HGTV's Nicole Curtis Uses One Simple Kitchen Item To Get Bathroom Tile Clean
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
When restoring an old home, HGTV's Nicole Curtis always starts by giving the space a deep clean. As she says on her Instagram, "I say this and show it in every single episode between 'Rehab Addict' and 'Rehab Addict Rescue.' Clean it and treasure it." One of the grimiest things she often has to scrub is the bathroom floor or shower tiles, and she sometimes uses a specific tool to get into every nook and cranny: An old pot scrubber. If you don't already have this small brush in your kitchen, you could purchase one at Target for under $5.
There are a few benefits to using a pot scrubber in the bathroom, including that the soft bristles will effectively wash the tiles without damaging the typically delicate material. Further, pot scrubbers often have a short handle, making them easy to hold onto. Finally, if you already have this item in your kitchen but it's looking a bit worn, using it to scrub bathroom tiles is a sustainable way to recycle this tool.
Curtis recommends cleaning, not replacing
Instead of getting down on your hands and knees and washing your old tiles with a pot scrubber, you may be tempted to replace them, especially if they are quite dated. However, Curtis says that it's almost always better to clean bathroom tiles instead of installing new ones. On Twitter, she says, "Get cleaning instead of demoing old tile." And, when one person comments, "I have old '50s tile in my bathroom (salmon color). Keep it, paint it, or rip it out?" Curtis replies, "Really? Get off Twitter and go clean it and cherish it."
Curtis advocates for scrubbing over removing tiles because she believes that most 'worn' pieces are actually just dirty. Further, cleaning will definitely be more cost-effective than replacing, as you won't have to pay for new tiles. It will also be much easier, as there won't be any demolition or installation involved. Additionally, preserving as much of the original home as possible is best, as this will ensure that your design looks cohesive with the time period of the architecture.