How to Clean 100-Year-Old Hex Bathroom Tile and Its Grout
18.08.2026
To clean 100-year-old hex bathroom tile, sweep and vacuum the floor, then mop with warm water and a small amount of pH-neutral cleaner. For the grout, apply a paste of baking soda and water, scrub gently with a soft nylon brush, and rinse. Avoid acids and harsh scrubbing, which erode century-old unglazed tile and soft cement grout.
What you'll need
- Soft-bristle nylon brush or an old toothbrush (never wire or hard bristles)
- Microfiber mop and a couple of microfiber cloths
- pH-neutral floor cleaner (labeled "neutral pH" or "for natural stone/unglazed tile")
- Baking soda
- Two buckets or a bucket plus your bathtub for rinse water
- A small squeegee or dry towel for drying (grout stays wet a long time in a windowless NYC bathroom)
- Optional: penetrating grout sealer rated for cement grout
Step by step
- Clear the floor and dry-sweep, then vacuum the grout lines. Grit ground underfoot is what actually scratches unglazed hex tile.
- Mix warm water with a capful of pH-neutral cleaner. Test it on a hidden patch behind the toilet or under the sink pedestal first.
- Mop the whole floor, working in sections so the tile never dries with cleaner sitting on it.
- For dingy grout, make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Spread it along the lines and let it sit a few minutes.
- Scrub each grout line with the soft brush using short strokes. Let the paste do the work instead of leaning hard on old grout.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and a fresh cloth. Residue left behind attracts dirt and looks hazier than before.
- Dry the floor with a towel or squeegee. In a bathroom with a non-opening window, crack the door and run the fan so the grout dries fully.
- Once fully dry (give it 24 hours), consider a penetrating sealer on the grout to slow future staining.
What NOT to do
Skip vinegar, lemon, and any "bathroom" or "lime-fighting" acid cleaner. Old hex tile is usually unglazed porcelain or clay, and the grout is soft lime-based cement. Acid etches both, leaving a permanently dull, chalky surface. Don't use bleach on colored or aged grout; it can lighten it unevenly and break down the cement over time. Steer clear of steam mops. That much heat and moisture can loosen a hundred-year-old mortar bed under the tile. Never use abrasive powders, wire brushes, or magic-eraser-style pads on unglazed tile, as they micro-scratch the surface so it holds dirt faster. And don't drown the floor. Standing water seeps through worn grout and can reach the subfloor and the ceiling of the apartment below.
When to call a pro
DIY handles routine dirt, but there's a point where you can do more harm than good. If grout is crumbling, tiles are lifting or hollow-sounding, or there are deep stains and old paint splatter you're tempted to attack with something aggressive, stop. Restoring a century-old floor sometimes means regrouting or professional deep cleaning that won't strip the tile, and your landlord may need to approve or handle structural repairs. If you'd rather not risk it in a small rental bathroom, book apartment cleaning with CleanWhale and leave the delicate surfaces to someone who does it daily.
FAQ
Can I use vinegar on old hex tile?
No. Vinegar is acidic and etches unglazed tile and soft cement grout, dulling both permanently. Stick to a pH-neutral cleaner and warm water.
Why does my grout still look dark after cleaning?
Century-old grout is porous and absorbs stains deep into the cement, so surface cleaning only goes so far. A baking soda paste helps, and a penetrating sealer slows re-staining, but some darkening is permanent age.
How often should I deep-clean the grout?
A gentle mop weekly and a baking-soda grout scrub every couple of months is plenty. Over-scrubbing old grout wears it down faster than dirt does.
Should I seal the grout after cleaning?
If the grout is intact, a penetrating sealer made for cement grout is a good idea. Apply it only when the floor is completely dry, which can take a full day in a bathroom with no opening window.
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