I need advice now!! about removing grout from tiles?

Question

I grouted the joints on a kitchen counter of porcelain tile with polyblend. It dried faster than I had expected and I'm having a really hard time cleaning it off. I've tried everything I can think of, i.e. plastic sponge, hot water, with as much pressure as I can. I've run out of ideas. I've been working on this all day and it's only half done...any ideas?

Answer 1

Please don't take any offense at some of what I'm about to say.

Grout should be immediately wiped to a point where when it dries, no more than DUST will be left to wipe up.

After installing THOUSANDS of sq. ft. of tile, I've had similar issues, but in any instruction, it's noted that begin with your proper sponge as Dry/damp as possible. Certainly even with polyblend sanded grout it should also be mixed to a heavy pudding consistency, not "pourable"

Grout is designed to "set" more rapidly than the "thinset" mortars, and so should be removed from the tile and grout lines with the Rubber/Foam type tools, then sponged with the proper sponge, ASAP. You can pretty easily judge that "Hmmm I seem to be just smearing the grout" BUT starting with a dryer sponging allows that you remove the heavier stuff of your application. As the grout sets you can re-wipe with a bit wetter sponge, but you can stop at some point allowing that DUST will be there when the job is dry and wipe the dust with any wet sponge or cloth.

The GOOD news, in your case, is that grout is easier to remove than the mortar, and certainly a razor scraper, a sharp paint scraper can help in the process, as well as those woven plastic scrubbers used for dish washing or even floor buffer pad material.

I know the point is MOOT now but removing grout from tile should be no less than a 3 step process begun immedaitely after filling the grout line spaces.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

You must remove most of the grout because if you don't the new grout won't hold, and it will come up making you repeat the whole process. There is a special tool that they sell to take the grout out. I do not know the name but it must be sold at a tile tool store or maybe at Home Depot or Lowe's. The process is long if you do not buy the tool. There are people that will do it for a couple hundred depending on how much. If it isn't that much it won't cost more than $100. You can always get someone on Craigslist that has the tool and just pay them for their time. Another thing that can be used is a construction blade, it is like a heavy duty box cutter, and just run it along the lines of the grout. Being that the tile is so small and fragile I would hire a professional. You don't want to have to replace the tile as well.

Answer 3

Be very careful about introducing more water - it will weaken the grout (that you want to keep). The only thing I know of is elbow grease to get the grout off of the tile. Keep at it - the longer you wait (tomorrow or the next day) will make it that much harder to remove.

Good luck - hang in there.

Answer 4

get yourself a flat razr blade and scrape the tile try hard not to scratch the tile.. you can also use a S.O.S pad or steel wool and gentle rub over dried grout as long as the grout is not sealed you should be able to remove any amounts even grout lines witha razor and steel wool.

Answer 5

Porcelain tile is a very hard surface. You can take a steel knife to it and not do any damage(especially if they are the glazed tiles) This is what you are stuck to doing. I have used putty knifes on it as it is a common tool in my toolbox. Thats why we try to get it looking good before it drys.

Answer 6

Home Depot or almost any hardware store sells this. It is called amoraic acid. It is very lethal, wear proper protective gloves and mask. Make sure room is well ventilated. I tried everything and a person told me to use this and it was remarkable. Very toxic but it works. I spelt it wrong. Hope this puts you on the right track.

Answer 7

The guy who said to use acid meant muratic acid, FYI. Just be very careful if you us a razor blade or the acid. When I've regrouted, I always wiped up the excess quickly, so I didn't have that issue.

Answer 8

bleach it