Two Easy Methods Of Removing Dried Grout From Stone Tile
One of the principal components of the majority of the grouts is Portland cement. A newly grouted surface typically requires numerous days in order to completely harden. As soon as it has cured, however, old grout can be strenuous to get rid of from tiled floors as well as walls. The first thing that you may want to do is chisel it off with the help of a metal tool, like a putty knife, but this can be very harmful to the tiles. As an alternative or substitute, it is highly recommended to soak as well as smoothly scrape and scour the grout with the help of non-metal tools. In order to get rid of the dried grout from stone tile, collect certain items required for the process & then follow one of the two easy methods, that is best suited for your tiles, mentioned below carefully & achieve the desired result of your work:
Items Needed
- Water, Cloth & Bucket
- Wooden Stick
- Nylon Scrubber
- Sandpaper & Towel
- Paint Stick & Granulated Sugar
Method 1: Water And Wood
- First of all, put or spread some clean water over the tile surface, which in turn will act as a lubricant and will help prevent scratches on the tiled surface as you go along with your work.
- The next step is to sweep or remove the large clumps or layers of grout with the help of a small piece of hardwood, like oak, whose thickness should be near about 1/4 to 3/8 inch, with a square-cut end. Make sure not to use metal scraping tools, for instance, putty knives, due to the reason that these tools will damage the glazed surface of the tile in perpetuity.
- Now, keep on working at the grout using light to medium pressure as long as you have eliminated all heavy deposits of grout, before rinsing off the tile with clean water.
- After that, wet through or soak the grout that still continues to exist on the tile with clean water, and clean or brighten the surface using a damp nylon scouring pad. As you clean the surface, keep the pad soaked with a sufficient amount of water.
- Now, cleanse & dry the tile using clean water and a towel. If in case the grout still is not completely eliminated, then keep scouring the surface of the tile as long as the grout is removed fully.
- Round the end of your wood piece with the help of coarse-grit sandpaper as long as it resembles a wood chisel. Put or spread water to the tile surface and then push and pull the stick betwixt the tiles in order to smoothen the grout lines.
Method 2: Sugar And Water Mixture
- Firstly, make a mixture of white granulated sugar(1 cup) with a gallon of hot water & keep on mixing the solution as long as the sugar fully gets dissolved.
- After that, spread the solution over the grout, or to vertical surfaces with the help of a sponge. Allow the grout to become thoroughly wet for nearly two hours by soaking it in the sugar water, which in turn will give the solution time in order to loosen the grout’s bond to the tile.
- Then, sweep or remove large chunks of grout with the help of a wooden paint stick. Spread sugar water to the leftover grout and scrub with the help of a nylon scrubber.
- Finally, your grout should be wet with the sugar and water mixture as you work. Rinse the tile with the help of clean water in order to get rid of the sugar solution. Dry the tile with a clean towel in order to make sure that all grout is removed. If still some grout is noticeable on the tile, then continue scrubbing it with the sugar water.
Useful Tip & Warning
- If you feel that the grout is not coming off, then it may be an epoxy grout which is nearly impossible to get rid of without an epoxy remover product.
- Do not use vinegar to get rid of the grout without the provision that you are sure it will be safe to use on your tiles. This is because some tiles are allergic to acids.