Removing excess grout from tile

[rwilliams]

I just completed grouting my bathroom floor. The tile was a 12x12 ceramic with a slightly rough texture. The grout dried on the tile before I was able to sponge off the excess grout. Please help! Is there some type of solution I can apply to the face of the tile which will help remove the excess grout from the the tile?

[John Bridge]

Hi RWilliams,

If you've just finished there is hope.

If your problem is deposits of grout that are down in the crannies, get after them right now with a stiff tooth brush and water. Don't worry about your joints getting wet. That can be fixed. If you have serious grout on the tiles, you have to get it off now, or it will not come off.

If you mean you have a light haze on the tiles, leave things alone until the grout has dried a couple days. It can then be cleaned off with vinegar and water.

If you have the heavy grout in the depressions, get it out any way you can right now.

[doitright]

Welcome RWilliams

John's right! And don't stop until you do. Seriously, I had to work till 3:30am once trying to eliminate the same problem (grout in the depressions/clefting). A stiff brush, and sharp pointy object (utility knife) will help.

Please get back to us, with the results. No matter what, don't fret, we'll pull you through!

[qazaq]

I have lot of sympathy for anyone who has attempted to remove cured grout from the surface of tiles. Having tried all of the 'home-depot' solutions, I too thought it was 'impossible' to remove grout once it has cured. Not so anymore, as I have successfully removed fully cured grout (14+ days to bond) of the surface of textured 13X13 tile by using a regular electric drill, a shopvac and the kind of steel- or copper brushes that are intended for removing corrosion on metal. As long as the rpm of the drill is high enough, the grout comes off without any resistance. More importantly, I have not scratched/dulled a single tile in the process. The only drawbacks that I have encountered so far are as obvious as they are manageable: the removal of grout with a rotating tool produces a lot of airborne materials which are harmful if inhaled and very unpopular once they have settled as dust around your house. A good mask, wetting the grout before removing it, and a shopvac solves this problem. Secondly, it is not always possible to get close enough to walls, pipes, etc with a large brush. In these instances, you can use a dremel tool with a flexible attachment. Takes a little longer, but allows you to reach practically any spot.

[kemguru]

Welcome to the forums, Anders. Kick off your shoes and stay a while.