New tile work can be beautiful, functional, sometimes even a work of art, but opacity is simply irritating. Do not let the left mist behind the grout cloud the shine of the new branded porcelain tiles. Take out your supplies and be ready to use a little effort to bring the shine back to the wall or tiled floor.
Instructions
1 Clean the tiles immediately after Grout has had about 10 minutes to set up. Use a large sponge that has been moistened with clean water. Clean the surface with a single stroke, turn the sponge to the opposite side, clean the surface again, then rinse the sponge with running water or in a clear bucket of water. Work quickly so that the surface does not dry while you are cleaning, making the polymers in the grout set on the surface of the tile.
2 Polish The surface of the tiles with a dry cotton cloth or a microfiber cloth. To polish out the tiles so that any remaining grout stained by the tile surface is removed. To work with circular movements, paying special attention to the areas closest to the lines of the grout where there could be a greater accumulation of residual grout.
3 Remove any remaining mist rub the surface with a damp nylon scouring pad to rub the stubborn grout left behind. Polish then with a soft dry cloth to remove the finer particles.
4 After grouting has been allowed to cure for at least one month, moisten the surface of the hazy tile. The use of gloves, use a rag to apply a small amount of sulfamic acid is diluted with water to the surface of the tile to dissolve the polymers in the grout that are creating the mist. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the application of the acid, and rub the surface with a nylon scouring pad. Rinse tile as in step 1 to remove grout, but neutralize acid by adding half a cup of household ammonia per gallon of rinse water.
5 If the mist remains stubbornly remains on the surface of the porcelain tile, try powdered detergent. First Test the cleaning powder in a small, discrete area of the tile to make sure it does not scratch the porcelain. If there are no scratches, use a rag to work the dust back and forth through the surface of the ceramic, then rinse as in step 1, and Polish as in step 2.
Tips and warnings
- Sulfamic acid, not recommended for marble, natural limestone or travertine tiles.