Vinegar etched porcelain tile - how to fix?

[ahmadsf]

Hey gurus,

I had some efflorescence in the grout so I used vinegar on all the grout lines to fix. I didn't mix the vinegar with water but after i scrubbed the vinegar in, I mopped it all up.

Now, when I look at the tile at an angle, I can see dark blemishes along all the grout lines about the thickness of the scrubber I used. So basically, wherever the vinegar was applied hard, it left a blemish.


I tried cleaning the tile a bunch of times, no luck. I am obviously using the wrong products.

I actually used the same tile in another bath in the house and it came out nice and sorta reflective everywhere. This time though, it all looks kinda dull and of course its blemished everywhere...

What do you guys recommend?

[Sonnie Layne]

Welcome to the site, someone here will be able to answer your question. Unfortunately, it's not me. We have a section on tile cleaning/sealing, have you looked about in there? At any rate, I'm not the only night owl in the property and I'm sure someone will be along soon.

Again, welcome and don't hesitate to ask any questions you have. We even know about things other than tile as you'll see.

Sonnie

[jdm]

The vinegar shouldn't have affected your porcelain tiles. I'm guessing that you left a film of minerals dissolved from the grout on the tiles. Try wetting the grout around a tile, then cleaning the tile with a 50:50 vinegar:water solution. Try to keep the solution off of the grout. Scrub the edge of the tiles with a (clean) brush. Then rinse well and dry.

[Davestone]

If it was polished porcelain you may have a problem, but vinegar usually isn't so strong as to ruin porcelain with one application, i'd try what JDM said,and rinse well, and maybe add some baking soda to rinse water to cut the acid.