To get rid of grout haze on porcelain or ceramic tiles, use a vinegar solution. In a big spray bottle or bucket, combine one part white vinegar with four parts water. For enhanced strength, more vinegar can be used. Use a mop or a soft nylon pad depending on the surface you need to clean.
Mix 1-part white vinegar to 4-parts water in a bucket or large spray bottle. Additional vinegar can be added for extra strength. Depending on the surface area you must cover, use a mop or soft nylon pad. Clean the area with pure water following the vinegar-water solution.
Grout that hasn't been sealed, needs to be resealed, or is in poor shape should not be cleaned with vinegar. The vinegar penetrates into the pores of the grout, further weakening the material. Over time, vinegar will deteriorate the condition of the grout by etching or wearing it away.
Mix the vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray it on the tile and give a few quick passes with the sander. While our previous grout haze experience seemed easy, this time was a breeze. We had the entire shower area done in less than 5 minutes. I gave it a quick spray with the handheld shower head and it sparkled.
Here's the secret: magic erasers! I know there are grout pens out there that whiten grout, but that's just paint. I want to actually clean my grout. Magic erasers get the job done, and they do it quickly and relatively painlessly.
For minor instances of grout haze, you might simply be able to remove it with some cheesecloth. First, put on a pair of nitrile or latex gloves. Then, wet the cheesecloth, wring it out, and wipe down the tile. You also can try running a clean rubber grout float over the tile to buff off the haze.
Dawn and Vinegar Grout Cleaner
Heat a cup of 1-to-1 vinegar and water in the microwave for about a minute. Pour it into a spray bottle and add a cup of Dawn dish soap. Carefully spray the mixture on your grout lines. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes longer if you have really dirty grout.
Cleaning Grout with Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner and disinfectant you can use all around the house. Pour or spray undiluted vinegar onto your grout and let it sit for 10 minutes before using a toothbrush, scrubbing in a circular motion. Next, rinse away the dirt and mildew.
In a bowl, combine 2 cups water, 1.5 cups baking soda, 1/3 cup vinegar, and 1/3 cup Dawn. Using a spoon, gently stir, making sure there are no lumps. Add the mixture to a clean spray bottle. Spray the floor with the mixture.
The first thing to try is to clean the tiles with a scouring pad and lukewarm water. If this does not work completely, use a mixture of 50% water and 50% vinegar. The acid dissolves the lime residues that make up a grout haze.
They say it's “grout haze:” the silent enemy that can ruin any beautiful tile surface, which doesn't discriminate against color, material or size. It can strike any floor or wall — from porcelain to natural stone. Some grout haze problems result in the worst scenario of all, “picture framing.”
Brush or Wash Away Efflorescence
Otherwise, you can often remove this salty deposit by simply brushing the grout with a stiff brush. In cases where brushing doesn't work, you can remove efflorescence with acid products. Try concentrated solutions of the acid tile and grout cleaners already in your cleaning arsenal.
If you notice a haze of grout left on the tiles post installation, either buff it off with a dry soft towel or undertake one final clean. Grout Haze is generally easy to remove within 48 hours of grout application.
Ideally, the final wipe-down will take place after the grout has been allowed to cure for 24 hours. However, grout haze could still potentially be removed within a few days.
You can also use white vinegar for chemical-free grout cleaning. Simply pour vinegar from the bottle into the cap and pour it over the dirty grout lines. Allow the lemon juice or vinegar to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, scrub with a small brush or old toothbrush.
The most common and effective homemade grout cleaner is a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Cream or tartar and lemon juice is the best all-natural solution for whitening. Avoid using highly-acidic solutions like vinegar because they can corrode grout.
To clean your grout, combine one-part 3% hydrogen peroxide and one-part water into a spray bottle. Spray your grout generously and let the solution sit for about 1 hour, to allow time to work. Rinse the area with water and wipe clean with a microfibre cloth.
Hydrogen Peroxide for Cleaning Grout
Hydrogen peroxide won't damage normal tiles or colored grout. However, you shouldn't use it on polished marble. Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is a great way to remove stubborn stains from your grout.
Spray grout with equal parts vinegar and warm water.
Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the grout, let it stand for 5 minutes, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush. Avoid using vinegar on unsealed grout.
Just a few more important points: As the grout can absorb the soap as well as a stain, do not clean with oil or wax based cleaners (Murphy's Oil soap, Pine Sol, etc.). These products will leave a waxy or oily film in the grout.
The most common reason is moisture from the ground below the slab, but grout may also turn white from the rain in outdoor installations, or in rare cases from water used to clean the floor.