Having new tiles installed in your bathroom or kitchen will certainly be attractive. Whether you installed the tiles yourself or hired an expert to do it, you will likely be excited to see the final outcome. After the tiles are set in place, the installer will add grout in the same color as the tiles. But what do you do when, after the installer leaves, you find that the tiles are not as shiny or as attractive as you had expected, owing to dried up grout stains on the tiles that do not seem to come off even as you brush and brush them off with just about any cleaner you can imagine? The following are the things you can use to remove the grout stains from your newly-tiled surface without hurting the tiles:


1. Paint thinner – Many experts go by paint thinner to remove grout stains. To apply, put some on a piece of cotton cloth and rub liberally on the grout stains. Leave it for a few minutes before you try to brush them off. After you do get the grout off, be sure to wash the tiles in detergent or a bathroom cleaner to get the scent of the thinner out.

2. Something to scrape with – Some architects recommend doing the painstaking task of scraping off the grout stains manually using a sharp piece of wood. You may also work using a soft wire wool, or a stainless steel scourer pad. Either way, make sure you do not scratch the tiles as you work on rubbing off the dried excess grout. Although it takes much longer, it is confirmed to work well for removing grout effectively without affecting the grout installed between the tiles. Some people who installed their tiles and grout themselves swear by the effectiveness of using a stiff brush to remove the dried up grout on the tile surface.

3. Grout haze remover – This may be easily found in a tile shop or most home stores. It typically comes with instructions, and you can use it with a scouring pad.

4. Diluted hydrochloric acid – If your tile mess is a bit on the thick side, extreme measures might require the use of acids. Dilute hydrocholoric, or muriatic acid, and apply it first on a small spot using a small bristle brush. The chemical will cause bubbling, and when that stops, wash the area off with water and use your scourer on the spot to remove the grout. Continue working on a small area as you go along, making sure you are properly ventilated and properly geared.

5. Sulfumic acid – Now, this is a very strong chemical that is highly effective in removing dried up grout. Before you work with this substance, though, be sure you are wearing gloves and goggles and have the room properly ventilated, and apply it in a similar way as the muriatic acid.