Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the cause before you pick a cleaner: where the mark sits, how it smells and how it appeared all point to the treatment.
- Black marks that look like old damage rather than dirt may not come out fully, so set your expectations before you start.
- Keep the tile dry around the mark until any loose soot or mildew is brushed away.
Black marks on bathroom tile come from mildew, soot, mineral deposits from water, or greasy buildup, and the cause decides how hard you can work at them. Tile can take plain water well and most cleaners with care, so start gently and only move up if the mark stays. A few marks are actually etched into the surface, and those may not come out fully.
Black stains on bathroom tiles in the shower often sit along the joints, so work the cloth into those lines rather than just the faces. Don't mix cleaners on the same spot, since that can cause more trouble than the stain itself. If black stains under the shower floor tile won't budge, stop and get a professional to look at it.
Before you start
What tile can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care7
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Soft brush or vacuumremoves dry soot and mildew before anything gets wet (opens Amazon)
- Cloth and a bucket of warm, sudsy waterfor the wipe
- Ammoniaa few drops go into the warm, sudsy water (opens Amazon)
- Clean water and a clean clothfor the rinse and the final dry
- Commercial mildew stain removeronly if the marks stay after the wipe (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Brush off the dry black growth
Start with the tile dry. Brush or vacuum any loose soot or mildew off the tile and grout, because wetting it first only smears it. If it's mildew, do the brushing outdoors so the loose growth doesn't end up back in the bathroom.
Step 2 of 5
Test the ammonia mix first
Put a little of the ammonia mix on a hidden spot, such as the edge behind the toilet or under the lip of the tub. Let it dry and check the tile and grout for any change in color or finish before you go further.
Step 3 of 5
Wipe with warm sudsy ammonia water
Dip a cloth in warm, sudsy water with a few drops of ammonia added, and wring it out so it's damp rather than dripping. Wipe the black marks in short strokes, covering the grout lines as well as the tile faces.
Careful. Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach, and rinse fully before using any other product.
Step 4 of 5
Rinse and dry the area
Rinse the tile well with clear water so no soap or ammonia film is left behind, then wipe it dry with a clean cloth. Look at the marks in good light, and if they're gone, you're done.
Tip. Use a fresh cloth for the rinse so you don't spread the mark back onto clean tile.
Step 5 of 5
Use a mildew remover if marks stay
If the black marks are still visible once the tile is dry, test a commercial mildew stain remover on the hidden spot first. Apply it to the stain following the package directions exactly, then rinse thoroughly and dry the tile.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for black stains on tile
A professional-strength tile and grout cleaner is worth buying for the grease, soap scum and mildew buildup that sits on tile. Keep permanent ink and dye products off the tile, since they can stain it.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
e-cloth General Purpose Cloth
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on tile, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Good results look even, with no dark haze on the tile or in the grout lines. Check again once everything has dried fully, since wet tile can look darker than it really is.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your tile
Mildew
Mildew is a growth rather than a surface stain, so getting the loose growth off while it's dry matters more than the soap. Brush it off outdoors where you can, then run the ammonia wipe and rinse as usual.
If the mildew sits in a spot that stays damp, like a shower wall or the floor under the shower, the same steps apply, but make sure the area dries completely before the next use.
Soot
Soot is mostly a dry powder, so the dry brushing or vacuuming does most of the work before any wiping starts. Get as much off as you can before the cloth touches the tile.
If soot has worked into the grout lines, expect more passes, and swap to a clean section of cloth often so the black doesn't spread back out.
Rubber from shoe heels
Black rubber from shoe heels or tires sits on the surface rather than soaking in, so it's often easier to lift than mildew. Wipe as usual, and move to a fresh section of cloth often so the mark doesn't smear across the grout.
If it won't budge, repeat the wipe rather than scrubbing harder, since repeating is gentler on the tile and usually does the job.
Greasy residue
Greasy film from body oil and soap scum can look like mildew, and the wipe alone may leave a dull haze behind. Give the area a second pass, and rinse well so the film doesn't build up again.
On a shower floor, rinse a little longer than you think you need, since leftover grease can make the tile look dull and feel slick.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old marks that have sat for months may take several rounds rather than one, and marks that have dried in can lift more slowly with each pass. Black marks that look like damage rather than dirt usually stay, however many rounds you give them.
Some black marks won't come out completely, especially old damage to the finish or moisture that has soaked in. Manganese stains from well water can return, so a clean surface may not last if the source keeps supplying it.
If the marks are still there after the extra rounds, stop there. Going further risks the tile and grout more than the mark is worth.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on black stains on tile?
Most home remedies for black marks don't suit tile, so stick with a warm ammonia wipe and a mildew remover. Tile needs little beyond a sudsy ammonia wash and, if marks stay, a mildew remover. The ammonia wipe and a mildew remover are enough for this stain.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on a mark you haven't identified
Bleach can intensify manganese or iron stains, and manganese from well water is one of the common causes. Until you know the cause, stick to the wipe and leave the bleach on the shelf.
Don't paint over mildew
Paint covers the growth for a while, but mildew keeps growing underneath and the marks come back through it. Clean and dry the tile first, then decide what to do about the finish.
Don't use no-rinse cleaners on a shower floor
Residue from no-rinse cleaners stays on tile floors and reduces slip resistance, which matters most where you stand wet. Rinse any cleaner off completely every time.
Don't use cleaners with fluorine compounds on tile
Fluorine compounds damage ceramic, glass and stone, so check the label before you buy a grout or tile cleaner. If the label doesn't say, don't use it on the tile.
When to call a professional
If the marks are still there after the steps and the extra rounds, stop before you try harsher products. Marks that keep coming back, especially in grout or on a shower floor, are worth a professional look before you damage the tile.
Questions
What causes black stains on bathroom tile?
Most often it's mildew, soot, manganese from well water, rubber from shoe heels or greasy residue. The cause decides the treatment, so check where the mark sits and how it appeared before you clean.
Why do the black marks come back after cleaning?
Mildew returns if the tile stays damp or the growth isn't fully removed, and manganese from well water can keep coming back until the source is dealt with. Dry the tile fully after each cleaning and watch for the marks returning.
Can I clean black stains under a shower floor tile?
Yes, the same brush, wipe, rinse and dry steps work on a shower floor. Make sure the floor dries fully afterward before anyone walks on it.
Are all black marks on tile dirt?
No. Some black marks are damage rather than dirt, and old moisture or burns may not come out fully no matter what you use. If the cleaning steps do nothing after a couple of rounds, the mark may be damage rather than a surface stain.
Is warm water safe for cleaning tile?
Yes, warm water is the right choice for cleaning tile. Avoid sudden temperature changes on glass tile or ceramic pieces, since they can crack.
Can I scrub the grout harder if it's stubborn?
Use a nylon or plastic brush rather than steel wool or sandpaper, especially on glass tile. Scrubbing harder with an abrasive can scratch the surface, so keep the brush gentle and repeat the wipe instead.
Black Stains on other materials
Other stains on tile
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.