Stubborn latex grout haze on textured accent tiles led to this March 2012 thread in the Ceramic Tile Expert Forum on JLC Online.
We installed about 800 sq. ft. of a wood plank–looking porcelain tile. The installation is very nice and looks great, but with so much floor to cover, when we were wiping after grout we did not get it 100% clean ... Thinking the rest would buff out we left it, but with the “grain” in the tile and some heavier areas, we now have to clean the residue off ... What do you guys use for a grout haze remover and what’s the best process? — customwoodworking
If it’s a real large area, I would try a couple experiments first. Take some real stiff scrub pads (the ones for tile, not just any pads) and rub a spot real well. Use dry, no acid. If it works, go rent a floor machine with a 12" disc of similar material and you’re in business. — Dgbldr, Michigan
Can you supply the brand of grout? Haze from regular cementitious grouts should not be too difficult to remove, but latex types can be a problem, especially if the haze has remained on the tile surface for several days.
Floor machines are often used on very large commercial tile installations, but they are usually employed a day or two after the grout has been installed. Machine cleaning may create its own residue that will need to be removed with a wet/dry vac.
Before resorting to acids or scrubbing pads, I suggest that you contact the grout manufacturer to see if the company makes a cleaner specifically for the grout you used. If you cannot get help from the manufacturer, get back to us. If the manufacturer’s advice is helpful, please post the cure so other forum members can benefit. — mbyrne, ceramic-tile forum moderator
The grout is “custom blended” for The Tile Shop, a retail store we are seeing a lot of in these parts. My client went in and chose everything, and they just sell, sell, sell.
Anyway, the grout did have a latex additive, which I suspected was part of the problem. Upon talking to a sales rep at the store, he sold us a haze remover that contains citric acid and can be diluted. We mixed up a bucket — about 8 oz. of remover to 3 gallons water — liberally doused a manageable area, and let it sit for five minutes (tended to fizz a bit), then scrubbed it down with a stiff brush on a pole. Wiped clean, let dry, and voila: really clean. There may be a very small spot in one or two areas, but we will scrub it full strength upon final punch. Not horrible work and faster with two guys (800 sq. ft. in about four hours). — customwoodworking
Thanks, customwoodworking. Many grout manufacturers have a haze cleaner specially formulated for their grouts. — mbyrne, moderator
