Ingrained, dirty kitchen tiles - please help

[JanewaysBun]

Hi all

I have moved into a new house and the kitchen tiles have really ingrained dirt. I've tried white vinegar/regular floor cleaner but it hasn't really made a difference (photo 1 is after/photo 2 is before). Does anyone have any ideas? I've been scrubbing them with a brush but haven't had a lot of success. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

Steam cleaner, ideally one with a little wire brush attachment. Hire/borrow/buy one.

Hydrogen peroxide* sprayed on and covered with clingfilm for a few hours could work. Might want to make it into a paste with bicarb for the grouting.

*This needs to be diluted a bit with water

I would buy one of those oven cleaning sets with the bag to soak the racks. Paint on some of the liquid one or two tiles at a time and then scrub off. I would only do this if I had no pets or children I couldn’t absolutely 100% guarantee could not enter the room.

Have you tried soda crystals? (The ones in a bigg-ish green bag that costs about £1). I find a scoop with a couple of drops of water and a stiff brush lifts most grime.

Thanks all! Will try the suggestions

I have actually tried soda crystals already

With a steam cleaner would that be like a steam mop?

Not just a normal steam mop, no.

Something with a targeted nozzle/detail brush that you can aim in grout lines and really target the steam.

Magic sponge always works for everything in my experience. If not that then you need a scrubbing brush and an abrasive paste like ‘the pink stuff’.

I sat with a bottle of bleach and toothbrush over 2/3 days. Literally pouring a little neat and then wiping away. It looked beautiful and stayed like that fortunately with just hoovering and mopping until we moved 2 years later.

Im not sure I could do that again so now we have one of the steam cleaners with the nozzle. Not as good as my toothbrush method but life is short!

I have a high pressure, hot water jug with a nozzle thingy and have been known to get down and go at it with that. All the dirt is just pushed off in ribbons.

Have towels at the ready.

Cilit Bang Black Mold remover, worked great on my tiles and grout. Spray on, leave to soak, rub with toothbrush and rinse off.

Oh god, have you moved into my house?! It looks exactly like a picture of my floor.
I have those tiles in my utility room. Although mine are slightly more pink tinged. Thank god they're only in the utility room rather than the whole kitchen, because they're filthy and impossible to scrub. I literally cannot get them clean. When I moved in, the house had been professionally cleaned (twice) and they were still filthy.
Now I've lived here for a while, given my blah attitude to cleaning (it's nice, tidy, but not spotless) they really are not good. I'd never ever choose them if I was having the floor relaid.
Sorry, no help on how to clean them, I'm just pleased that I can now blame the tiles and not myself

My friend has bought some of the Nana's cleaner, so far it has been miraculous on everything he's tried it on. That might be worth a try. He raves about it.

@Minikievs definitely the tiles - they're so textured the dirt gets stuck. I just found a bit I haven't scrubbed already and attached below- the WHOLE FLOOR was like this (pic attached)

@Pinkpinkpink15 thanks will look for that cleaner

Are you sure it isn’t grey grout?
looks too even to me to be just dirt

Bleach and a toothbrush.

It's more the horrible black specks which do come off with some rubbing. Have bleached a bit today so will see how that goes.

I have actually got a small steam cleaner but it's tiny ans takes forever so a bit rubbish

I think if this is your kitchen floor and you're not going to replace it then it's probably worth investing in a hardcore steam cleaner.

It's a rental (hopefully for 1 year max) so can't change them sadly. I was looking in b&q at the karcher ones today so might male that my next big purchase!

I used HG tile cleaner and a scrubbing brush, they came up lovely.

Another vote for soda crystals and a steam cleaner. Worked wonders for me before putting house on market.

Soak cotton wool balls in bleach and stick them into the cracks, leave overnight and you will be amazed.

Do a small area first and see how it works. Good luck.

I second this. Wools great for the tiles behind the stove as well

Ooh thanks - will try. Ive got them quite clean but they pick up dirt so badly. Had been looking at the HG cleaner ....