How to Clean Up Tile Thinset When Tiling

Cleaning dried thinset can damage tiles.

Installing tiles in your home can add new style and texture to your floors, walls and other surfaces. Many homeowners take the do-it-yourself route with tiles, opting to lay the tiles themselves to avoid paying a professional. Laying tile can be a messy business, involving a cement-like adhesive called thinset. While tiling, you may find thinset dripping, running out from behind tiles or drying on the wall; cleaning up this excess thinset is key to a professional-looking installation.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• Water
• Scraper
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Dampen a soft sponge with clean, warm water and wipe up any spills. Do not allow thinset to dry on the tile surface, on floors or on other unintended areas.

2. Scrape excess thinset out of joints or away from tile edges with the flat edge of a plastic scraper. Be careful not to use the sharp points on the scraper as this may scratch the tile. You may also use a damp rag to smooth along the edges of the tile.

3. Remove curing thinset from the wall with the flat edge of your mason's trowel. If you do not install the tile fast enough, the thinset may begin to dry; you must remove this thinset and apply a new layer to ensure the tiles will stick.

4. Wash all tools with warm water before the thinset dries.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove tile thinset immediately when you notice that it is dripping or in the wrong place. Thinset is extremely difficult to remove once it dries.

References

• The Mosaic Guys: The Mosaic Process
• Summitville: S-777 Thinset Mortar