Good afternoon,
I recently did a project for a GC where I laid 12" hexagon ceramic tiles. They are mildly textured and after installation I cannot seem to get the haze off.
I don't have a huge amount of experience setting tile. I've done 5 showers and 2 floors and numerous backsplashes. But I've never had problems with a haze until this one floor.
The tile in question is this stuff:
https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garde...7/product.html
When I was laying this tile I had drywall guys all around me sanding with no vacuum to the point where the air in the room was hazy. I cleaned the tiles with my sponge and bucket of water that I normally use for excess thinset.
They were hazy from that point forward but I just figured it was drywall dust and it needed lots of water.
I got it all done and grouted because I assumed I could get haze remover and get whatever it was off of there without too much trouble.
Wrong. It's stuck on there good. Here's a link to my tile:
https://ibb.co/5T7NFkB
I tried sulphamic acid and also grout haze remover. Both acidic cleaners obviously. I watched a video from Mapei that said polymer modified thinset comes off best with alkaline cleaners (pH of 7+).
My theory is that the drywall dust became sealed into the tile when I used my thinset cleaning water to clean the tiles. And became worse when I grouted without cleaning it further.
Drywall dust is gypsum, calcium sulfate, and is very inert and hard to break down with any cleaners.
Any ideas other than scrubbing and scrubbing until my elbows are out of grease?
Has anyone experienced something similar to this?
TIA.
And at last, 
