How to Clean Your Kitchen Backsplash
Few things in the home get as dirty as the kitchen backsplash. Between the hot grease and the spaghetti sauce splatter spots, that thing takes a beating. It's best to get into the habit of wiping up splashes as soon as they happen, but sometimes life gets a little hectic. If you find you've really let it build up, here is how to clean your kitchen backsplash when it's gotten pretty bad.
Know Your Materials
It's important to make sure you are using the correct cleaning products, which will depend on the material of your backsplash.
The most common materials you'll see for backsplashes are:
Laminates
Ceramic or porcelain tile
Glass tile
Marble
Quartz
Sometimes you may have a more specialized material, like a metal or a porous stone tile. If this is the case you will have to be very careful with choosing a product to clean them. Once you know exactly with material you are working with, you may have to do some research on what to use and what techniques to use.
How to Clean Your Kitchen Backsplash Tile
For most backsplashes, your go-to cleaner is simply a mild detergent, water, and of course some elbow grease.
A quick spray with kitchen cleaner or even water mixed with a few drops of dish soap will work well to break down grease. Let the cleaner breakdown the molecules by letting it soak for a minute or so. Once the cleaner has lifted the dirt, you’ll be able to scrub everything away using a regular kitchen scrubber.
Work in circular motions. If there is still some stubborn dirt, add a little more cleanser and let it soak for a couple of minutes. Once you've gotten everything loose, wipe away the remaining detergent with some warm water. Use a soft cloth to dry the surface.
If you're still seeing some dirt or discoloration in the grouted areas, you'll need to take the following step.
Cleaning Your Backsplash Grout
For the majority of ceramic, porcelain, and glass tiles, a powerful grout cleaner can be made from just a few household ingredients. For any metal surfaces you'll want to spot check any cleaners you use.
Make a paste from equal parts white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. With an old toothbrush paste apply this to any stains or grease spots.
The acidity from the paste will help to break down the grease. It also reacts with the baking soda to release carbon dioxide gas, helping to lift the stains and make them easier to remove.
Keep scrubbing at the stains until you see an improvement. Once the area is clean, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe everything away.
You can keep the grout clean for a longer length of time if you seal it with a grout sealer. If you've never sealed your grout, or it's been a long time since you have, you can purchase a sealer and apply it to your newly scrubbed grout once it's completely dry.
How to Clean a Metal Backsplash
Backsplash tiles made from metal are designed to resist dirt and rust. If you use the wrong type of cleaning materials on them, it could strip away their protective layer. If you don't have specific instructions on the metal tile in your home, or you're just not sure about what you can use, spot test on the most inconspicuous spot first.
It's usually best to stay with a simple, weak mixture of mild detergent and water, rather than using bleach or oil-based cleaning products. Lightly spray any dried-on stains with the mixture and leave it to soak for a few moments. Gently wipe away any stains away with a soft cloth. Repeat a light soak if necessary.
With metal surfaces you have to be very careful to not scratch the surface. Any scratches that are put into the material will be almost impossible to remove. Avoid using brushes, scourers, or scrubbers that have any metal in them or may be too abrasive.
Hiring Professionals
Maybe you don't have the time to tackle a good backsplash scrub down, or just want to spend your time doing something else. Keeping everything sparkling clean in your kitchen can be a daunting task when you have so much going on day-to-day. If you're struggling to keep up you may appreciate a helping hand occasionally – or on a regular basis.
If you're interesting in having a professional clean your home, Primavera Cleaning Service is here to help! For immediate service, call us at 608-333-6321 or request a free quote online!