How to remove paint from grout?

[bluefastback]

I primed my bathroom walls some time ago and thought I had my new til job masked off pretty good. The primer has wicked through the tape and in spots is on the grout edge line. What can I do clean this and prevent this from happening again when I apply the paint?

Thanks,

Mark

[Shaughnn]

Hello Mark,
Primer's tough to remove but it's not impossible. I'd wait to clean this up until your final brush-out as too much tinkering with the joints will just tire them out. Tell us a bit about your tile and grout please and we can suggest some solutions.
Shaughnn

[bluefastback]

The grout is desert sand. Looks tan in color. The tile is in my shower area. The area with the primer is on the outside corner of the wall where the shower ends and the bathroom walls meets.I hoped I explained this ok. I started using a product that I had for years called Splat. It it used from removing dried latex paint and other products. I put a little on a rag and tried cleaning the joint and it helped bu it is slow. I stopped and posted my problem here due to all the other proffessional answers I have got in the past.

Thanks,

Mark

[Shaughnn]

Hello again Mark,
You'll be the best judge here, but might you be able to carefully scrape the painted areas clean with a utility knife? If you use the back of the blade and drag it across the grout, you have better control and are less likely to gouge the wall. If you get a little metal marking on your tile, you can use "Bar Keeper's Friend" clenser powder to polish it away.
Shaughnn

[Rob, P.E.]

I'd personally use a wire brush... Not the bruisers for rust removal, the fine detailing/polishing brushes. I've got an assortment of gauges in brass, steel, and stainless. They do a great job on chores like this. If you’re a gearhead like me you’ve probably got them already. If not, you can find them in metal polishing supply houses or on the internet.

[NVC]

I've used what Rob has suggested, wire brushes.

I prefer brass, but usually only have small stainless (TIG brushes) toothbrush sized ones and they work well. The brass is a 'softer scrub' and a die-grinder with a brass wire wheel works great for speed, but test on a scrap piece of tile to make sure it doesn't booger up the finish.

I don't trust my hand with the knife, but the Pirate is a knife wielding JEDI

hope this helped,
Mark

[jdm]

You could also try applying the Splat, covering it with plastic wrap, and letting it soften the primer for a while before rubbing. I would try it in an inconspicuous spot first to be sure it doesn't have any negative effects.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Since you are dealing with paint around the perimeter grout, I'd position a sharp (new) 4" wallpaper scraper parallel to the grout and carefully "shave" away the paint (and a bit of grout). Use the edge of the tile as a "steady" and also to act as a fulcrum while you do this shaving.

It's tough to tape-off something like the edge of grout and expect that the paint won't seep around the edge. When painting the finish coat, I'd "cut in" the paint with a good quality brush rather than rely on the tape.

[bluefastback]

Thanks for the help guys. I am a gear head and have lots of wire brushes. Ill give it a try and let you know. I think when I do the painting I will try and cut in with a paint brush.

[jdm]

The key words in Tonto's post were "good quality". A good brush makes painting clean lines much easier. And if you care for it properly, it will last you a lifetime.

[bluefastback]

Wire brush is NOT working. I have used brass and stee.l It makes the grout look like I am taking a pencil to it and leaving it discolored. Now what?l

[Shaughnn]

Hmmm, you could always try scraping the paint off with the backside of a utility blade and clean off any metal marks on the tile with Barkeeper's Friend clenser powder?
Shaughnn

[Tool Guy - Kg]

I tried using a wire brush once and had the same problem of depositing material onto the grout. I'm not an expert on wire brushing grout, so I'm sorry I didn't post my poor experience earlier. I was hoping the stainless brush didn't leave marks.

I still think the best way is to shear away a fine layer of grout with a sharp 4" wallpaper scraper. Only other posibility is to use a grout saw to lightly scratch away in the areas of the paint, but that digs in real easy and leaves a divot.