When it comes to choosing your tile for any part of the house, there are a lot of things to consider. You’ve got to think about how that tile will look in the space. Consider how it blends with your décor and the look you’re going for. On top of those elements, you should also consider the cleaning requirements.
So many times, we purchase tile for the look, and we don’t really think about the cleaning details until after the fact. Sometimes we end up with tile and then wish we had never chosen that particular color or style because they are impossible to clean. What about black tile?
Black tiles can be harder to keep clean once you get it installed. While it won’t show imperfections and blemishes as easily, it will show every little water spot or piece of dust. The good news is people rarely judge water spots. The grime that shows it has been a while since you last cleaned the shower won’t show up nearly as easily.
It can be challenging to keep black tile looking clean but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You can find ways to clean them and keep them looking great. In this guide, we will walk you through keeping black tiles clean as well as the best color for hiding pesky dirt between cleanings.
Why Is Black Tile Hard to Keep Clean?
Have you ever walked into a home with gorgeous dark wood floors? Those floors are completely lovely, but they also show every little thing that gets on them. When it comes to black tiles it’s the same concept.
You’ve got a stark black contrast paired with white or gray dust. It looks really amazing but keeping it clean is a chore. This is true of black tiles anywhere in the home. Whether you want to tile the shower, tile the backsplash, or just tile the floors.
Things like grime and buildup won’t show as much on these tiles but other things like water spots, dirt, and dust will have a stark look against the black tile.
How Do You Keep Black Tiles Clean?
You have some different options when it comes to planning how to keep your black tile looking clean. First of all, you could potentially choose a black marbled look instead of just plain black. That little bit of marbling will add just enough color that dirt, dust, and water spots will blend in with the marbled look.
Of course, if you’ve already decided on a black tile, you need to know how to clean it well. Since they show water spots, you have to be mindful of how you clean the black tile too. If you’re not careful, cleaning them can leave behind residue and water spots that are not attractive. Plus, it makes it feel like it’s not even worth cleaning.
Follow these steps to clean your black tile for the best results.
- Gather a little bit of vinegar, water, and castile soap.
- Use a spray bottle to create a cleaning mixture that’s great for cleaning black tile without residue.
- Fill the spray bottle about halfway with water.
- Add in 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar.
- Add in 4-5 drops of castile soap and mix everything together well in the spray bottle. A good shake works too.
- Spray the tile generously but don’t spray the entire surface at once as the mixture could start to dry. Instead, spray a small area and then clean that area and move on to the next section.
If you are mopping, use a microfiber mop. If you’re cleaning showers, counters, or walls, you can use a microfiber cloth instead.
What Color Tile is Easiest to Keep Clean?
When you choose your tile, you should choose carefully. It’s not that you don’t clean well, it’s just that some tile colors will show every little thing.
Solid colors are the hardest color to keep clean. It’s just because there is nothing to contrast with the dirt or dust that accumulates. However, if you do choose to use a solid color, go with a color like gray or a light tan, or nude color. These shades are less likely to make dirt or dust, or any other type of grime stand out.
Stay away from the white or black tiles. These contrast with literally everything that touches them. They are a major pain to keep looking clean.
Some other color options you might consider that work really well would be anything that is marbled or has a mixture of colors. The color combinations swirl together and the patterns or speckles in them often conceal dirt and dust quite well. No one will be able to tell if you skipped cleaning your floors today.
Here’s a top-secret tip that might help you with tiles. When you choose your flooring, remember that the grout will also probably get dirty or show dirt. Using a dark color of grout actually will help prevent dirty and discolored grout. Try a marbled gray tile with black grout and see how awesome it looks. It also won’t look dirty.
What Color Flooring Shows the Least Dirt?
It’s always our goal to conceal the dirt or dust that happens in between cleanings. Even if we clean our houses top to bottom every day, dirt still accumulates. It’s just the way it works. It’s impossible to clean every speck and never see another speck of dirt or debris.
Choose your flooring colors wisely to help conceal dirt in the meantime, rather than make it stand out to everyone who walks by.
The best way to do this is to choose a color that is similar to dirt. You can find tasteful light brown colors. If you choose hardwood, use light to medium hardwood. If you use tile, find a tile color that is light to medium brown or even gray.
Again, it’s also a great idea to find patterned or marbled colors to help as well.
Conclusion
Black tiles really can be hard to keep clean. However, you can use some tips to help clean it well if you have black tile already. If you’re just trying to choose a great tile for your home, consider using something marbled or with a pattern. If you love the way black looks, try a marbled black and it won’t be nearly as hard to keep clean.
