Six3Tile Maintenance & Care: How to Clean and Maintain Shower Tile & Kitchen Backsplashes

If you’ve installed or are considering installing Six3Tile panels, it’s crucial to learn how to clean and maintain them. Though Six3Tile is incredibly durable and long-lasting, using the wrong cleaning and maintenance products and techniques could cause the surface to dull. Six3Tile wall panels require the same cleaning techniques as ceramic tile - but with a few exceptions. So, we urge you to read this article in its entirety. We’ll share with you how to keep Six3Tile panels looking stunning.  

Precautions to Keep in Mind

Before you get started with Six3Tile care and maintenance, there are a few precautions you should be aware of. And we’ll get into them here: 

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For any products you’ll be using, always follow the instructions as they’re written on the packaging. 
• Protect your skin and face from chemicals. This may include wearing goggles or chemical-resistant gloves.
• Be mindful of the environment. It’s best to work in a room with ample ventilation to minimize the inhalation of chemical fumes.

With all of this in mind, you’re ready to get to work!

How to Clean Shower Tile & Kitchen Backsplashes by Six3Tile

Cleaning your Six3Tile wall panels doesn’t require a ton of time or effort, but it’s best to follow the below instructions for maximum longevity and a radiant shine.

Light Cleaning

For light cleanup, use a clean, damp cloth or non-abrasive sponge to wipe the tile regularly. We advise against using the scrubber side of the sponge – doing so could scratch the tile surface. If you prefer to use a cloth, go with one made of microfiber of neutral color (some colored microfibers can bleed). In addition to that, you can use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to make the tile shinier. Stay away from wax or oil-based cleansers.

To sum things up, here’s what to use and what to avoid when cleaning your Six3Tile panels:

Do use:

• Standard household sponges
• Clean, soft, damp cloths
• Any typical, non-abrasive disinfectant spray
• Any typical, non-abrasive all purpose or bathroom cleaner
• Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
• White vinegar, for tough stains

Do NOT use:

• Abrasive scrubber pads
• Oil or wax-based cleaners for shine
• Metal scrapers
• Steel wool or pads (Brillo Pads)

Think about what you’d use to wash or clean your car. You wouldn’t use something that would scratch or score the surface, or react with the car’s paint. The same holds true for cleaning Six3TIle. 

Heavy-Duty Cleaning

When the tiles get visibly soiled or coated in residue, wiping them down with a soft towel won’t cut it. You’ll need to take things a step further to get them clean while also being mindful of how rough or damaging they might be.

Wipe the tiles down with a liquid-based cleanser and a soft cloth or sponge. As we explained before, stay away from any products that could be abrasive. That means no powdered cleansers, like Ajax® or Comet®  - both of these could dull or scratch the surface of the tile. You should also be careful to avoid any cleansers that are acidic or otherwise harsh, like ammonia or bleach.  

So, what type of cleanser should you use?

Do use:

• Liquid-based cleansers (Simple Green® or Dawn®)
• Disinfectant wipes (Clorox® brand wipes work well for reducing bacteria)
• Foaming cleansers (Dow Scrubbing Bubbles®)
• All-purpose multi-surface cleansers and glass cleansers (Windex® and similar products)
• White vinegar

Do NOT use:

• Abrasive scrubber pads
• Bleach
• Ammonia-based cleansers

Alternative Cleansers for Six3Tile

An increasing number of environmentally safe cleaning products are being marketed to the public daily. In addition to that, social media is crawling with DIY natural cleansers of every kind. As a result, you or your clients may feel inclined to use alternative cleansers for Six3Tile. Given the sheer number of remedies and products out there, there’s no way for us to test them all to find out which ones work. 

So, the safest way to determine whether a given cleanser is a good fit for Six3Tile is to do a spot test. Wash a very small portion of the tile with your chosen cleanser to see how it goes. If you notice any damage, scratches, or other issues, we advise against using it further.

If the cleanser you have in mind is free of abrasive particles and harsh ingredients, it may work perfectly. But to stay on the safe side, take some time to test it out.

Control Moisture

Six3Tile panels stand up to moisture really well. So, you don’t have to worry about the tiles degrading when coming into contact with water. But, as with any other surface, leaving water on the tiles for an extended time could lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as soap scum.

To control moisture that accumulates on bathroom and tub walls, leave your shower curtain open to aid in ventilation and moisture evaporation. You can also get rid of the moisture by wiping the tiles with a soft towel or rubber squeegee. 

Tile Maintenance Tips for Six3Tile

Keeping your tiles clean is a big part of tile maintenance, but you’ll also need to tend to the grout every now and again. The grout used with Six3Tile is the same grout used for ceramic tile. So, typical grout cleaning and maintenance processes will apply.

For stained grout:

1. Apply either a baking soda paste or hydrogen peroxide solution to the grout.
2. Wait a while for the cleanser to lift the stain.
3. Scrub the area with a toothbrush.
4. Rinse the area.

For general grout cleaning:

1. Apply a commercial grout cleaner to the grout.
2. Wait for around 15 minutes for it to work.
3. Scrub the dirt away with a toothbrush.
4. Rinse the grout with clean water.

Note: Be very careful when scrubbing the grout lines. Scrubbing the tile could damage it.

So, there you have it – backsplash and tile shower maintenance and cleaning tips for Six3Tile. We hope you found all the information you were looking for. For more information about Six3Tile, we encourage you to take a look at our website, where you’ll find customer resources, frequently asked questions, and more. Happy tiling!

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