How to Remove Grout

Whether you're doing a tile job yourself, or having it done, choose your grout carefully, because how well you can clean up the leftovers, may depend on the grout you used.

Many tile setters are now using epoxy grout on ceramic tiles, and if you're familiar with epoxy glues, then you know what you'll be dealing with. This bonds and it stays, so any clean up will be extremely hard if not impossible.

One of the first things you need to do, is seal your tiles or cover them in a grout release product, if they happen to have an irregular or pitted surface. Grout that gets into these, could be there to stay. A commercial sealant will ensure you don't get the design filled in, and a release product will allow for quick and thorough clean ups.

The standard type of grout is a cement-like material, which may come with a liquid enhancer to increase its adhesive qualities. When tile is being laid, or put on a wall, the best idea is to clean as you go.

However, there are instances where you might be spreading it around unwittingly, by leaning against a tile with a hand or arm that has grout on it. This will create what's called a "haze", or foggy looking area that will need to be cleaned up ASAP, too.

Once your tiling session is over, and hopefully doesn't leave a lot of mess to deal with, you can remove grout with the following tools: a flat stick of wood with a sharp edge so you don't score and damage tiles with metal, a nylon scrubber such as used for coated cookware, and a pair of gloves. The last item is to protect your hands while wielding the stick.

Use the sharpened edge to scrape off globs and spots of grout, applying pressure as you go. For the haze that is left on the tiles, scrub with warm water and the nylon pad. If the haze is pretty murky, a gallon of warm water with a cup of sugar dissolved in it, may help.

Pour on the tile, or if they're on the wall, soak a cloth and lay it against the tile for half an hour, then scrub again.

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