step was to seal the grout by spraying on Tile Doctor Aerosol Tile and Grout Sealer which is very quick to do and ensures water simply runs straight off the tile and grout and doesn’t collect on the surface. The tiles themselves are ceramic so are sealed in production so there is no need to apply any products to them however the grout has a rough surface which can attract dirt and mould so it’s always best to protect it.

Ceramic Shower Cubicle Tile Grout After Cleaning Lower Whitley

The work took about 4 hours and once done the shower was transformed and looked amazing. I was confident they would not have a problem attracting a new tenant now.

My client was delighted with the work we had done and were rather relieved that more work and tile replacement was not needed.

I also suggested that they should invest in some Tile Doctor Aqua Pro Cleaner and recommend it to the incoming tenant, this is a pH neutral product which is designed with everyday use in mind. It will remove the scum build up and any hard water deposits, ensuring the shower does not get back into poor condition.

Professional Restoration of a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle in Cheshire

Deep Cleaning Shower Ceramic Cubicle Tile and Grout in Lower Whitley Read More »

Limescale Removed from Ceramic Wood Effect Tiles in West Kirby Wet Room

We received an enquiry from a new homeowner in West Kirby keen to discover if anything could be done to renovate a wet room that had been tiled completely in Ceramic wood effect tiles. It had not been used since the previous owners moved out four months earlier and was stained with limescale and the usual build-up of grime and dyes you find from the regular use of soaps and shampoos etc.

I went over to survey the wet room tiles and see for myself the extent of the staining. I’ve never come across a wet room tiled exclusively in wood effect tiles before, it was certainly different and the limescale certainly detracted from its look.

Ceramic Wood Plank Effect Shower Tile Before Cleaning Kirby Wirral

I worked out a solution to resolve the problems agreed a price to do the work and a date was scheduled for the work to take place.

Cleaning a Ceramic Tiled Wet Room

Limescale can be removed using an acidic product such as Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up or Acid Gel, however you must be careful as some natural stone tiles such as Limestone can be etched with the use of acidic cleaning products. Fortunately, these tiles were Ceramic and so this wouldn’t be a problem. For this job I decided to go with Tile Doctor Acid Gel as being in a gel form it is much easier to control and it would stick better to the vertical surfaces.

On arrival I split the shower into sections focusing on the wall tiles first. The method was straight forward, apply the Tile Doctor Acid Gel, allow it to soak in for twenty minutes and then manually scrub into the tile and grout with a stiff brush. Rinse off and then re-treat any stubborn areas that needed further work. With the wall tiles done I moved onto the floor using the same process as the walls but using a wet vacuum to remove the residue on the floor.

Once complete and dried the wet room looked transformed, I got the impression I was in an old wooden ship and began to appreciate why the previous owner had gone for the effect.

My client was very happy with the difference and much relieved I had been able to vanquish all the limescale.

Ceramic Wood Plank Effect Shower Tile After Cleaning Kirby Wirral

I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Aqua Pro for regular day to day cleaning; this has a neutral formula and will eliminate any build-up of shampoos and soaps as well as any hard water deposits which build up over time. It has a nice fresh lemon smell and comes with a trigger spray for easy application. Due to the tiles being ceramic there is no need to apply a seal as the surface is sealed at the factory.

Professional Restoration of a Ceramic Tiled Wet Room in West Cheshire

Testimonials

We were really pleased with the brilliant job that Alastair and his son did for us in restoring our kitchen floor. Thank you very much!!
Julie K, Chester

It was harder than usual setting up for the job to be done because of delays because of Covid. However, Alastair always replied to my emails and came when he said he would and on time. he and his son did a brilliant job on our shabby porch tiles and left them pristine. We may need renovation of inside tiles and would certainly like them to do the job.
Judith B, Chester

Alistair and his son Andrew were very professional and carried out the required work, taking longer than expected, to a very high standard and we are very grateful to them! Our hallway floor looks lovely
Sarah W, Christleton

My quarry tiles had been ruined by a thoughtless plasterer who hadn’t covered them up. I’d spent many hours fruitlessly trying to clean them in three rooms. Alastair and his son did a fantastic job of restoring them to their former glory in just a couple of days. Highly recommended.
Teresa F, Northwich

I am delighted with the cleaning and with the finish of the hallway. It looks like new and no sign of any damage that was previously there. It really sets off the hallway and is now back ‘in keeping’ with the age of the house. A wonderful feature to have restored back to its former glory! I can’t wait to have the front path sealed when the dryer weather returns as this too looks great. Thanks for your expertise and hard work Alistair and team.
Elizabeth A, Wirral

Latest Review Latest Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Thorough, excellent result carried out in a clean and professional manner. Highly recommended.
Wilby , Parkgate Neston

Professional, friendly and efficient service provided by Alistar and his son. Communicated really well and the new bathroom I’ve had gutted finally looks clean and no longer has water marks or grout haze. Highly recommend
Samantha F, Prescot

From the get go dealing with Alistair has been very professional and he was even patient in waiting for some other works to be completed before he came to carry out his works. The quoting stage was great, the comms to arrange the works was spot on and the work itself was great my wife was so happy with the end result. I have a minor fix for you for future projects…. i arrived home to see a dust and debris on my pathway and front step with the old stone and rubbish to the side of the step. For me first impressions count for a lot so another ten minutes tidying would make for a more positive first impression. Thank you for a top job.
Mathrew S, Wallasey