Removing TYW Stain from tile - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums

JKEarp · 03-01-2004, 03:36 PM

I just applied TYW Grout Stain & Seal to my porcelain tile. I tried to follow the Guru's instructions, I had my sponges and my wet towels but I still manged to mess up an area before I got the technique down. I didn't get all the stain cleaned off some of the corners of the tile. Is there any way to get it off? I tried scotch pads and razor blades but it's not happening.

kemguru · 03-01-2004, 03:58 PM

Hi Kevin

Dip a corner of that scrub pad into a solution of 1-part ammonia to 10-parts water. Hold the saturated corner over the bad spots for a few seconds, and then lightly scrub. The Stain is still pretty fresh, so this should do it. You should also be able to preserve the Stain in the joint, since it has a better bite on the grout, than it does on the tile. Worst case, you will have to touch-up a bit. I imagine you have the technique down pat now, so a minor touch-up will be a breeze.

This only applies since the Stain & Seal is fresh. Once it cures for a week, or so, Methylene Chloride and MEK are they only chemicals that will completely remove it.

JKEarp · 03-03-2004, 11:36 PM

Thanks for the advice Tim, the ammonia solution worked fine with a little elbow grease. This tile has alot of little crevices and ridges along the edges so I needed to be more careful when wiping it off. Anyway, the stain/seal looks great and the boss(wife) is happy. Your products and this site rock.

John Bridge · 03-04-2004, 07:19 AM

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the compliment. We try very hard.

JKEarp · 03-07-2004, 04:43 PM

Here's a follow up question. The wife/inspector found a few spots that I had missed upon which the ammonia won't work. I was curious if nail polish remover(contains acetone) would work so I tried some on an inconspicuous spot and it seems to work pretty good at removing the stain, question is does it hurt the porcelain tile?

03-08-2004, 01:24 AM

Dear Kevin:
Unless you use Hydrofuoric acid, nothing can hurt porcelain! Go for the nail-polish remover if it works!

Ciao and good luck,

kemguru · 03-08-2004, 07:51 AM

I agree…have at it, Kevin

I’m sorry you have to go through this extra step, but I do thank you for going with the TYW Grout Stain & Seal.