How to Remove Grout Stains From Natural Tile
Grout is crucial to tile installation as it fills joints between the tiles. During the grouting process, homeowners and tile installers often inadvertently leave grout remnants on tiles. Since grout is actually cement, it rapidly sticks to tiles and eventually forms hard, clump-like stains. The longer these clumpy grout stains stay on a tile's surface, the harder they become. Neglecting to remove grout stains quick enough may result in permanent blemishes on natural tiles. Immediately remove grout stains from natural tiles to avoid permanently disfiguring the stone, ceramic or other natural tile material. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Mop
- Mop bucket
- Work gloves
- Crisp-edged oak stick
- Wet/dry vacuum
- Spoon
- 1 cup white, granulated sugar
- 2-gallon pail
- Nylon scouring pad
- Clean towels
Instructions
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1
Mop lukewarm water generously onto the grout-stained tiles to provide lubrication. While wearing work gloves, attempt to scrape off the grout stains using a crisp-edged oak stick. Loosen as many grout fragments as possible.
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2
Suck up the loose grout fragments using a wet/dry vacuum. Extract even the tiniest grout particles, since they can scratch natural tiles.
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3
Inspect the tiles for stuck-on grout. If even the slightest grout stains remain, stir 1 cup of white, granulated sugar into a 2-gallon pail containing 1 gallon of warm water.
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4
Pour the sugar water directly onto the remaining grout stains. Let the sugar water penetrate the grout stains for two hours.
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5
Scrub the remaining grout stains vigorously with a nylon scouring pad. Continue scrubbing the stains until they fully loosen.
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6
Extract the loose grout fragments using a wet/dry vacuum. Thoroughly vacuum the wet tiles.
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7
Mop the tiles with fresh lukewarm water and thoroughly dry them with clean towels.
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Tips & Warnings
Never remove grout stains with metal tools as you risk scratching the natural tiles.
References
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
