How to remove tea/turmeric stains on vitreous tiles?

November 7, 2006 6:01 PM

Vitreous Enamel Tiles absorb tea and turmeric, the stains of which can't be washed. They make tiles look ugly. Is there any method/chemical remove the stains caused by them?
posted by vicharak to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

I had to double check what vitreous enamel was, and this website about vitreous enamel care was what I came across.

I use a weak bleach solution on enameled cast iron pots and it works great (and it's OK according to the manufacturer). Shouldn't be any problem using it on tiles, too.
posted by bcwinters at 6:13 PM on November 7, 2006

weak bleach? Full strength laundry bleach won't hurt them.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 7:11 PM on November 7, 2006

Turmeric stains fade fairly quickly under ultraviolet light. If you can't put the tiles out in the sun, try a tanning lamp.

I've had great success shifting tea stains with a paste of sodium bicarbonate.
posted by flabdablet at 9:21 PM on November 7, 2006

If you believe the commercials about how great it works on teeth, then why not try Efferdent?
posted by JJ86 at 5:42 AM on November 8, 2006