3 Tips For Choosing Easy-To-Clean Tiles

In past blogs, we’ve highlighted ways to clean your tiles. But one strategy we haven't addressed is choosing a tile that’s easier to clean in the first place. The right tile will accumulate grime less rapidly and stay looking clean for longer. Light-coloured tiles, natural stone tiles, and textured tiles can be more work to clean, making them less practical for areas that see heavy use, like kitchen backsplashes and bathroom and kitchen floors.

Here are three tips for choosing an easy-to-clean tile.

Avoid Unglazed Tiles

Unglazed tiles like natural stone, raw concrete, or terracotta generally require more maintenance, since they don’t have the smooth, protective surface of porcelain or ceramic. These tiles can attract grime more easily and may absorb moisture, potentially leading to mould growth if they aren’t sealed regularly. If you like the look of natural stone, you can opt for stone-look porcelain tiles, which achieve a similar aesthetic without as much maintenance.

Choose A Darker Colour

Another way to make your tile less work to clean is by selecting a colour that doesn’t show dirt as easily. While white tiles offer a bright look, this often fades after a short period of regular use. Neutral to dark tones can be a better choice for heavy-use areas like bathroom or kitchen floors. You can also opt for a patterned or speckled tile to help make dirt less visible.

Minimizing Grout Lines

Grout lines are the hardest part of your tile to keep clean and can develop mould or mildew if not maintained properly. This can be especially difficult if you have large grout lines, a trend that has been popular in recent years. If you’d like to minimize the amount you need to clean your tiles, consider reducing the number and size of your grout lines. You can do this by opting for thinner grout lines, selecting a darker grout that doesn’t show dirt as easily, and choosing larger tiles, which will have fewer grout lines and therefore less grout to clean.

Trini Tile has great options for tiles that make cleaning a little less work. Visit Trini Tile’s showroom in Vaughan to browse our extensive collection.