# Any hints on cleaning metal tiles? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hints-on-cleaning-metal-tiles/818728 "2018-07-28T12:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hints-on-cleaning-metal-tiles/818728/1 "2018-07-28T12:59:04Z")
We did a copper accent wall-lovely subway tiles, and they are metal, not ceramic. We even sprung for the spendy copper grout with metallic flakes that sparkle. (so special :rolleyes:), but keeping it clean is a bitch. I don’t want to use a caustic or abrasive cleaner, and I seem to get a film after cleaning that I need to wipe off, with no small effort, each tile. Manufacturer was no help at all. Last time I cleaned them, I shined them with Pledge. Any ideas going forward? ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hints-on-cleaning-metal-tiles/818728/2 "2018-07-28T18:29:54Z")
[Barkeepers Friend](https://www.barkeepersfriend.com/) Might try this in an inconspicuous spot. Does a wonderful job on copper. It’s mildly abrasive but it sounds like your issue is oxidation. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hints-on-cleaning-metal-tiles/818728/3 "2018-07-28T19:16:46Z")
You could also try metal degreasers. The ones in the old days contained all kinds of deadly chemicals, but the new ones are touted as safe. I’m thinking specifically of Simple Green [https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=FsBcW\_LCA4bYjwTL9Zf4Cw&q=simple+green&oq=simple+green&gs\_l=psy-ab.3..0l3j0i131k1j0l6.1625.4330.0.4714.12.9.0.1.1.0.343.460.0j1j0j1.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..9.3.477....0.SHYYwnU2X-k](https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=FsBcW_LCA4bYjwTL9Zf4Cw&q=simple+green&oq=simple+green&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l3j0i131k1j0l6.1625.4330.0.4714.12.9.0.1.1.0.343.460.0j1j0j1.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..9.3.477....0.SHYYwnU2X-k) or even one of the “derived from oranges” degreaser cleaners. [https://www.google.com/search?ei=G8BcW-qJIYf7jwS4mIvwBw&q=orange+degreaser&oq=orange+degreaser&gs\_l=psy-ab.3..0l7j0i22i30k1l3.2453.8980.0.9161.27.17.0.4.4.0.629.2646.2-2j3j1j1.7.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..16.11.2752...0i67k1j0i131k1.0.hr4J9OaVDz0](https://www.google.com/search?ei=G8BcW-qJIYf7jwS4mIvwBw&q=orange+degreaser&oq=orange+degreaser&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l7j0i22i30k1l3.2453.8980.0.9161.27.17.0.4.4.0.629.2646.2-2j3j1j1.7.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..16.11.2752...0i67k1j0i131k1.0.hr4J9OaVDz0) I’ve never tried the Barkeeper stuff mentioned above, but have heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hints-on-cleaning-metal-tiles/818728/4 "2018-07-28T19:32:08Z")
Is the tile sealed with a clear coat?