How to Clean and Maintain a Glazed Tile Kitchen Backsplash

The best tips for preserving the beauty of your kitchen tiles

By Clay Imports

Keeping your kitchen backsplash clean is essential not only for maintaining the appearance of your kitchen, but also for the hygiene of your cooking space. Backsplashes often catch splatters, grease, and grime, making them prone to stains and buildup. In this article, we’ll provide practical tips to effectively clean your backsplash, ensuring the lifespan of your tiled backsplash.

What’s a backsplash?

A backsplash is a vertical surface installed behind a kitchen counter, stove, or sink, designed to protect the wall from splashes, spills, and stains. Unlike other walls, backsplashes are often made of materials that are easy to clean and maintain, such as glass, metal, stone or more often, tile. They not only have a functional purpose; they add an aesthetic value to your kitchen and is a space that can be exploited while designing your space. You can take a look at our guide where our very own Anna Lood built a backsplash DIY style.

Which are the best backsplash tiles?

Glazed tiles are the best tiles for a kitchen backsplash. Their coating is not only durable, but is also fuzed with the body of the tile, which means they are easy to clean and not porous, like a natural terracotta tile.

Fun fact: Clay Imports was the first company in the world to glaze Saltillo tile, so we cannot recommend these tiles more! They come in a great variety of sizes and colors and can accommodate any project you have. If you want to know more about glazed Saltillo tiles, take a look at our article about everything you need to know about glazed thin bricks.

Just keep in mind that these handmade tiles will exhibit natural variations, which are inherent traits of natural materials like Terracotta. These variations in color, texture and sheen are not defects but rather a natural part of the product. We highly recommend ordering samples before making a final purchase to confirm and appreciate these natural variations in each tile.

How to clean your tile backsplash

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need the following items:

• Mild dish soap
• Warm water
• A soft sponge or cloth
• A non-abrasive scrub brush
• A spray bottle (optional)
• White vinegar (optional)
• A heavy duty, neutral pH cleaner designed to clean any type of tile (like our Unscented and Palo Santo concentrate)
• Baking soda (for tough stains)
• A microfiber cloth

Step 2: Prepare the Cleaning Solution

For regular cleaning, mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water in a bowl or spray bottle. For a natural cleaning solution, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

Step 3: Wipe Down the Backsplash

Spray the cleaning solution generously onto the backsplash. Use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe down the surface, focusing on areas with visible grease or stains. For more stubborn spots, use a non-abrasive scrub brush to gently scrub the area. Keep in mind that you should always scrub from top to bottom; doing circles or changing the direction of your scrub while working could scratch your tile.

Step 4: Tackle Tough Stains

For persistent or old stains, make a paste using baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing with a soft sponge. Rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.

Step 5: Rinse and Dry

After cleaning, rinse the backsplash with clean water to remove any soap or vinegar residue. Use a dry microfiber cloth to buff the surface, ensuring there are no streaks or water spots.

Recommendations

Routine Maintenance

To keep your backsplash looking its best, do this maintenance routine daily by wiping it down with a damp cloth or sponge. This prevents the buildup of grease and grime, making deep cleaning less frequent and more manageable. This is specially recommended if the backsplash is stained with grease, because it can stain further your tile.

Avoid Harsh Cleaners

Harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive tools can damage the surface of your backsplash. Stick to mild dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda for effective and safe cleaning. You can also take a look at our cleaner concentrate, one of the favorite items in our Clay Care products. This eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaner is a uniquely formulated, heavy duty, neutral pH cleaner designed to clean any type of tile and is available in both Unscented and Palo Santo.

Quick Action

Clean spills and splatters as soon as they occur to prevent them from setting in and becoming harder to remove. Keeping a small spray bottle of your preferred cleaning solution handy in the kitchen can make this task more convenient.

Conclusion

At Clay Imports we constantly work to create the most durable and best looking tiles However, that doesn’t mean your tiles should be left on their own once installed, they require constant maintenance and a caring approach, that way, your backsplashes will last for years to come. And remember, if you have any questions or require more information, don't hesitate to reach out to us at contact@clayimports.com.