Which grout haze remover is best? First one didn't work.

Rehabbing & House Flipping
5yFollow

Which grout haze remover is best? First one didn't work.

Bob H.
Rental Property Investor · Cedar Park, TX · Member since 2014 · 415 posts · 272 votes

I recently installed some black ceramic tile with white grout. I realize now that the high contrast between the tile and grout makes any haze particularly noticeable.

The tile surface is smooth, with a silky texture. When installing the grout, I had little trouble scraping it off with a float, leaving nice straight joint lines. I did notice, though, that a light gray haze was forming. After scrubbing this without much success, I decided to try a haze remover.

I installed the grout over two days. The following day I tried Miracle Sealants Heavy-Duty Acidic Cleaner. I diluted it according to the instructions and even tried it full strength in a few spots, being careful not to get it on the grout joints.

The effect was barely noticeable. There still is a light haze on a lot of the tile.

The label of the Miracle Sealants product says it contains hydrochloric acid.

Another product, Aqua Mix Cement Grout Haze Remover by Custom Products, contains phosphoric acid, as does Deterdek Cementitious Grout Haze Remover by Fila.

Another option is Aqua Mix Sulfamic Acid Crystals by Custom Products.

I also have seen recommendations for using acetone to remove grout haze.

I want to get this right with one more cleaning, and I don't want to stain or damage the grout in the joints. Which of these products do you recommend, based on experience with them?

0Reply
262 views

Most Popular Reply

Mike ReynoldsPro Member
construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
5y

Here is the problem. You didn't clean it all off on the install. Even if you have to change the water 1000 times a day it is better than dealing with grout haze. So next install remember to change the water frequently and clean those sponges real good. 

I am not being mean, I am getting to a point here. 

Now, you are having the same issue. When you use the chemical cleaner it re-activates the grout causing it to smear again. It hasnt come up because it looks clean after you wipe it but when it dries it's back. Try using one of those sponges you buy in the tile dept that has an abrasive side. Scrub it while dry and see if that works. If not then use the chemical stuff again and use a different sponge to remove the excess. This may take a while but it is doable. You can also try vinegar or green rubbing alcohol. The green wont stain it. I have used it on white carpet on the advice of my MIL and thought she was crazy. 

Well, she is crazy but it did work with no stains. 

2Reply
See this reply in the discussion

6 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    Here is the problem. You didn't clean it all off on the install. Even if you have to change the water 1000 times a day it is better than dealing with grout haze. So next install remember to change the water frequently and clean those sponges real good. 

    I am not being mean, I am getting to a point here. 

    Now, you are having the same issue. When you use the chemical cleaner it re-activates the grout causing it to smear again. It hasnt come up because it looks clean after you wipe it but when it dries it's back. Try using one of those sponges you buy in the tile dept that has an abrasive side. Scrub it while dry and see if that works. If not then use the chemical stuff again and use a different sponge to remove the excess. This may take a while but it is doable. You can also try vinegar or green rubbing alcohol. The green wont stain it. I have used it on white carpet on the advice of my MIL and thought she was crazy. 

    Well, she is crazy but it did work with no stains. 

    2Reply
  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    5y

    Try using paper towels with the remover and change them out constantly, scrub hard. That prevents resmearing the same haze around. @Mike Reynolds is right, you want to take time to remove when it is fresh. I learned that lesson the hard way! 

    1Reply
  • Bob H.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Cedar Park, TX · Member since 2014 · 415 posts · 272 votes
    5y

    Thanks, but the point of my post was to ask which cleaner works best.

    The hydrochloric acid product from Miracle Sealants did not work. It was not a matter of smearing grout from the joints onto the tile; I could scrub a small area in the middle of a tile and see no change.

    0Reply
  • Thomas Meyer
    Rental Property Investor · Simi Valley, CA · Member since 2019 · 53 posts · 42 votes
    5y

    Any of them should work. They are all acidic which will/should remove the haze because it will dissolve the calcite in the grout. It's why you can't use any of those products on natural stone because it will etch it. The above remedies have some merit because you really need to clean the product off with clean water to remove it otherwise it will just haze and it might not even be the grout causing it. Last resort, get some enhancer/sealer and it will darken everything.

    0Reply
  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Bob H.:

    Thanks, but the point of my post was to ask which cleaner works best.

    The hydrochloric acid product from Miracle Sealants did not work. It was not a matter of smearing grout from the joints onto the tile; I could scrub a small area in the middle of a tile and see no change.

    I'm not talking about grout from the joints smearing but the actual haze smearing back after it is applied. The cleaner should release the haze but it has to be picked up by another different clean sponge. Or you could try to scrub it while dry. That has actually worked for me in some cases.  

    0Reply
  • Erik B.
    Rental Property Investor · Amityville, NY · Member since 2018 · 351 posts · 441 votes
    5y

    @Bob H.

    Unfortunately the answer is not as cut and dry as you would like. Posting a few pictures would be helpful because what you are calling "light" haze is probably not light at all.

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free