How to Remove Grout Haze and Seal Grout on Tile

For a do-it-yourselfer, there's almost nothing more exciting than installing your own ceramic tile. It's a bit of a challenge, but when the job is done carefully it's a beauty to behold. In fact, things often look so great that the last few important step are often overlooked - cleaning up the grout haze and sealing the grout.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A few clean terry cloth rags
• Grout sponge
• Clean water
• Inexpensive 2-3 inch paint brush
• Rubber gloves
• Eye protection
• White nylon scrub pad
• High quality penetrating sealer
• High quality grout haze remover
• Small bucket or pail for mixing

1. Ideally, grout haze is removed as part of the grouting and clean-up process. As haze forms on the tiles after grouting, it can be easily wiped up with a clean, wet grout sponge. Haze may form a second or third time, but can still be easily cleaned up. Final clean up should be done after the grout has set for 24 hours. You can use a clean wet rag for the final touches.

2. If the grout haze has been left too long on the tiles, and water, a clean rag and some elbow grease doesn't remove it, there are liquid products available that are easy to use. A high quality Grout Haze Remover can be found at a hardware or home improvement store or a tile and flooring store.

3. Read the label on the bottle of Grout Haze Remover to determine the amount that you will need for the job - this depends on how much area you have to cover and how long the haze has been sitting on the tile.

4. When using a grout haze remover, it's important to wear eye protection and rubber gloves. Follow the directions on the label to determine the proper mixing ratio - water to remover.

5. Test on a small area of tile to determine desired results.

6. Wet a terry cloth towel with the grout haze remover solution.

7. Wipe diagonally across the tile. Continue to wet towel as necessary.

8. Remove any excess grout haze remover solution with a clean terry cloth towel dampened with clean water only.

9. If the grout haze is particularly stubborn, you can apply the grout haze remover directly to the surface of the tile and scrub it with a white nylon scrub pad. You may need to let the grout haze remover sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

10. Repeat above steps for the entire area that needs to be cleaned. When done, go over the area with a clean terry cloth towel and clean water to remove any excess grout haze remover.

11. To seal the grout, you should wait 48 hours after grouting. Find a high quality penetrating sealer at a hardware, home improvement store, or tile store. Read the label to determine the quantity that you will need.

12. Directions on the label should be followed, but in general, you will be applying 1 to 3 coats of sealer allowing an hour or so of dry time between coats.

13. Use an inexpensive paint brush to apply the sealer to the grouted areas of the tile. Avoid puddling and dripping.

14. After 5 minutes, wipe off the entire surface using a clean rag.

15. Wait one hour, and repeat the sealing process. Do this for two or three coats.

16. After two hours, you can test to determine if the surface is sealed by applying water droplets to the area. If the water is absorbed, you need to apply an additional coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the directions on the labels. Directions vary from brand to brand and product to product.
• Removing grout haze is best done shortly after grouting - don't wait until days or weeks after.
• Grout haze remover is caustic - wear gloves and eye protection.
• Keep both products out of reach of children.

[Tippy]

on 6/16/2008 Great article! I have some haze that I've scrubbed a number of times with no result. Now, I'm going to use your method.

[revisitingnixon]

on 7/6/2007 Congrats on having this article be picked as the winner for the "Top Written Requested How to Article!" Check out the forums and see which other winners we have this week. Check it out at:

http://www.ehow.com/community/forums/forum_1728_ehow-winners:-article-requests.aspx

-Rich