Are glass tile backsplashes high maintenance?

11 years ago

I have a beautiful glass tile sample sitting on my countertop, but the first thing I wondered is if i will constantly be wiping it down, because of water splatters from the sink and grease splatters from the stove?

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LuAnn_in_PA

11 years ago

If you have "water splatters from the sink and grease splatters from the stove", you should be cleaning WHATEVER surface you have as a back splash!

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Comments (16)

luckygal
11 years ago
Probably, but I'd rather see dirt and remove it than assume something is clean when it's not. I loved having white carpets cause I could clearly see when they needed cleaning.
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Oakley
11 years ago
I have glass inserts in my backsplash and I've never noticed a problem. We have hard warter, cook with grease, and things easily get splattered if I'm the one cooking. lol.

I guess it depends on how much glass you add to the backsplash for it to be noticeable.
Sivous
11 years ago
LuAnn you can come across a little harsh sometimes. I think she is just asking if splatters can be "seen" very easy. Sometimes one does not have the time to wipe down back splashes "every" time we go to the sink for example.
cat_mom
11 years ago
Nope! :)

We have a glass tile backsplash in our kitchen (since June 2007) and it looks as good as it did when it was installed. Only place that has gotten discolored is right at/above the trim on our Wolf range, where the stream/grease from the oven vents (I scrub it and it's good as new, and have taken to deflecting the vent with a sheet of foil, so the tile stays cleaner near the trim).

I routinely clean the backsplash over the range (using alcohol-water spray, or Perfect Glass spray from BB&B), but I don't wipe down the rest of it as often, and it's totally fine. When I do wipe the other sections, the cloth or paper towel is always pretty clean (and I do prep and cook a lot! LOL).
busybee3
11 years ago
i have some glass subways in my shower and treat them about once a year with a rainx type of product that i got from the glass co who installed our shower doors--- they look great and are very easy to keep clean...
namarie
11 years ago
We have glass subway tile in our kitchen and I hardly ever notice spots. If you love it, go for it!
MyTileGal
11 years ago
The nice thing about glass tiles is they are not porous. So water and oil will not hurt them. Cleaning will make it easier as well, spots will be there, but cleanable.
LuAnn_in_PA
11 years ago
"LuAnn you can come across a little harsh sometimes. I think she is just asking if splatters can be "seen" very easy."

Sorry that I do not have your mind-reading abilities, Sivous!

You 'think' something is being asked - I just reply to what is ACTUALLY written.
I don't assume I know what someone is asking.

If that seems harsh to you, I am sorry. But I read them as they're written...
Sivous
11 years ago
Hey, hey, hey, back off...chill woman LOL. Breathe.....
sameboat
11 years ago
I find my glass tiles wipe easily, and I'm a messy cook. I squirt with Windex and wipe. And even the grout gets clean. I was worried about the light-colored grout between the tiny glass tiles but no problems here!
corgimum
11 years ago
We have a glass tile border in our shower and the water runs right off it. Grease is going to show with most any tile because it's shiny. The important thing is to seal the grout so the grease comes off.
patty_cakes
11 years ago
Any thing used as a backsplash is going to get a little messy and need cleaning. It's just easier than cleaning a painted wall. ;o)
msrose
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you everyone! I'm so glad to know it won't be a big issue.
bronwynsmom
11 years ago
I love glass as a backsplash, for all the above reasons. I'm also fond of mirrored backsplashes - easiest of all to clean, and bright and pretty and space-enlarging.

Old kitchen photo, as example:
(The bright white bit on the left is an illusion - it's a reflection from the flash.)
mahatmacat1
11 years ago
We have Sicis glass tile everywhere *but* behind the stove - I opted for sheet stainless there and I'm so glad I did. You can really see if you've gotten splatters up there and it cleans up so beautifully. TH\he tile meets it even with where the cabinets stop.

We had a plexiglas backsplash (or you could get a tempered sheet glass backsplash) in our last house, and that was easily cleanable too. The *sheet* aspect is what makes it so easy, I think, because there 0% risk of anything soaking into any grout, even if it's sealed.