Tile floors typically require frequent maintenance due to the amount of use and abuse they withstand. In areas like restrooms, showers and kitchens this is doubly true. But what about tiled wall surfaces? Should they receive the same maintenance treatment as the tiled floors beneath them?

The truth is walls tend to take a lot less abuse than floors for the simple fact that no one is walking on them. That doesn’t mean they don’t get soiled and present cosmetic and bacterial issues, though. A Facilitiesnet.com article on the benefits of restroom renovations states, “Every time a toilet is flushed, up to 10,000 bacteria and viruses can atomize into the air. It takes just one hour for germs on a sink handle to multiply by a factor of 16.”

These atomized particles certainly land on walls as well – walls people touch and lean against for support. So, it’s definitely important they receive proper cleaning. They probably just don’t need it as often.

General Maintenance 

Although tiled walls add more square footage to clean, they typically take less time to maintain than tiled floors thanks to lower levels of soiling. 

For routine maintenance, a cleaning product can be applied to the walls using a pump sprayer. The surface should then be agitated with a medium-bristle deck brush. For larger areas, a battery-powered rotating brush works best and gets the job done quickly. A rinse with clean water should complete the job.

Although walls are easier to clean, how often they need to be maintained will depend on the environment and specific rates of use and abuse. Tiled walls in frequently used areas within gyms and hospitals should be cleaned daily. Restroom walls in an area like a corporate restroom may require far less frequency.

In the era of a global pandemic, more routine sanitizing is wise in all common areas, especially restrooms, showers and fitness facilities.

Stubborn Staining and Soap Scum

If routine cleaners and agitation aren’t effective on walls, the problem may not be the method, but a buildup of chemical residue. 

Metal fixtures or parts of partitions are often cleaned with oil-based stainless-steel cleaners. These cleaners should be applied to a cloth before wiping fixtures but custodial staff sometimes spray these cleaners directly onto metal surfaces. This, of course, causes an excess of the chemical spray to land on floors and walls, where it builds up over time. This residue is often the reason why routine cleaning is ineffective. 

The same holds true for soap scum. Residual build-up from degreasers and chemicals designed to remove soap scum should be used prior to regular cleaning, agitation and rinsing.

Seal and Protect

Like tiled floors, walls are made from naturally porous materials and should therefore be sealed, especially in high-moisture environments. Without it, dirt and foul liquids will eventually penetrate the tiny pinholes present within the grout – or imperfections in the tiles’ surface – leading to staining, unpleasant odors and bacterial buildup. 

Although walls may not need a durable shield to protect them from high levels of abuse, it is important to make sure sealants are periodically refreshed. A professional tile and grout restoration company can assist with this and schedule critical maintenance around your facility’s specific needs, patterns of use and financial budget. 

In addition, a good tile restoration service will have specialized products that will not only protect tiled wall surfaces but can also enhance or recolor them, provide microbial qualities and ease the physical burden of maintenance.