How to Clean Grout if It Dries Completely

How to Clean Grout if It Dries Completely

The main component of most grouts is Portland cement. It usually takes a newly grouted surface several days or weeks to become fully hardened. Once it has cured, however, old grout can be difficult to clean from tiled floors and walls. Your first instinct may be to chisel it off with a metal tool, such as a putty knife, but this can damage the tiles. Instead, a process of soaking and gently scraping and scouring the grout with non-metal tools is recommended.

Water and Wood Method

1. 1.

   Pour some clean water over the tile surface. This will act as a lubricant and will prevent scratches on the tiled surface as you work.

2. 2.

   Scrape the large clumps or layers of grout with a small piece of hardwood, such as oak, that is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick, with a square-cut end. Do not use metal scraping tools such as putty knives; these will permanently damage the glazed surface of the tile.

3. 3.

   Work at the grout with light to medium pressure until you’ve removed all heavy deposits of grout, and then rinse off the tile with clean water.

4. 4.

   Wet the grout that remains with clean water, and scour the surface of the tile with a damp nylon scouring pad. As you scour, keep the pad wet with plenty of water.

5. 5.

   Rinse the tile with clean water, and wipe it dry with a clean towel. If the grout still is not fully removed, continue scouring.

6. 6.

   Round the end of your wood piece using coarse-grit sandpaper until it resembles a wood chisel.

7. 7.

   Apply water to the tile surface and push and pull the stick between the tiles to smooth the grout lines.

Sugar and Water Method

1. 1.

   Mix 1 cup of white granulated sugar into a gallon of hot water. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves.

2. 2.

   Pour the solution over the grout, or apply it to vertical surfaces with a sponge. Leave the sugar water to soak into the grout for about two hours. This allows the solution time to loosen the grout’s bond to the tile.

3. 3.

   Scrape off large chunks of grout using a wooden paint stick. Apply sugar water to the remaining grout and scrub with a nylon scrubber.

4. 4.

   Keep the grout wet with the sugar and water solution as you work.

5. 5.

   Rinse the tile with clean water to remove the sugar solution. Wipe the tile dry with a clean towel to make sure all grout is removed. If some grout remains, repeat scrubbing it with the sugar water.

   Things You Will Need

   • Water

   • Cloth

   • Bucket

   • Wooden stick

   • Nylon scrubber

   • Sandpaper

   • Towel

   • Paint stick

   • Granulated sugar

   Tip

   If the grout will not come off, it may be an epoxy grout which is almost impossible to remove without an epoxy remover product.

   Warning

   Do not use vinegar to remove grout unless you’re certain it will be safe to use on your tiles. Some tiles are acid sensitive.

References

Writer Bio

Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the “Community Press” newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.