How to clean grout residue from tile install (floors, couch, plank)

[Trekker99]

So all the new porcelain plank tile is laid down on our floors downstairs.

Looks great - except there is a streaky dull residue left from the grout work where the sponges passed over the tiles as they smoothed in the grout.

Before we move the furniture back in I wanted to clean off this residue so the porcelain looks clean.

Any suggestions/experience on this?

Should I wait awhile for the grout to completely set/harden? It's been 24 hours since the last tiles and grout work were done.

TIA!

[greatblueheron]

I'd call the installer and have him do it.....
or give you pointers....

[K'ledgeBldr]

It's been discussed before-

http://www.city-data.com/forum/home-...installer.html

[BoSox 15]

In that linked thread, the person said they tried wet mopping and that didn't work.

In my scenario, all it took was water and a rag.

Like in the other thread, if you haven't paid the installers get them to do it. If you want to DIY, just test one tile with water and a mop or rag.

I used water and a rag because the haze left a sticky feeling and I didn't want to wreck my mop.

[Trekker99]

I got impatient and looked up a 'recipe' on Bob Villa's website that uses white vinegar and hot water.

I tried it on a tile that will be underneath one of my area rugs; clean rag, multiple passes in multiple directions.

After drying for an hour it looks perfectly clean with a bit of a sheen next to the adjacent uncleaned tiles.

I showed the installers and they agreed that it looks great. They agreed to call the shop supervisor to have a crew come out to clean it (but probably with their own solution).

We'll see if I have to give it the once over on my own as I am very picky.

Thanks!

[JonahWicky]

It's not at all unusual to have to go over it several times to remove all the haze. The more often you change the water, the less times you need to wipe it down.

[Trekker99]

Originally Posted by JonahWicky

It's not at all unusual to have to go over it several times to remove all the haze. The more often you change the water, the less times you need to wipe it down.

That's what the installers said, too.

The vinegar & water method is a bit of grunt work on hands and knees with a clean rag.

And swapping the liquid solution and clean rags is a must. I did a section of tiles in the living room where my couch and chair will go. Got the back sweat going. It looks really good, but doing all the floors myself is gonna be a real grind.

So, I'm going to leverage the balance due for getting a crew to mope or wipe to my satisfaction.

[Trekker99]

Update.

The installers called the main office and were told to use a 'miracle' cleaner for tiles & grout.

Didn't work after two passes. I brought out my bowl of vinegar & water and did a tile right next to one that had the miracle cleaner applied. Still streaky & dull after drying.

I did take multiple passes with a fresh towel in my bowl - looks great.

So now it's down to getting the installers supervisor to agree that is what needs to be used and done before the furniture comes back in.

[Trekker99]

I took some pictures to document the haze and show to the job supervisor.

The haze shows worst when there is a reflection of light off of the tile at an angle.

You can see the single tile I cleaned in two different areas.

Today the crew is supposed to come back again with yet a different super duper tile & grout cleaner and different sponges.

We'll see.

[Trekker99]

Well, the super duper industrial tile cleaner didn't work.

Kinda felt sorry for the crew as they used the solution once with two water passes.

Streaks are still there. They have determined it is the grout used: Mapei brand has an acrylic additive that leaves a residue. Turns out there are others who have had this issue on a new install using this brand.

The crew is off to buy white vinegar at the local market and come back to try it with what I showed them worked yesterday morning.

Two different cleaner solutions, and multiple water rinses = Fail

One pass with vinegar & water = win