Bathroom cleaning is the most difficult part of the house cleaning process. Since the bathroom surfaces are covered in majority with tiles, knowing how to approach the tile cleaning will dramatically cut the cleaning time.

During the cleaning process, you can basically have to deal with the following issues:

• Soapy film - of course, soap is something used all the time in the bathroom. Especially near the sink and on the shower / bathtub walls there wil be some soap build-up that must be removed

• Water related stains - usually the tap water contains some minerals. The drops drying on the shower walls will leave behind stains - those are the water related stains

• Mildew - in areas extremely humid, without much light and not properly ventilated we can see mildew buildup. The mildew removal requires a totally different approach and different cleaning products

• Dirt - of course, dirt can be found in the bathroom as well, however this should not be treated separately in terms of the cleaning approach because usually gets removed during the process of removing the soapy film, the water based stains and the mildew

There are a lot of cleaning products that can be used for tile cleaning.

For regular soapy film and water based stains, you can purchase your preferred cleaning product from the grocery shop. For soapy film and other stains, a scouring powder product - like ajax - can be used with maximum results. Just apply the powder with little water, then rub the area with slow circular motion and usually this will remove the stains and the soapy film. Then rinse with warm water and you are done. Use on this purpose a regular sponge dipped in water.

A lot of people avoid the above mentioned cleaning products and use do it yourself materials usually containing vinegar, baking soda and salt. Before using any material you must make sure it will not damage the tiles. Also, some materials require protective equipment - by all means, use all the equipment they require.

The mildew is removed with a couple of steps

• Spray a disinfectant - usually chlorine based bleach

• Leave it for some time - one hour

• Then rinse the area and try to rub gently. If the mildew layer is old, though, a couple of attempts might be necessary

• A room properly lit, ventilated and dry will prevent mildew. Keep this in mind and make a habit from ventilating the bathroom after use. If ventilation is not enough, then use a moisture capture device

Be careful with the chemicals - besides the fact they require protective equipment, they also don't mix well. Make sure especially you don't mix ammonia and chlorine products as they will release toxic fumes.

Also be careful with the grout as you can easily damage it. If you break the grout you must fix it right away, otherwise the water will penetrate the layer and get to the drywall. Also, if you have mildew and you apply chlorine bleach material, ensure the grout is white or near white, otherwise its color will disappear in the spots where the bleach is applied.

Be careful, protect yourself, carefully read the instructions for all the cleaning products and you will be on your way to very good results!