Preparation

• Before you begin, sweep, dust and otherwise remove all the hair and dirt from the floor that you can. The better a job you do now, the less you'll have to deal with wet and nasty dust bunnies later.
  
  Once you are done with this initial cleanup, mix 1 cup of acid-based cleaner with a bucket (about 1.5 gallons) of hot water. Use an an acid-based cleaner that is industry-standard and tile-cleaning-strength. Check the container to verify the correct ratio of acid to water, as this may vary from product to product.
  
  You may find citric acid to be a good alternative to other, more toxic acid-based cleaners. It is environmentally friendly, cheap and kills bathroom bacteria and mold with ease.
  
  

Acid Washing

• Spray or throw water on small areas of the tile floor, then apply the acid solution to the wet area with a sponge or mop and scrub gently. Allow the acid to soak for two or three minutes, giving it a chance to break up dirt and other unwanted deposits.
  
  Scrub and rinse the area with a damp towel. Depending on how dirty the floor is, you may or may not have to scrub much. Continue this process over the entire bathroom floor, making sure to keep the area you are working on wet.
  
  

Neutralizing the Acid Wash

• Thoroughly rinse all the acid wash off the bathroom tile floor after you are done cleaning. Leaving acid on the floor can be damaging to you and the floor. Aside from rinsing the floor thoroughly twice, you may want to neutralize the acid with baking soda, especially if you are using sulfamic acid or another strong product.
  
  To rinse with baking soda, mix 1 cup baking soda with a bucket of warm water. Mop the floor with the mixture to neutralize the acid. Rinse the floor with plain water and let it dry for up to 24 hours.
  
  

Safety Precautions

• Most acid-based bathroom cleaners are somewhat toxic, and the ingredients in them can produce toxic fumes. If incorrectly used, these cleaners can even prove damaging to materials such as carpet, metal, wood and glass.
  
  Because of the health hazards associated with acid-based cleaners, you should always wear gloves and goggles when cleaning with them. Also ventilate the area you are working in as much as possible to help keep the fumes from concentrating.