17/08/2026
ARE YOUR TILES STAINED? FIRST FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE STAIN.
Not every tile stain should be treated with bleach or the same cleaning chemical. Using the wrong product can make the stain worse—or even damage the tile.
Here are some common tile stains and what causes them:
🟤 1. RUST STAINS
Usually orange, reddish-brown or dark brown.
Cause: Rust from iron particles, metal objects, rusty water, borehole water or metal furniture.
⚪ 2. CEMENT / MORTAR STAINS
White, grey or chalky patches, especially on newly tiled floors.
Cause: Cement, grout or construction materials drying on the tile surface.
🟡 3. HARD WATER / MINERAL STAINS
White, cloudy or crusty deposits.
Cause: Minerals such as calcium and magnesium left behind when hard water evaporates.
🟢 4. ALGAE & MOSS STAINS
Greenish, dark green or slippery patches.
Cause: Constant moisture, poor drainage and areas that receive little sunlight.
⚫ 5. MOULD & MILDEW STAINS
Black, grey or green patches, sometimes accompanied by a musty smell.
Cause: Excess moisture, humidity, poor ventilation and water leaks.
🟤 6. OIL & GREASE STAINS
Dark, greasy-looking patches that may attract dirt.
Cause: Cooking oil, engine oil, grease and other oily substances.
🟡 7. SOAP & DETERGENT BUILD-UP
Dull, whitish or sticky-looking deposits.
Cause: Repeated use of soap/detergent without proper rinsing.
⬜ 8. EFFLORESCENCE
White powdery or crystalline deposits, often seen on porous tiles, grout or floors.
Cause: Dissolved salts moving through the tile or cement and crystallizing as water evaporates.
⚠️ IMPORTANT:
A stain is not just a stain. Rust, cement, mineral deposits, grease, mould and soap scum require different cleaning approaches.
Before reaching for bleach or mixing different chemicals together, identify the type of stain first.
📌 Save this post for the next time your tiles develop a stubborn stain.
Need choosing the right cleaning chemical?
📍 Visit Jeno Chemicals Supplies
Send us a message and tell us what caused the stain—or send us a picture.
Jeno Chemicals Supplies — Chemicals for cleaning, production & more.