Different Ways Of Softening Grout For Removal
Tile grout, mostly water-based, particularly used in bathroom areas like showers is designed to harden and become impossible to pass through or enter. It will hold up to scrubbing, cleaning solutions, as well as warm water and not soften. Over a period of time, the grout stains from mildew even start to crack. As soon as your tile grout cracks, soften the grout and get rid of it in order to install new grout. To soften the grout, different options are available & make the grout removal process easier. One of the options is to apply a heat gun or dissolve it & don't worry about the tile as dissolving the grout will not have any effect on the tile. You can also create several mixtures to soften the mortar that needs to be removed.
Way 1: Heat Method
- Tools Required: Applying heat method requires a few tools that you will need to have on hand, which may include the following tools:
- Heat Gun Or A Blow Dryer
- Grout Removal Tool, Preferably Dremel
- Trash or Bucket For Old Grout
- Heat Up The Grout: Take your heat gun and keep its temperature setting at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead of a heat gun, you can also use a blow dryer by keeping it in the lowest setting. Both the heat gun as well as a blow dryer are the best options to use. Aim your preferred tool, heat gun, or blow dryer, in the area that you want to soften. Remember to aim it more in betwixt the tiles rather than on the tiles. This will help the heat to focus directly onto the grout. Your heating tool needs to be nearly 6 to 8 inches away from the tile in order to avoid damage to the flooring. It will also avoid any condensation of the grout. You will get the indication that the heat is working as soon as the edges begin to peel away from the tile.
- Peel Up The Grout: For the peeling process, you will need two free hands in order to take hold of your heat source and your grout tool. It is important not to get rid of the heat source at this point in the process. Keep your heat 6-8 inches away at the time of digging the grout out. As soon as you make the initial opening, then the rest of the process will be easier from there. You can change your heat source at an angle and warm up the undersurface or bottom of the mortar, which in turn, will make it easier to scrape up from the base. Take care not to break the tile, otherwise, you will have to get rid of it and replace it, which can be costly as well as time-consuming.
Way 2: Using Vinegar
Vinegar is an acid, so as a result of it being an acid, it should not sit on your tile. Some of the tools required to perform softening of grout process using vinegar are listed below:
- Gloves
- Vinegar
- Water
- Scraper
- A Well-Ventilated Area
After collecting the required tools, put or spread the vinegar directly to the grout & at the same time scrape at the grout. This will help allow the vinegar into the base, where it will eat it away. You need to have a lot of water handy in order to make sure that you can wash away any vinegar that touches your tile. This is a very important point, due to the reason that it will help stop the vinegar from damaging your beautiful tiled floors.
Way 3: Using Sulfamic Acid
The tools needed for this method are the same as you required using vinegar. In this method, you will need additional goggles since you are using more vital acid. Any surface the acid sprinkles on needs to be washed with water as soon as possible. Before applying sulphuric acid to the tile grout, first, test it on an unnoticeable piece of tile, in order to make sure that it will not damage your floors. If in case you have plastic tile, then this is not an appropriate method for you, as sulfamic Acid will eat through plastic. This type of acid is ideal for ceramic floors as well as walls.
- Spray The Acid On The Area.
- Let It Sit For 3 Minutes.
- Make Sure Not To Spread The Sulphuric Acid On The Surface That Will Get Damaged By This Type Of Acid.
- Scrape As Well As apply The Acid As Needed.
Way 4: Brick Cleaner
The brick cleaner is another acid-based cleaning product & the process is same:
- Apply Where Needed.
- Keep It Off Of Other Surfaces.
- Wear Protective Gear Including Goggles And Gloves.
- Keep The Area Well-Ventilated.
This is considered one of the best products to use when it comes to removing grout. It will help to loosen the mortar, as well as dissolve it. As soon as it’s dissolved, use a toothbrush in order to scrub it into the crevices even more. That way, you are certain to get it all & replace the old grout with the new one. Before replacing the grout make sure that you’ve washed off all the brick cleaner. The brick cleaner will help prevent the adhesive component of the grout from bonding, causing issues.