How to Clean Grout Haze From Porcelain Tile
- 1). Wipe down the tiles immediately after the grout has had about 10 minutes to set up. Use a large sponge that has been dampened with clear water. Wipe the surface in a one-swipe motion, flip the sponge to the opposite side, wipe the surface again, and then rinse the sponge under running water or in a bucket of clear water. Work fast so the surface does not dry while you are cleaning, causing the polymers in the grout to set up on the surface of the tile.
- 2). Polish the surface of the tiles with a dry cotton rag or microfiber cloth. Buff out the tiles so that any remaining grout smeared across the surface of the tile is removed. Work in circular motions, paying close attention to the areas closest to the grout lines where there could be a greater buildup of residual grout.
- 3). Remove any remaining haze by scrubbing the surface with a damp nylon scrubbing pad to rub off stubborn grout left behind. Polish afterward with a soft, dry cloth to remove the finest particles.
- 4). After the grout has been allowed to cure for at least a month, wet the surface of the hazy tile. Wearing gloves, use a rag to apply a small amount of sulfamic acid diluted with water to the surface of the tile to dissolve the polymers in the grout that are creating the haze. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the application of the acid, and scrub the surface with a nylon scrubbing pad. Rinse the tile as in Step 1 to remove the grout, but neutralize the acid by adding half a cup of household ammonia per gallon of rinse water.
- 5). If the haze is still stubbornly remaining on the surface of the porcelain tile, try scouring powder. First test the scouring powder in a small, inconspicuous area of the tile to make sure it doesn't scratch the porcelain. If there is no scratching, use a cloth rag to work the powder back and forth across the face of the tile, and then rinse as in Step 1, and polish as in Step 2.
