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calling all subway tile backsplash owners!

11 years ago

to those of you who have chosen white subway tile backsplashes for your stove area, how do you like it? would you choose it again or is it too hard to keep clean?

i hear that spaghetti sauce can 'ruin' the white grout and a toothbrush cleaning won't get it clean! is this the case?

i love the look but worry that a splatter would ruin the look!

i am going with white cabinets, white cabinet island w/dark walnut countertop, cambria torquay counter tops along the wall where the stove and the kitchen sink will be located. i was planning to put white subway tile, white grout as my backsplash but after hearing how hard it will be to keep clean am re-thinking this whole idea!

should i just continue the cambria torquay (sort of like an accent piece) behind the stove area and then use the white subway tile everywhere else? would that look dumb? or should i use stainless steel as my backsplash behind the stove?

this is going to mess up the look i was going for but better that than having tile that i can't get clean and looks worse!

thoughts/recommendation/cleaning solutions???

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Comments (7)

windycitylindy
11 years ago
I have white harlequin tile with white grout behind the stove. It's not subway, but it's definitely white on white. I haven't had any problems, but it's only been in about three months. We have cooked a lot in that time, including spattery things like tomato sauce and some fried things. Clean up has been easy with a damp sponge. We used epoxy grout.
Missy Benton
11 years ago
I have it and it hasn't been a problem.
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I don't think the cleaning aspect is what you should focus on. White may show some splashes more, but it cleans up. I did seal mine and I have no idea if that helped or not but I've wiped several day old tomato sauce off it with no problem. I'd focus more on the look you like best. I know you said you like both but which do you like more? With those lovely marble counters you have I'd be tempted to keep them the focus. If you're picking a simple white subway backsplash because you way to keep that marble the focus then even a light grout line with 3 by 6 subway may not serve that goal. I like the clean look of white or very light grout myself.
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Bunny
11 years ago
I have creamy white crackle subways with a light/mid-gray grout. My gas stove is an older free-standing with a built-in riser/backsplash that's about 11" high. I'm not a real messy cook, but any flying sauce is gonna hit that piece in the back, not the subways. That riser is not hip or slick looking, but the more I think about it, the more I appreciate it.
ellendi
11 years ago
I have Grazia Rixi's crema, so close enough. I cook my tomato sauce on a front burner. I rarely see anything splattered behind the stove.
francoise47
11 years ago
My white subway tile has been installed for one year.
I do not have a riser behind my stove.
I do usually cook sauces on the front burners.
So not very much splashed on the tile back splash.
But when it does, the tile and grout clean up easily.

(My grout is a mixture of 1/2 sanded and 1/2 unsanded
because of my wide grout lines.
lascatx
11 years ago
Six years with white subways and barely off-white grout - I'm not even sure that I remembered to seal the grout, but I have had pots with chili, soup or tomato sauces splatter on it. Occasionally chocolate from the stove or baking area. I haven't had anything stain.
willtv
11 years ago
It's been just shy of 2 years for our black & white subway tile backsplash.
A picture of which I posted in your other post.
We applied 2 coats of sealer when it was installed.
Since then it's been subjected to splatters from tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, blackening spices, bacon grease and more.
All that's been required for clean up has been a few swipes with a damp sponge.
I don't know if it makes a difference but ours is unsanded grout.

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