Tips on cleaning tile grout

Placing tiles on an area by yourself can save you money and if you follow the instructions carefully, the tiles can produce professional-looking results. One of the most important parts of placing tiles is cleaning grout from the surface of the tile before it dries completely, which will save much work and will ensure that the finished tile is light and bright as it should.

Remove wet grout

Removing the wet grout is not difficult, but if is a careful and properly process, you do not have to scrape the dry grout from the tile surface. Wait a few minutes after you have finished grouting between the tiles, which will give time to the slurry to settle down a bit so that the cleaning process does not move tiles. After a few minutes, clean the surface of the tiles with a damp cloth or sponge. Be careful not to damage the grout between the tiles, as they will damage their appearance. Rinse the cloth frequently to make sure there is no residue.

Remove dry grout

If you cannot clean the grout before it dries, you will be with a thin layer of grout on the tile that you cannot remove only the surface clean with a damp cloth. Instead, apply a solution of water and sugar to the tile and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing the grout with a sponge plastic. Do not use steel wool as it will scratch the surface of the tiles and ruin, you could also remove any coating on the tile that makes it shiny and soft. For the solution of sugar, add 1 cup sugar and 1 gallon (3.79 l) of warm water.

Remove epoxy grout

The epoxy grout is much harder than Portland cement and it is impossible to remove once it dries completely. To use it, you must implement a solution to the surface of the tiles before grouting. This solution will prevent the slurry remaining on the tile and the force between the tiles. If no solution is well applied, the epoxy grout remains on the surface and may be impossible to remove. You’ll have to break the tile grout and return to the area.

Dry clean grout

The slurry is usually made of cement, which means it is more porous than the tiles and easier to absorb the stain. Over time the grout gets dirty and this dirt can be difficult to remove because it has infiltrated in the grout. Use oxygen bleach to remove dirt and stains. The oxygen bleach in a bleaching powder that wills not toxic bubbles when mixed with water. These bubbles help remove stains.