How to wipe the grout from the tile after repair?

For a long time, tile remains one of the most popular finishing materials for rooms with an increased negative influence of the environment on the surface. She is able to remain attractive for many years with proper care, which requires knowledge of how to wash grout from a tile. But because of inexperience, you can spoil the surface on the first day after its installation.

Prevention is the best remedy

The tile has various surfaces. Glossy ones are easily damaged by mechanical cleaning; matte ones often absorb everything in themselves due to their porous structure. And some types of grout lose their beauty after active cleaning of the walls. To save consumers from such problems, manufacturers of building materials offer various products to protect the tiles from grouting.

In particular, these are Sopro formulations that have proven their effectiveness to users. Based on resins, they protect the surfaces of clinker tiles, as well as varieties of ceramic, uncoated glaze, from contamination. In this case, the water is not absorbed into the pores, the dirt particles cannot stick tightly, and the grout can be cleaned from the surface with a light movement of the hand with a soft felt.

In order to use the composition, you need to apply it on a cleaned and completely dry tile, making sure the glue is completely dry. The result will be achieved in 1-2 days and will not affect the appearance.

Relief tiles are prepared separately. Since decorative elements will subsequently be very difficult to clean, there is the practice of pasting it with masking tape. It is also possible to use a film made of polyethylene, but it will not be too convenient.

Wipe off the grout quickly

The materials used to process the seams harden very quickly. In almost 10-20 minutes they harden. This suggests that it is desirable to act quickly, without leaving this occupation for later. In the first minutes, traces of construction dirt are removed with an ordinary sponge and plain warm tap water.

To do this, gently remove the pollution with light circular movements. In this case, the sponge should be washed as often as possible, as well as changing the water. Near the seams, you need to work especially carefully so as not to damage their smoothed top layer.

However, this option will definitely work when carrying out preventive measures or for the glossy surface of the tile. If the preparatory work has not been carried out, there is a high probability of a light coating after the end of the cleaning. Most often, you can get rid of it by using an acidic cement cleaner, because it is on its basis that the compositions for joints are the most popular.

Tip

It is very easy to damage the seams with such a substance, so you need to act extremely carefully. In addition, it is necessary to work with rubber gloves so as not to damage the skin on the hands, and with windows open - to reduce the ingestion of the substance into the body with breathing.

You can remove light spots using special felt mittens, which are sold in construction stores, but they will not help with embossed tiles. A terry cloth rag can be used for it. Having moistened with sunflower oil, it needs to be carefully and long to wipe off spots to completely clean the decorative elements.

Epoxies are a separate issue.

Unfortunately, these kind of products are really high quality. Neither alkali, nor acid, nor even mechanical cleaning methods take them. Before wiping the grout from the tile yourself, contact the master who did the repair work for you. Such negligence is not permissible; you must either correct it or compensate for it.

If you have to fight on your own, you need to prepare for serious work. Epoxy resins specially treated can soften Litokol in any way. Epoxy paint removers are also used.

A number of actions are required.

• Seal the seams with a double layer of masking tape to guarantee their safety.
• Apply to a contaminated surface and allow to soak for 5 minutes.
• Gently remove plaque while working with a wire brush or a well-ground knife.

Unfortunately, low-quality tiles, as a rule, do not withstand such a relationship, and even on expensive finishing material there are scratches or stains.

Folk methods

A couple of centuries ago, the chemical industry with its production of household chemicals was not developed, but tile was used quite widely. To clean it, various methods were used, including the use of sulfuric, acetic or hydrochloric acid. In some cases, baking soda was added to them.

For example, a coating of grout can be cleaned with a paste, for which vinegar and soda are mixed in equal proportions. It is left for 10-15 minutes, after which it is washed off with a plaque with a toothbrush (or a special tile, the effect will be the same). The rest can be washed off with a wet rag and then wiped dry with a towel.

Unfortunately, it must be borne in mind that during this time the protective coating has become more tender, and some means can damage it. Therefore, before you try this or that method on your wall, it is more reasonable to identify a possible final result. To do this, rub a piece of tile in an inconspicuous place.

As in any business, to properly and quickly clean the tiles, you first need to learn how to do this, and only then do the necessary actions. The necessary information will help to avoid damaged repairs and unnecessary financial expenses.