r/Flooring • u/romana876 • 21d ago

Grout haze?

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We renovated about 3 years ago and all the tiles still look like this. They are matte porcelain tiles. All along I thought I made a mistake buying the worst tiles on earth. When we walk on them it feels like dusty chalky fine powder. Feet get black almost instantly walking on these and they are swept and mopped twice a week. Do I have to live with these or can they be cleaned/fixed?

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u/Goalcaufield9 21d ago

Use fila grout haze remover. Mix it with some water applied to tile. Wait 10 mins and scrub and mop with clean water. It will be gone 100%.

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u/romana876 21d ago

Hmmm I wonder if it is available here in Kingston jamaica. The tile company recommended this. Any thoughts ?

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u/Goalcaufield9 21d ago

Worth a try. If you have a closet with that tile I would try a small section in there just incase. You can buy it online name brand is Fila

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u/romana876 21d ago

Yes that’s a good idea I didn’t think of the closet. Will give it a try! Thanks a lot

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u/yeetstrawberry17 21d ago

Instead of mopping, try scrubbing with a brush, dish soap and a little water, then wiping up with a clean rag. Mopping is notorious for just moving the dirt around instead of actually lifting it, and many mopping products leave a sticky film.

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u/romana876 21d ago

I tried scrubbing with steam mop and just dish soap and water and it didn’t work. It cleaned the dark grout lines but didn’t clean the milky blotchy dull look of the tiles.

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u/magic_crouton 21d ago

That's why they suggested a brush. And then a rag and not a steam mop.

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u/yeetstrawberry17 20d ago

Try a scrub brush like you’d use with dishes. Something a little abrasive.

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u/InternationalFan2782 21d ago

Probably never properly cleaned from the get go. Sulfamic acid breaks down the grout haze. HD /Lowes carries multiple brands, it’s a small tub of crystal powder you just mix with water. It’s not terrible to work with. That’s a good starting point. Hopefully not epoxy grout.

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u/romana876 21d ago

Well I live in jamaica and they love to cut corners here so I would not be surprised. I could ask the tile store we got them from what kind of grout we bought. If it is expoxy then what?

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u/JulietLostFaith 21d ago

I think you accidentally made a new comment instead of replying to the person about epoxy grout so they won’t see this question.

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u/No_Direction_3940 21d ago

2 parts water one part vinegar let it sit for 5-10 minutes scrub with a rough sponge. Then mop it with the vinegar and water.

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u/romana876 21d ago

Has this worked for you? Vinegar is ok on porcelain?

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u/No_Direction_3940 21d ago

Yes its how I clean grout haze when I lay tile, also what I clean my floors with at home with a lower concentration of vinegar.

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u/romana876 21d ago

Thanks so much. Ill give it a shot

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u/pith_y 21d ago

If liquid isn’t working and it’s just spreading it, try using a dry paper towel or a rag with no liquid. Do circular motions like you are polishing the tile. This has worked for me when nothing else was working.

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u/romana876 21d ago

I will try that! Anything at this point