Cleaning Grout Residue From Slate Tile

How to remove grout haze from a slate floor.

Cleaning grout residue from slate tile.

Although the detergent residue is often virtually invisible it can combine with the soil to form a sticky film that builds up over time. Grout haze and residue is typically removed with an acid solution after the tile is installed. The main component of most grouts is portland cement. Normally a scotch brite pad water and a little rubbing will remove.

Because grouting involves smearing grout across the tile with a rubber float the tile is entirely covered with grout at some point. During a slate tile installation process grout is installed between the slate tiles after the tiles are laid. Be careful if you have a slate floor with colored grout as this bleach solution could damage the color of that grout for tougher stains mix together peroxide and baking soda into a bubbly paste. Once the grout is clean mop the tiles with water.

When the water dries minerals remain on the tile surface. Cleaning grout off tile with vinegar is safe and efficient for ceramic and porcelain tile installations and grout but acid cleaners should never be used on porous or stone tiles which includes vinegar and rubbing alcohol. In areas with light colored soils or near light colored carpeting occasionally light colored residue is seen on the grout when detergents used on the tile and grout have not been fully removed. Clean the remaining paste out of the grout by gently scrubbing the floor with a towel.

It is the same with grout after tile installation. Finally check your work. Use a rag to wipe the grout to remove any leftover residue or dirt. If after grouting you re left with a grout residue on your new slate giving it a gray lifeless appearance take heart.

If you have yet to remove all the grout haze continue to method 3. Grout is worked into the space with a. Residual grout haze is a normal part of tiling. Shine a flashlight on the tile surface to see if any dull streaky residue remains.

While these acid solutions are effective at cleaning away the residue most types of natural stone especially marble and travertine are highly reactive to acid and develop etching and other types of damage. Grout haze comes off slate that s sealed with grout release but it leaves unsealed tile looking dull. Vinegar won t leave any residue behind which some harsher detergents can be known to do on tile. It usually takes a newly grouted surface several days or weeks to become fully hardened.