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How to Remove Perfume From Ceramic Tile

Mary Ylisela

While the scent of perfume adds a pleasant smell to your skin, spilling it on your ceramic tile causes fragrant oils and alcohol to end up where you don't want them.

The tile may smell like perfume for a while after cleaning up the spill.

While the fragrance will eventually dissipate on its own, perfume oils may attract dirt and cause a bigger stain on the floor if not cleaned up right away. Blot, rather than wipe, the spill to remove the perfume from the tile.

Tip

If the grout still smells strongly of perfume days after the spill, sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and allow it to sit for 30 minutes or longer. Sweep it up, then wipe the tile and grout with a slightly damp cloth.

Warning

Broken perfume bottles may result in tiny shards of glass on the floor. Sweep or vacuum carefully, with shoes on, and prevent pets and children from entering the area until you've cleaned up all the glass. Remove glass before wiping up the perfume spill.

  1. Blot the perfume spill with paper towels or absorbent rags to remove most of the liquid. Do not wipe the perfume, which may spread oil and fragrance beyond the affected area.

  2. Pour baking soda over the spill area. Allow the baking soda to absorb the liquid and oil from the perfume for five to ten minutes. Sweep it up with a broom and dustpan. Apply more baking soda to the perfume spill until the baking soda no longer wicks up any liquid or oil. Remove the last application of baking soda from the ceramic tile using your broom and dustpan.

  3. Fill a bucket with warm water and add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Stir the soapy solution with your hands to mix.

  4. Saturate a clean cloth with the soapy solution. Wipe the ceramic tile at the site of the spill. The dishwashing detergent will remove any remaining oils from the perfume. Dampen a clean cloth with water and rinse the tile.

The Drip Cap

  • While the scent of perfume adds a pleasant smell to your skin, spilling it on your ceramic tile causes fragrant oils and alcohol to end up where you don't want them.
  • Blot the perfume spill with paper towels or absorbent rags to remove most of the liquid.
  • Fill a bucket with warm water and add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent.
  • Stir the soapy solution with your hands to mix.