Remove shiny thinset or grout residue on latex paint!

[nbohm]

For the 1st time I had someone else install tile for me (I typically do my own). While they generally did a great job, I find in the 3 inches adjacent to the tile (on the latex painted wall) a shiny residue on the paint that won't clean off with water.

I assume it's either (Mapei) thinset or grout residue left after incomplete cleaning during installation.

I haven't yet gotten more aggressive with cleaning.

Any thoughts of how to remove the residue without removing the paint?

Cleaning, if possible, would be much preferred to repainting...

[PC7060]

Hi Neil, I hate it when people don’t color inside the lines.
I’ve found white vinegar to be very effective for thinset. Hit or miss for grout depending on type. Cheap and easy to apply with spray bottle.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Welcome to the forum, Neal!

Are both suspected materials cement-based? Specifically, which thin set and which grout was used?

[nbohm]

It was Mapei Keraflex thinset and a pre-mixed Mapei grout (not sure the name). I have now tried straight vinegar and Windex to clean with absolutely no change. I have not 'soaked' it with anything.

The strange thing is you can see it as a shiny area on the paint with defined borders like something was wiped on/off. You can't feel anything at all, like a raised surface.

Maybe it's not ON the surface, maybe it somehow ate into the paint and I have to repaint?

[PC7060]

Entirely possible. Personally I’ve learned those transition zones will require repainting or at least some touch up.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

It’s probably very helpful to research the name of the grout used because we need to know what we are dealing with. The fact that it’s shiny points to the grout. If this is leftover polymers, a high alkaline cleaner may be your answer. But, again, knowing which grout was used will keep us from taking pot-shots in the dark.

[smifwal]

Sounds like flex color cq, unless mapei is making another*ready to use grout* the shiny might be the resin

[nbohm]

Thanks for your thoughts.

I just bit the bullet and repainted. Fortunately my custom mix paint matched so I didn't have to do the whole wall!