How to Prevent Water Spots on Black Tile Shower Floors

Water spots on black tile.
  • 1 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 20
What You'll Need
Razor blade
Cleaning rags
Baking soda
Squeegee
Water
Lemon juice
White vinegar
Box cutter
What You'll Need
Razor blade
Cleaning rags
Baking soda
Squeegee
Water
Lemon juice
White vinegar
Box cutter

Black tile shower floors look very attractive and add a touch of elegance to the bathroom but they are prone to hard water stains and water spots. These blemishes can ruin the appearance of the tiles and detract from their appeal and over time can also damage the surface of the tiles.

Keeping the tiled floor regularly maintained is the only surefire way of preventing these water spots from materializing. Water spots are caused by hard water and other mineral stains which leave unsightly traces on the tile floor.

If these stains are not cleaned immediately and are allowed to build up, they result in water spots. Hence, the only way of preventing water spots in black tile shower floors is to clean the flooring regularly and remove every individual stain that turns up.

Step 1 - Recognize the Hard Water Stains

The existing hard water stains on the tiles lure more soap scum, dirt, and hard water particles. Hence, removing them the minute they are spotted is important to prevent any further buildup. Any dirty patches and stained portions of the tiled floor will need to be cleaned. Recognizing spots in black tiles can take some time but is worth the effort.

Step 2 - Soak the Stains

A shower with black tile.

Hard water stains are alkaline in nature and as they build up they cause practically immovable water spots on the tiles. Combating these spots in the nascent stage is the best way of preventing excessive buildup. Use lemon juice or white vinegar to fight the alkaline stains. The acid in these substances weakens the stains and causes the particles to break. A cleaning rag dipped in vinegar or lemon juice should be used to soak the stains. This solution should be allowed to stand for 20 minutes.

Step 3 - Wipe the Stains

Using a clean washcloth, wipe the vinegar covered stains. Lighter stains usually come off at this level but if they are thick deposits, dip a cleaning rag in a little bit of water and then use some baking soda with it to drive the harder stains off.

Step 4 - Chip the Stains

Black tile on a shower floor.

Some stains don’t leave even when baking soda is used or leave behind some stubborn particles which can attract grime. A razor blade or a box cutter can be used to pry these stains out of their place on the tiles. This step should be carried out carefully as you can damage the surface of the tile. Remove as much as possible with the blade and then use the vinegar soaked rag again for maximum effect.

Step 5 - Prevent Future Stains

When it comes to black tile shower floors, preventing stains is the best way of dealing with water spots. Clean the tiles once a week with cold water and vinegar to keep them new and to stop any water spots from building up. Using a squeegee after every shower use will help to prevent new stains from forming.

Water Spots on Black Tile Shower Floors FAQ

Is a black shower hard to keep clean?

There are many things to consider with a black shower, not the least of which is how difficult they can be to keep clean. Black showers will show water spots more than other colors but they will hide dirt and grime better than other options, too.

What are the disadvantages of a black shower set?

Black shower areas look very modern and stylish but they can get discolored by water and soap scum easier than other colors. You may have to do a little extra cleaning and maintenance with black shower areas, compared to other colors you could choose.

How do you keep dark tile floors clean?

To keep dark or black tile floors clean, you will need to clean them often. You may find yourself cleaning these floors every day or every other day, depending on how much use they get.

Add some drops of liquid soap to hot water to mop floors and clean tile. If you see discolored or stained areas of grout, clean these spots with vinegar and an old toothbrush you can use for scrubbing.

If you clean frequently, you won't have to work as hard to clean and the maintenance will go more quickly.

Do black showers show limescale?

Limescale leaves a chalky, whitish resident on shower and tub areas. Because it's white, limescale will stand out against black showers.

All you need to do to prevent this discoloration is clean the shower area regularly.

Does vinegar stain black tiles?

Vinegar is a well-known go-to all-purpose cleaner around the home. However, it's not safe to use on all surfaces and materials.

You can safely use vinegar to clean laminate, porcelain, vinyl and ceramic tiles. Vinegar can seep into untreated grout and wear it away over time, but sealed grout can be safely cleaned with vinegar.