How To Remove Cement Based Grout Haze From Tile Surfaces

Grout Haze Removal Tips

By Troy Cantini

Grout haze is the cement based haze that is left on the tiles after grouting them. Grout haze should be removed as soon as possible after grouting the tiles. If removed in a timely manner then a simple cheese cloth or paper towel can be used to remove the grout haze. When the grout haze is allowed to sit and dry on the tiles for a longer period of time then it can be more difficult to remove.

There are many other factors that affect how difficult a grout haze will be to remove. These factors include the type of grout used, how the grout was mixed, how long the grout haze has set on the tiles and the type of tiles that are installed. Removing grout haze off of smooth ceramic and porcelain tiles is easier than removing the grout haze off of rough stone tiles.

Acidic cleaners can be used to remove the grout haze off of ceramic and porcelain tiles which makes removing the grout haze relatively easy.  Stone tiles can not be exposed to acidic cleaners so specialized grout haze removers must be used which are not as effective as acidic cleaners for removing grout haze. Also stone tiles with rough surfaces like slate can be extremely difficult to remove the grout haze from.

The easiest and least aggressive technique for removing grout haze is to use a dry cheese cloth designed for removing grout haze.  Cheese clothes are specially designed for cleaning up and removing grout haze. Cheese cloths work best for removing grout haze that has not set a long period of time. Cheese clothes are specially designed to use dry for removing grout haze without damaging the still setting grout in the grout lines.

When using a cheese cloth for removing grout haze you simply rub the tile surfaces with the dry cheese cloth to remove the grout haze.  The grout haze will easily and quickly become cleaned up and removed revealing the natural look of the iles. Ordinary paper towels also work well for removing grout haze that has not had a chance to harden on the tiles.

In most cases of hardened grout haze the grout has been allowed to totally set so the acidic cleaner will not damage the grout in the grout lines.  You should only use a mild acidic cleaner with a urea acid in it like Stonetech's Restore acidic cleaner. You should start by diluting the acidic cleaner with half water and spraying the cleaning solution directly on the tile surfaces. In many cases you will be able to see a fizzing effect on the tile surfaces as the acidic cleaner reacts with grout haze. A soft white scrub pad will often be necessary to additionally agitate the grout haze and loosen it up from the tile surface. Then you can use a normal terry towel or mop and bucket to clean up the excess acidic cleaner and the grout haze from the tile surfaces.

When trying to remove grout haze from stone tiles you should use a non acidic grout haze remover like Aquamix's grout haze remover.  Aquamix's grout haze remover is non acidic solution that will not damage or etch the surface of stone tiles. You can use Aquamix's grout haze remover just like the acidic cleaner when cleaning up and removing the grout haze. Aquamix's grout haze remover will not be as effective at removing grout haze as an acidic cleaner. For acid resistant tiles like ceramic and porcelain tiles an acidic cleaner will be more effective at cleaning up and removing grout haze.

For extremely hard and difficult to remove grout haze an even more aggressive procedure will need to be used.  In these cases the acidic cleaner can be applied at full strength to soften up the grout haze. Also more aggressive scrub pads will need to be used to loosen up the extremely hard to remove grout haze.

An aggressive green pad is often extremely effective at scrubbing away and removing grout haze.  It is important to understand that aggressive scrub pads can scratch or dull the surface of stone tiles. In most cases you will be required to polish the stone tiles to remove any scratches or scuff marks caused by aggressive scrub pads. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are usually much harder than stone tiles and they will not be scratched or scuffed when aggressive scrub pads are used on them.

In some cases cleaning grout haze is next to impossible.  Many times people are actually trying to remove hardened grout off the surface of their tiles as opposed to just removing grout haze. Also trying to remove non cement based grout haze can truly be a monumental task. Removing an epoxy grout haze requires strong epoxy grout haze removal products and a lot of elbow grease.

As a last resort you may attempt to chip away at the grout haze with a chisel or window scraper tool.  In general when you have tried scrubbing away the grout haze with an aggressive scrub pad and an acidic cleaner and the grout haze can still not be removed you may want to call a tile restoration professional to have them take a look at it for you. In some cases it is simply a lot easier to replace the tiles and apply the grout correctly next time as opposed to trying to remove a hardened grout haze off the surface of the tiles.