How do you get the shine back into subway tile?

Vickie Swartz
by Vickie Swartz

I have tried several cleaning methods but everything leaves the tile dull. How can I revive the shine?

  11 answers
  • Diane Coverdale Diane Coverdale on Oct 05, 2018

    Assuming here that the tile is clean and you have a slight haze on the tile: have you tried using a slightly damp microfibre cloth? Buy a cheapie one at the discount store. Very light dampen the cloth on one side, go over the tile and then dry it with the other end.

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Oct 05, 2018

    Hi Vickie,

    Have you tried vinegar & water to clean your tile? Also do you dry it thoroughly then polish it with a dry cloth? Sometimes cleaning ingredients leave behind a residue that needs to be rinsed and polished. Here's an article from Hunker that might help. Wishing you the best.

  • Brenda Brenda on Oct 05, 2018

    Look for a product called Gel-Gloss. It is a cleaner and polish. I used it on a very deglossed shower and it worked amazingly. In the past I’ve also used an Amway product called Silicone Glaze. Good luck.

  • Pam Walker Pam Walker on Oct 06, 2018

    Alcohol bath after mopping. Dry your floor. Use Mop&Glow over the entire thing & it'll shine. For a shinier shine, once your first coat is completely dry, repeat with a 2nd coat. Let it dry overnight.

  • Janice Janice on Oct 06, 2018

    Equal parts of vinegar and water mixed together and sprayed onto the tiles should clean, then dry well with a microfiber cloth. Be sure to dry complete with the cloth and the tile should shine like new.

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Oct 06, 2018

    Try using warm water and vinegar. If there is any cleaning residue from before this should remove it.

  • Susan Carlton Susan Carlton on Oct 06, 2018

    Does the tile have a glaze on it or is it porous? If it's glazed then I'd use Gel Gloss as someone else mentioned. If it is porous, you would get shine from a polyurethane or similar type of product with a shiny finish. Both can be found at a hardware store in the cleaning and paint departments respectively.

  • Bol30011902 Bol30011902 on Oct 06, 2018

    Gel Gloss is a great idea after cleaning with vinegar and water solution. Pledge used to make a spray for shining appliances like your refrigerator/stove. You need to protect whatever is beneath your tile. I would go with Gel Gloss.

  • Louise Louise on Oct 06, 2018

    Amazon has a product called Jubilee kitchen wax that puts a nice shine on my kitchen counters. I bought this for tears at my supermarket, but now only find it at Amazon. Worth a try.

  • Sammy Sammy on Oct 07, 2018

    Jubliee kitchen wax can be purchased from many sources (even Walmart), check the internet. I use jubliee on everything-painted white cabinets, door frames, fiberglass shower. It's an amazing product.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Oct 07, 2018

    Did you try a kitchen wax?