How to Remove Blood Stains from Tile Floors
Nowadays, most homeowners and business owners prefer tiles as they can withstand high traffic. While tiles are durable, stains from blood, hard water, and rust can make them look unsightly. These stains penetrate the grout lines, making it difficult to clean once they dry up. Deeper cleaning might be your only way out of the mess. Here are some tips to help you remove blood stains from your tile floors.
Step 1: Clean as per the type of tile
According to Hunker, tiles come in different materials like porcelain, ceramic, limestone, granite, or marble. Porcelain or ceramic tiles are like plastics as they are non-porous. So, they don’t need scrubbing or powerful bleachers to get rid of bloodstains. On the other hand, limestone, granite, and marble tiles are porous. These tiles can allow bloodstains to permeate, darkening them further. In both cases, ensure you ask your tiles’ provider about the best cleaning agents as per tile material because some might not withstand cleaning supplies with powerful bleaching agents. To be on the safer side, find a mild cleaner.
Step 2: Cleaning the tiles
Before cleaning, wear gloves to protect your skin from harmful chemicals. Also, remember to open the windows and doors for smooth air circulation. Fresh blood is easy to clean, so water and soap will do the trick. But if the stain is dry, the cleaning process might take time and suitable cleaning agents.
Vinegar, baking soda, and warm water option
Vinegar is an excellent must-have since it has many functions, including getting rid of bloodstains. Baking soda and warm water can also do the trick. You will need a cup of vinegar and a gallon of warm water. Dip cotton wool into the solution of vinegar and water or water and baking soda, and wipe the stain. Do it repeatedly until you see some changes.
Hydrogen peroxide option
According to WikiHow, hydrogen peroxide is the perfect alternative to natural cleaning solutions. It would help if you had hydrogen peroxide with 3% potency and diluted it with warm water. Dip cotton wool or a clean rag into the solution before dabbing it on the tile floor or wall. Remember, hydrogen peroxide is highly corrosive, so ensure you clean the tiled surface thoroughly with water. The bloodstain can prove to be stubborn depending on the tile material. In that case, dip a rag into the hydrogen peroxide solution before laying it flat over the stain. Let it stay there for one or two hours. To avoid damaging your tiles, test the rag on an inconspicuous spot. If it doesn’t react, then you can go ahead to clean the visible area. Besides bloodstains, hydrogen peroxide is a good cleaning product for coffee stains and nail polish on ceramic tiles. However, it would be best to remember that it has bleaching properties. So, ensure you clean it off thoroughly using water to remove any traces.
The bleach and water option
If hydrogen peroxide and other natural cleaning solutions don’t seem to work, getting a bleach designed for your tiled floor can come in handy. Start by diluting one cup of bleach with a gallon of water. Get a cleaning rag and dab it into the mixture. Start cleaning the bloodstain. If there isn’t any improvement, add the second cup of bleach to the mixture. However, don’t go overboard with the mixture. Bleachers for tiles can clean off stubborn stains like blood, coffee, and even nail polish. It’s powerful and effective, making it a must-have cleaning product you should include on your shopping list. However, it can react with other cleaning products. So, ensure you clean the surface thoroughly with water before introducing other cleaning solutions to your tiled surface.
Get a marble poultice for marble tiles
Marble tiles are porous by nature, making them hard to clean once stubborn stains permeate through them. If you’ve tried all these methods and none seems to work, get poultice for marble floors. Start by rubbing the paste on the stained area. Cover it with plastic for 24 to 48 hours. After that, wipe the paste and confirm if the stain is still there. Considering the potent properties marble poultice boasts, it’s improbable that you will see the stain afterward. It’s designed for this tile material, so it should be your last option if the methods you’ve tried seem futile. For light-set stains, use a thin layer of marble poultice. If it’s deep-set, wait more than one day to ensure the stain disappears.
Scouring powder option
Scouring powder is a good cleaning product for toilets and tiled surfaces. You can pour a few drops of water to make the stain wet. Sprinkle the scouring powder on the stain. Add more water and let it sit for 10 minutes. You can use a toothbrush to remove the stain or wipe it off using a sponge. Clean the surface thoroughly with water to remove traces of the scouring powder.
Step 3: Treat your grout stains
Now that you’ve succeeded at cleaning and drying your tiles due to bloodstains, it’s time to give your grout some attention. The first thing you should do is treat it separately. You can use natural methods like water and baking soda to remove the stains. Alternatively, make a baking soda paste with hydrogen peroxide to speed the stain lifting. Keep in mind that not all products for getting rid of stains from grout are effective or designed for your tiles. Therefore, ensure you buy one tailored for your floor. Apply a cleanser once you’ve applied it and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. According to Grout Shields, a grout sealant will also come in handy to protect the tiles and renew their look.
Conclusion
The best hack for removing blood stains from the tiles is cleaning when they are still fresh using water and mild soap. However, blood dries up pretty quickly, so you should consider the natural or bleaching options approved for cleaning tiles. Remember to clean the bleached tiled surface thoroughly with water afterward to prevent reaction with other cleaning products. Once the tiles are free from bloodstains, treat the grout separately. All these options have been tried-and-tested, so rest assured that your tile will be protected.
