removing COLORED grout haze

[Unregistered]

Help! My beautiful new tile floor (a mix of blue and off white) is COVERED with blue haze from the grout. I have tried using a dehazer but it's not doing anything. What's amazing is that I can't scrub this stuff off yet it's on the bottom of all my socks. Will the vinegar work on colored grout?

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[doitright]

Hi UR,

I'd give it a try.

What kind of tile do you have?

[Maurizio Bertoli]

Dear Unregistred Anonymous Guest:
You found the solution by yourself already: keep walking on your socks for a while changing them often! Have all your family members joining you to speed up the process!! :D :D
Joking aside, John's right: give it a shot with water and vinegar. If it won't work try sulfamic acid. :)
Ciao and good luck,

[Unregistered]

It's floor tile-ceramic I'm guessing. It is kind of "stone looking" with little crevices that are now blue from the grout. I'll give the vinegar and water a try-thanks for your help! Janet

[Chris the Rep]

This time I have to speak up. I usually don't say much regarding using vinegar and water, and try to hold my tongue when it comes to advice regarding using sulfamic, or any other acid. But this time it is a matter of being on the surface of the tile, so I can assume that the grout joints look OK.

Make sure that you try that vinegar or sulfamic in a small, inconspicious area first. And rinse very well, a couple of times. Blue pigments are a particular animal. Even a mild acid can set the pigment even tighter into the pores of the glaze, (or the surface if it's unglazed porcelain). It gets in so deep that it's virtually impossible to remove. I've seen it happen too many times, especially with blue and black grouts, which are usually milled to a much finer consistency than the brown/umber/yellow pigments that are used in the majority of colored grouts.

I have also seen blue and bright red grouts that are not completely cured turn yellow when exposed to acid as well.

If the vinegar does the trick, great. If not, it's time look at mild abrasive methods.

Chris

[Jim Cuviello]

What is a mild abrasive method?

[Maurizio Bertoli]

Hey, Chris, what do you mean by:

"This time I have to speak up."

I'm no moderator here, but I believe that you should speak up every time you feel like! And please, do that as often as you can, even if that means starting a debate!! (I love those!! :D)
We're here to help people out, but to learn from one another at the same time! ;) :cool:
For instance, I for one didn't know about the specific problems that one could have with blue and black grout pigments. So, thank you for the info! :)
About the mild abrasive method that you mention, very much like Jim I don't know much about that, either. Besides, not matter what it is that you specifically refer to (but I'm sure you'll answer Jim's question) I don't know how effective it could be when you have a surface with crevices and pits.
I do know of alkaline products that are very good a removing grout film, though! Kinda hard-to-get, but they are out there! One, at least. ;)
Ciao and good luck,

[John Bridge]

Here now fellas, ;)

Everyone knows we never have arguments around these parts, barely debates, even. We all just agree with one another. Hate arguing myself. :D

Deep colored grouts, especially black (which I don't use) and the primary colors (red, blue and yellow) are, have been and will always be, buggers to get off and out of everything they touch, including baseboards, woodwork and other painted surfaces.

A light acid wash will either loosen them by loosening the cement residue that holds them captive, or it will do nothing. It won't harm most ceramic tiles. I don't recommend it as a maintenance item, but vinegar and water is a good (cheap) first step when grout residue is apparent.

[doitright]

Hi Chris :)

As Maurizio said, don't hold back! :shades:

I am also interested in the mild abrasive method. Especially pertaining to "slate" (clefted) porcelains.

Give it up! :D

[Unregistered]

You guys ROCK!! The vinegar and water worked great! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! janet

[Maurizio Bertoli]

What did you use, Janet: white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or did you go all they way up to gourmet balsamic?!! :D :D :D
I'm glad to hear that it worked out! ;) :cool:
Ciao and good luck,