Grout haze is caused when tile is installed and the grout is not completely removed from the tile surface after the project is complete. To clean it, you can use common household ingredients or a commercial tile cleaner. The best time to remove grout haze is within 24 hours of completing a grouting project; however, it is possible to remove haze even days or weeks after the tiling project is finished. It's always best to start with the simplest removal method first. If you're trying to remove the grout haze within that first 24-hour window, plain elbow grease may just do the trick. Fill a bucket with warm water and, using a green scouring pad, give the haze a good scrubbing. For stubborn haze or haze that's had a little more time to sit, this may not work.If your grout haze refuses to come up with just warm water, try a mixture of warm water and vinegar (50 percent of each). In many cases this will remove the haze, provided you use enough force against the tile to remove the excess grout causing it.

By this time, if the haze has still not been removed, then it may be time to resort to a commercial haze remover. You can purchase this type of product at any large home improvement center in the tile department. Following the instructions on the package and wearing protective gloves, soak a cloth and use it to wipe the haze from the tile. If the haze continues to be a problem, then the next step is to try applying the remover directly to the surface of the tile. Take care when resorting to this measure that you try small amounts at a time in small areas to avoid possibly damaging the grout you want to keep. Also, be sure to clean up the remover thoroughly, using a new cloth if you have to. Again, keep in mind that the longer grout haze is allowed to set, the harder it will be to remove. What Not to Use The primary products to avoid when attempting to remove grout haze are commercial detergents that may be overly harsh on the grout and leave their own film on tile. Be aware that attempting to remove grout haze may actually soften the grout between the tiles.

If this occurs, then use a putty knife to smooth the grout into place and then reseal the grout to prevent further damage.Care and Maintenance – Porcelain Horizon Italian Tile recommends following these simple steps to ensure the beauty of your porcelain for its lifetime. The first and most important step involves the complete removal of grout residue and construction debris after the initial installation. The most effective way to remove grout residue is to follow the grout manufacturers recommendations and instructions. For products with a matte or textured finish Horizon Tile recommends using Fila Deterdek Acid Cleaner post-installation to remove thin set residue and grout haze on porcelain tile. For products with a polished finish or finishes that are acid sensitive Horizon Tile recommends using Fila Neutral Cleaner. Thorough rinsing with clean water is necessary to ensure successful cleaning. Porcelain tiles require minimal maintenance. Daily cleaning should be performed first by sweeping or vacuuming to remove loose soil or other surface contaminants, followed by damp mopping with clean hot water.

According to the Tile Council of North America, lippage is defined as a condition where one edge of a tile is higher than an adjacent tile, giving the finished surface an uneven appearance. This condition is inherent in all installation methods and may also be unavoidable due to the tile tolerances, in accordance with ANSI A137.1. Some patterns, such as a 50% off-set (also known as brick joint), accentuate the effects of warpage and therefore result in more lippage than most installation patterns. best steam cleaners with attachmentsHorizon Italian Tile recommends using a running bond pattern not exceeding a 33% offset in order to avoid lippage. best carpet cleaner for pet messesThe grout joint thickness can also play a role in an exaggeration of lippage. best homemade carpet cleaner pet stains

It is important to understand that widening the grout joint does not eliminate lippage, but it can make the lippage less apparent. Horizon Italian Tile recommends a minimum grout joint of 1/8” for all rectified tiles in order to avoid lippage. Lighting conditions are also a factor to be taken into consideration in the appearance of lippage. best las vegas hotel chapelsTechniques where the lighting is located at the wall/ceiling interface or mounted directly on the wall, such as cascading light, cove lighting and wall-washers, tend to accentuate the shadows cast onto the surface of the tile. carpet cleaner san antonioThis can result in exaggerated and unappealing shadows on allowable lippage and/or warpage. vacuum cleaner best suction

In order to insure an acceptable installation, it is recommended to coordinate a job site mock up with the final lighting installed.Tile, Stone and Grout Care Do's and Don'ts of Ceramic Tile Care Do not combine ammonia and household bleaches. Do not use harsh cleaning against (such as steel wool pads) which can scratch or damage the surface of your tile. Do test scouring pads in a small area first. Do use a silicone sealer on grout joints if continuous staining is a problem. Do read and follow label directions for all cleaners. Care and Maintenance of Tile Grout Grout may present a special cleaning problem because it is susceptible to many staining agents. Apply a silicone sealer to grout joints several times a year for maximum protection (or as sealer directions suggest). In addition to keeping the grout clean, be sure to keep grout joints in good repair. Scrape out loose, cracked or powdery joints and refill with a good grout. One common grouting trouble spot is the joint between the tub and the wall in your bathroom.

As the house or tub settles, the grout may crack and crumble. It's relatively simple to remedy. Remove the old grout with a sharp pointed tool, being careful not to scratch tile or tub. Then dry the joint thoroughly and fill with a flexible caulking compound, such as silicone rubber caulking. There are many excellent household cleaners on the market today. They should all do a good job for you, so use your favorite. Remember, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommended usage. They will perform as promised, if you use them as directed. You can find at your supermarket all-purpose cleaners including such products as Scrub Free, Mr. Clean, Top Job, Fantastic, Ajax Liquid, Liquid Comet and Dow Bathroom Cleaner. "Soapless detergents" are also commonly found on supermarket shelves. They include such cleaners as Spic & Span and Formula 409. Tile Distributors of America offers "soapless detergents" such as Hilliard's Super Shine All, Tile & Grout Renovator or TEC's LikeNew and EveryDay Stone & Tile Cleaner.

Scouring powders which are readily available include Comet, Bon Ami and Ajax. Nylon scouring pads may also be used (such as Scotch Brite), but steel wool pads are not recommended. Commercial cleaners such as Aqua mix or Hilliard's Assurance, are suitable for heavy duty cleaning in commercial applications. These products are available at Tile Distributors of America. Grease and Fats Remove using soda and water or commercial spot lifter. Inks and Colored Dyes Remove using household bleach. Blood Remove using hydrogen peroxide or household bleach. Coffee, Tea, Food, Fruit, Lipstick, Juices Remove using neutral cleaner in hot water followed by hydrogen peroxide or household bleach. Caution: Vinegar may damage some tile glazes. Be sure to test this solution first in a small area to see if it etches the tile or erodes the grout. Marble, Granite, Slate, Travertine, Limestone, Onyx, etc.) What type of natural stone do you have inside your home, on your patio, in your entryway or in your exterior landscaping?

Although natural stone provides an excellent upgrade from many of today's synthetic alternatives, it must still be recognized that it is neither maintenance free nor stain proof. Grout, even latex-modified, is also very porous and subject to sub-surface staining if not properly protected and maintained. Here are some excellent tips that will help insure the ongoing beauty, long life, cleanliness and slip resistance of your stone installation: Do Seal your stone and grout installation to improve the stain resistance and ease the ongoing maintenance. It is very important that the proper sealer be used based on the type of stone, surface finish and location. A good rule of thumb is that with denser stone, including polished surfaces, is that only penetrating-type sealers should be used. If you have a stone with a very porous (absorbent) or textured surface such as slate, then you have an option of using a "coat" or surface sealer that will generally provide a degree of surface sheen or a penetrating-type sealer that will leave a completely natural look.

Be careful when selecting coating-type sealers on exterior areas as many of the coating-type sealers currently available do not work well in exposed exterior environments. Don't Allow liquid contaminants to stand indefinitely on stone and grout surfaces, even if they are sealed. It is important to remove liquid contaminants as soon as possible. They will very quickly penetrate into unsealed stone and grout surfaces, making them difficult to extract, and eventually seep into even sealed surfaces if allowed to dwell for extended periods of time. a sealer should be viewed as providing reaction time to remove the contaminant before it penetrates and stains the stone or grout. Don't Directly wipe a liquid contaminant off the stone or grout surface. This will simply cause the stain to be spread over a larger area, and even drive the contaminant deeper into the stone or grout, especially if unsealed. Do Quickly utilize an absorbent paper towel or rag to blot up any liquid contaminant remaining wet on the surface before scrubbing the surface with a proper cleaner.

Don't Use acidic cleaners for routine stone maintenance. Although many stones are acid resistant, there are many stones (most noteworthy - Marble), which are sensitive to acids. Even a light solution of vinegar and water will quickly etch and dull polished marble surfaces. It is also important to note that acidic cleaners do not function as degreasers, but work by chemically attacking cement and calcium found in grout and some varieties of stone, thus damaging the structural integrity of the grout and stone. Do Use neutral PH cleaners for everyday routine cleaning of stone and grout surfaces. periodic heavy duty cleaning is needed, use an alkaline (high PH) cleaner. These are excellent degreasers, working well on grout and most stone surfaces without chemically damaging these surfaces. IT is recommended that whatever cleaner is used on fine polished marble, that it is always first tested to insure that it does not dull the polished surface. Don't Clean textured stone surfaces and grout using only a mop.

A highly textured or uneven surface such as slate and sanded grout is rough finished and tends to grip and hold surface contaminants. A simple moping is not going to create sufficient surface agitation to release these clinging contaminants. Do After applying a neutral PH or high alkaline cleaner, utilize a scrub brush to create sufficient surface agitation to release the surface contaminants so they can be easily removed in the rinsing process. Don't Wet mop polished stone surfaces, allowing the polished surface to surface dry as the water evaporates. This will allow for eventual mineral buildup to occur which will dull high polished finishes. absorbent paper or cotton towels to polish dry any water on the polished surface. This will eliminate the dulling mineral deposits that would be left behind if the water is left to naturally evaporate. This is also important in wet areas such as showers, where polished stone surfaces should be towel dried after use so as to eliminate eventual buildup of mineral-hard water deposits.