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How to Clean Grout Haze or Grout Residue from Freshly Grouted Tiles

How To Clean Grout Residue

Cleaning Grout Residue From Freshly Grouted Tiles

If you’ve ever taken on a home tiling project by yourself, you probably know how messy grouting can be. Don’t spoil your hard work by sitting with unsightly grout residue or untidy hardened grout. Instead, keep reading for our tried and tested tips to clean grout from freshly grouted tiles. 

What is Tile Grout? 

Tile grout is used to fill the gaps or grout lines between tiles after laying in any area like a bathroom wall or kitchen floor. Grout is made up of a combination of sand, cement, plasticizers and minerals.  

There are two kinds of tile grout, sanded and unsanded. If you are planning to decorate your kitchen walls with delicate mosaic work, you should use unsanded grout. Unsanded grout is recommended for tiles that are closely spaced. Whereas you want the strength that sanded grout provides for floor tiling. 

How is Tile Grout Applied?

Surfaces should be properly prepared and cleaned before applying grout. Although it isn’t a must-have, we strongly suggest using a stain protecting pre-sealer, such as Stoneshield Penetrating-Sealer™ Natural-Look if the tile surface is porous.

A grout float is normally used to apply the tile grout. Different types of grout floats can be used, depending on the project. If the tile is completely coated with grout, all surplus grout must be removed before the grout begins to dry or harden. After grouting, a thin layer of grout residue often remains on the tile. 

For floor grout, we recommend the ROX® Gum Rubber Grout Float, or the ROX® Foam Grout Float for applying wall grouting. If you’re applying grout to marble, porcelain, granite, travertine, and light coloured tiles, the ROX® Non-Marking Grout Float is your best option. 

All of the grouting and tiling tools and products can be found on the FloorsHQ website. 

The Best Products to Clean Grout Haze or Grout Residue From Newly Grouted Tiles

Grout must be removed quickly after application or it hardens and becomes difficult to remove. The longer it is left, the harder it will be to remove. If left for too long, it will need to be cleaned using professional grout removers. It is important to use the correct tools and products to remove excess grout to avoid damaging your tiles. 

After removing surplus grout from your tiles, leave the grout to dry. Once the grout has dried, wipe the tiles with a cloth or sponge, wet with a little bit of water. Be sure to wring out excess water. Next, you will need to use a professional grout cleaning product. 

Here are our recommendations: 

Best Overall Cleaner for Grout Residue: Stoneshield Grout-Lift™

Stoneshield Grout-Lift™ is an inhibited acid based cleaner for the removal of cement and grout residues from most tile surfaces. It is suitable for use on acid resistant stone, bricks, slate, terracotta, porcelain, glazed and unglazed ceramics. 

Don’t use any acid based cleaners on marble, travertine or limestone surfaces. Always test first to ensure suitability. Use with caution on any cement based tiles, cobbles, paving stones or tiles as bleaching and etching of the surface may occur. Only use alkaline cleaners to remove grout residue from these materials.

Do not use pool acid to clean your newly grouted floors or wall tiles. Pool acid is not an inhibited acid and will lead to fumes causing metallic fittings, wiring and metal surfaces to corrode or oxidise.  

Stoneshield Grout-Lift™ should preferably be used with Stoneshield Deep-clean™ to neutralise acid, reduce efflorescence, and minimise sealer failure.  

Best Gentle Cleaner for Grout Residue: Stoneshield Xtreme-Clean™

Tackle very light grout residue with Stoneshield Xtreme-Clean™, a biodegradable water based cream cleaner. This gentle abrasive cleaner is used to remove pencil marks, rubber marks and stains from newly installed ceramic and porcelain tiles and surfaces. Best used on tough to clean surfaces, without scratching. It is ideal for use on textured ceramic, natural stone, as well as polished and unpolished porcelain tiles. 

Best Cleaner for Maintaining Grout: Stoneshield Grout-Cleaner™

Once the hard work is done, you’ll want to maintain your grout to keep it looking good for longer. Taking on a proactive approach when it comes to the condition of your grout is far easier than trying to revitalise mouldy or dirty grout. 

We recommend Stoneshield Grout-Cleaner™, an alkaline cleaner that removes dirt, grease and grime from grouting. This eco-friendly cleaner comes in a convenient, ready to use 500 ml trigger spray bottle. It can be used on most wall and floor grout, including porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, marble, slate and travertine tiles. 

Best Sealer for Maintaining Grout: Stoneshield Grout-Sealer™

Once the hard work is done, you’ll want to maintain your grout to keep it looking good for longer. Taking on a proactive approach when it comes to the condition of your grout is far easier than trying to revitalise mouldy or dirty grout. 

We recommend Stoneshield Grout-Sealer™, an easy to use one-step penetrating aerosol sealer specifically for grout. It can be used on most wall and floor grout, including porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, marble, slate and travertine tiles. It provides a natural look finish and prevents mould & mildew growth by keeping the grout dry.