Tile Floor Cleaner for Limescale with Citric Acid
A strong Citric Acid wash for ceramic and porcelain tiles dulled by limescale and mineral deposits.
Takes 30 minutes
What you’ll need
- 30–50 g per litre Citric Acid
- Hot Water
- Bucket
- Mop
- Magic Sponge, Sponge or Brush
- Rubber gloves
Method
- Start by creating a strong cleaning solution by mixing 30-50 grams per litre of Citric Acid with hot water in a bucket.
- Let it cool down a bit, then apply it to the floor, giving it time to loosen up mineral deposits, dirt, and any rust or mould.
- Give individual stained tiles a good scrub with a sponge, or use a Magic Sponge for even better results.
- Once you’re done scrubbing the tile and you’ve let the acid work it’s magic, rinse the floor twice.
- Keep the door and window open, and if you’ve got an exhaust fan, switch it on to help the floor dry.
Deep clean your tiles.
The dull film on tiled floors is often minerals. Acid dissolves them so the shine returns.
The science: Citric Acid (PubChem, NIH) → · Hard water and soap scum (USGS) →
Electronic Screens:
Phones, laptops, tablets, televisions, etc., all come with a protective coating to reduce smudges. Citric Acid can break down this layer, revealing the layers meant to be protected.
Sealed Wood:
Citric Acid can degrade the wax sealant, causing the protective layer to break
down and leaving a cloudy appearance. It also makes the surface more susceptible to further damage.
Natural Stone:
Citric Acid can etch or pit stone, granite, marble, and quartz surfaces so it should never be used to clean natural stone surfaces. The enzymes in Citric Acid will break down the delicate surface layer of these materials, corroding slowly over time.
Store Citric Acid sealed tightly, in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children and pets.
Avoid breathing in Citric Acid as it can cause upper respiratory symptoms, always measure out the Citric Acid powder in a well-ventilated area. Whilst Citric Acid is found in food items in a small quantity as a preservative if large amounts of Citric Acid are ingested it could cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Citric Acid can irritate your eyes and skin. Take care not to spill the powder and wear rubber gloves when working with this substance.
B&M Pro-Tip 1:
Tile grout is a semi-porous cement that can be cleaned with Citric Acid, but it may eat it over time. However, this is the case with many grout cleaners. For everyday cleaning opt for a gentler Citric Acid solution.
B&M Pro-Tip 2:
Warm water suits tile; wood and laminate need lukewarm, because heat makes boards swell and shrink. Hot or cold water? →
Quick questions
Can I use it on stone tiles?
No. It etches marble, limestone, travertine and granite.
And grout?
Rinse well; regular strong acid can wear cement grout over time.
Try this next: Wall Cleaner →
