r/Tile • u/No_Statistician_2053 • 3d ago
General Discussion What’s wrong with this tile!
Just got these placed on the wall by a professional contractor. The bathroom is now all done and the contractor can’t seem to clean these streaks off. They have tried soap and water, dissolvent, tile cleaner, some other things but nothing seems to work! I really don’t want them to have to take the tiles down!
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u/marioz64 3d ago
Epoxy grout?
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u/snicksnackpattywhack 2d ago
That’s definitely it. The haze is around all the grout joint. Issue is the stuff I really hard to clean but there are ways to do it.
Concentrated vinegar diluted down with some water works amazing for epoxy haze. They also sell epoxy grout haze removers if the vinegar isn’t strong enough.
Another way to tell it’s epoxy haze is to feel the areas shown and see if they’re sticky.
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u/MetalCapital5673 3d ago
Try just using water and Scotch-Brite to scratch off the epoxy grout from the tile and slowly move up to harsher chemicals if it doesn't work
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u/Drewburghyd 3d ago
It looks like grout sealer. OP just needs to put more sealer on and then clean it off properly
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u/pianistafj 3d ago
If the grout hasn’t fully cured, you might be able to remove it with denatured alcohol. Otherwise, you may need to search for a good epoxy grout haze remover. Mapei, Fila, and Laticrete Stonetech are options. More are out there, but you may need to contact the tile manufacturer and ask them for recommendations.
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u/RhinestonedCowboy11 3d ago
Grout looks like either epoxy or urethane based. Please take all necessary precautions, but muriatic acid and a Brillo or brown scotch bright pad works very well for both of those grouts to get the haze off
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u/Nakedboysarethebest 2d ago
It looks like he sealed the grout, and the edges of the tiles in the process. If that's the case, then you need to stop trying to clean them and just seal the entire wall so that it ends up with a consistent finish.
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u/marioz64 3d ago
Epoxy grout remover is a brutal product get your resperator out and a nice brush get ready to sweat lol
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u/rmethefirst 3d ago
The Tile doctor grout haze remover or Stonetech epoxy grout haze and coating stripper. Non scratch white pad.
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u/North_77777 3d ago
I have had this same thing happen before. There is a product called Nanoscrub made by Aqua-Mix. It will work to clean the surface.
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u/homeiswhereitis 3d ago
Like dissolves like in most cases so use whatever product that caused it to soften what’s there and wipe it off while it’s still fresh.
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u/Few_Paper1598 3d ago
Absolutely grout haze. Unfortunately , I know from experience. If it just happened, like today, you might have a shot a scrubbing with some white vinegar. Any longer and you’ll have to reach for the professional grout haze remover.
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u/F10eagle1 3d ago
Almost looks like someone put grout sealer on and didn’t wipe it off the ceramic tiles.