How to Remove Grout Haze

By
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

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Updated on 08/14/23
Reviewed by
Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek headshot.
Reviewed by Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek of Clean That Up! is a seasoned veteran of the cleaning industry with over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential cleaning. He is a member of The Spruce's Cleaning and Organizing Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
In This Article
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 days
  • Yield: Remove grout haze on 100 square feet of tile
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $20 to $40

Grout haze, the film left from tiling, cannot be removed with ordinary tile cleaning materials. But with the right remover, getting your new tiles looking shiny and bright is no problem. Learn how to finish the last, essential step in installing tile: removing the grout haze.

Grout haze cleaned off white tiled wall with white sponge and teal gloves

The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

What Is Grout Haze and How to Remove It

Grout haze is the chalky white film left on the tile surface after the tile has been grouted. Grout is made of minerals and cement mixed with water. When the water dries, minerals remain on the tile surface as a normal part of tiling.

Water and a wet sponge remove the bulk of the grout from the tile surface. The resulting haze cannot be removed with water alone. Grout haze remover is a specialty commercial cleaner that helps to get rid of grout haze—especially in substantial or difficult cases.

Grout haze remover comes in different formulas both cement-based and non-cement-based grouts. Most grout haze removers will have at least the following ingredients, in varying proportions:

  • Water: As a solvent and vehicle for the other ingredients
  • Surfactants: To reduce surface tension
  • Chelating agents: These lower the water's pH level
  • pH adjusters: These regulate the amount of alkaline or acid in the solution

Homemade grout haze remover made from vinegar is acidic, so it can be used to remove grout haze, but it requires more work than with commercial products.

Tip

Be careful not to confuse grout sealer or grout cleaner with grout haze remover. These are completely different products.

Commercial Grout Haze Removers

Prominent brands of commercial grout haze removers include:

  • Aqua Mix Cement Grout Haze Remover: Aqua Mix features an organic acid formula that contains no phosphates.
  • DuPont Heavy Duty Grout Haze Remover: A highly rated and reasonably priced professional strength grout haze remover, DuPont Grout Haze Remover can be used for stone as well as for tile.
  • Laticrete Heavy Duty Grout Haze Remover: A heavy-duty cleaner manufactured by Laticrete, the well-known maker of thinset, grout, and other tile-laying products, Laticrete Heavy Duty Grout Haze Remover strips cementitious chalky grout haze and residue left from installation with an alkaline formula.
  • Stone Care International Tile & Grout Haze Cleaner: Stone Care is a highly acidic pH that strips tile of grout haze, as well as soap scum and calcium buildup.

Tip

Urethane and acrylic grouts need specific grout haze removal products. If the haze is not completely removed from the surface the tile can begin to look dirty and can even be sticky to the touch, even after general cleaning.

Homemade Grout Haze Remover

If you'd like to make your own grout haze remover and stay chemical-free, vinegar in conjunction with plain water can break up grout haze. Add three to four parts of distilled white vinegar to one part of cool water in a spray bottle. Mix but do not shake.

When using vinegar to remove grout haze, it's usually necessary to use a non-scratching scrubbing pad to boost the removal process.

Tip

Some new tiles are shipped with grout release, a thin film on the tile surface that protects against grout haze. After installation, the tile is washed as usual, and the grout haze should come off during the washing process. With this type of tile, grout haze remover likely won't be necessary.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Broom or vacuum
  • Mop
  • Nitrile or latex gloves
  • 2 buckets
  • White nylon brush
  • New sponges

Materials

  • Grout haze remover

Instructions

Tools and materials for getting grout haze off tile

The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

  1. Wait for the Grout to Cure

    Wait for the grout to dry before using grout haze remover. Typically, this takes around 24 to 48 hours, but you should consult your grout's packaging for the exact duration.

    Do not wait too long. It is best to clean grout haze sooner rather than later because the haze will become more difficult to remove with time. Aim to do it within 10 days of grouting. Otherwise, you might have to use harsher cleaners or even be stuck with some haze that doesn't fully go away.

    White tiled wall with cured grout

    The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

  2. Clean the Surface

    Sweep or vacuum the tile thoroughly, and then wet-mop the tile to dampen it.

    White tiled wall with cleaning solution sprayed on

    The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

  3. Mix the Grout Haze Remover

    Put on nitrile (chemical-resistant) or latex gloves. Mix the grout haze remover with water in a clean bucket, following the manufacturer's directions. Normal dilution is used for light haze; a stronger solution or full-strength (undiluted) product might be recommended for heavy residue. Fill a second bucket with clean water for rinsing.

    Grout haze remover bottle held over gray bucket with teal latex gloves

    The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

  4. Scrub the Tiles

    Dip a white, nylon-bristle brush into the remover solution, and lightly scrub the tile surface. Work in one small area at a time.

    Nylon-bristled brush scrubbing grout remover solution on white tiled wall with teal gloves

    The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

  5. Wipe Off the Grout Haze

    Wipe away the grout haze by starting at one spot and then moving the sponge in long sweeps. Do not circle the sponge. The aim is to move the grout haze in one direction. Going back will only re-deposit the haze. Clean the sponge frequently as you work, and replace the rinse water as it gets dirty.

    Repeat the same process to scrub and rinse each small section of the tile surface until the entire installation is clean. Let the surface dry.

    White tiled wall rinsed off with yellow sponge wearing teal gloves

    The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz

    Tip

    If you are working on shower tile, use the hand-held sprayer to wash off the grout haze remover. If your shower does not have a sprayer, you might even want to purchase an inexpensive one just for the purpose of cleaning the grout haze.

5 Tips to Minimize Grout Haze

If you're in the planning stage of installing new tile or thinking about regrouting existing tile, keep a few things in mind to minimize the grout haze problem after installation:

  • Allow enough curing time: Wait until the grout has hardened before you begin trying to remove the haze. If the grout is wet, you risk gouging it out.
  • Use physical removal methods: When grouting, physically drag off as much grout as possible with your rubber grout float. The more grout that remains, the more of a haze problem you will have. For minor grout haze, you might simply be able to remove it with some cheesecloth, which is mildly abrasive.
  • Use the float again: The rubber float is your best friend because it is soft enough to drag the grout off but hard enough that its edge won't dig into your grouted joints. Use the edge of the rubber float to pull it toward you and off the tile.
  • Use a tiling sponge: Wipe down the tiles with a damp sponge and only water. Use a tiling sponge for this step, not a household cleaning sponge. Tiling sponges are dense and about the size of a big paperback book. Lightly dampen the sponge, and wipe off the remaining grout. Be careful not to dig into the seams.
  • Wait for the tile to dry: Note that initially, it might seem like the wet sponge will take off the grout haze, but that is only because the surface of the tile is wet. As the tile dries, the haze will reappear. This means it is time to use the grout haze remover.