[CVG]

I have Mexican tile (which has been sealed) on the bathroom counter around the sink that has what seem to be toothpaste stains; tile cleaners have no effect. How do I remove these stains?

[mrscleannw]

Hi CVG. Welcome to Mrs. Clean!
Mexican tile is terra cotta, which is made from baked clay. Terra cotta literally means ?baked earth?. In its natural state, terra cotta is extremely porous and subject to stains, which is why it is frequently glazed, or sealed.

Glazing actually adds a clear hard layer over the surface of the tile, which makes the tile basically impervious to stains.

Sealing is another matter?

The process of sealing stone or tile, involves coating the stone with a solution that impregnates the porous surface, making the surface repel water, and so ?more resistant? to stains. But it will not make the surface impervious to stains. This is because the sealer wears off with time (and with the use of cleaning products) and the sealer must be reapplied every 6 months to 2 years depending on the manufacturers? recommendations.

The darn sealant wears off!
I?ve learned my lesson the hard way. Sealing and the reapplication of the sealant is a necessary step for anyone with stone, marble, unglazed tile and the grout in between any tile.

So, with all that being said, the stain you are fighting with could be toothpaste, but it could also be caused from salts or minerals that are in the water (aka hard water). Over time, if the sealant has worn off many substances can get into the porous surface and become embedded in the tile.

The first thing I would try is plain white vinegar mixed 50/50 with water. Soak a white paper towel with the mixture and place it over the stain and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

The vinegar works as a mild acid and will help to dislodge the stain. Use an old toothbrush or hand brush and see if the stain lightened. If the stain appears improved, another application of vinegar may be required to completely remove the stain.

If the stain has not budged, it may be imbedded minerals or salt have become chemically bound with the clay. (This is why hard water stains are such a pain) If this happens, use some commercially available hard water removal product such as lime away, to dissolve the stain. You can pick up hard water removers at the grocery store. This product is toxic, (acid base) so follow all manufactures instructions, and test on an inconspicuous spot first.

I hope that helps!