Efflorescence - Tile Advice

[ishi69]

What's the best product to get rid of some efflorescence. Grouted this bathroom yesterday with weber joint pro silver grey used it many times before with no issues.

 

[kaharrison9]

Grey seems to be a bad colour for it for some reason.

I've sponged the grout joints before with plenty of water so the grout changes a darker colour with the moisture then left it to dry back and that has helped considerable.

kev

 

[ishi69]

Yeah I've done that myself today and it seems to have got rid of some of it but there's still some there. The customer can't see it but I can. Think the colour of the tiles helps to disguise it.

 

[kaharrison9]

Bit of a ball ache maybe try it again if it has helped

 

[DHTiling]

That is polymer leaching and not efflorescence.... you will need to scotch opad the joints with a suitable cleaning agent to remove the polymer residue..

 

[ishi69]

That is polymer leaching and not efflorescence.... you will need to scotch opad the joints with a suitable cleaning agent to remove the polymer residue..

Nice one Dave. Just a standard bathroom cleaner or a chemical cleaner ?

 

[Peter]

What's the best way to prevent this from happening in the first place? Was using a lot of Profix Flexible grey grout specced for a builder that was drying out very patchy. Still have 3 or 4 bags in the garage that I won't use because it's a curse to get looking like anything. Tried with both a very wet sponge and a very dry sponge and both seemed to dry out the same.

 

[DHTiling]

What's the best way to prevent this from happening in the first place? Was using a lot of Profix Flexible grey grout specced for a builder that was drying out very patchy. Still have 3 or 4 bags in the garage that I won't use because it's a curse to get looking like anything. Tried with both a very wet sponge and a very dry sponge and both seemed to dry out the same.

By leaving the grout to set longer, firm to touch and then you will not soften the grout to causing polymer leaching..

 

[ishi69]

I had the same issue with bal super flex charcoal won't use it anymore. This is the is the first time I've had an issue with this, as you say normally it's down the amount of water used when washing off.

 

[DHTiling]

Nice one Dave. Just a standard bathroom cleaner or a chemical cleaner ?

Quite a few comps will sell products to help.. some grout haze removers work and others will not.. but over wetting and washing off to early is the cause 90% of the time.

 

[ishi69]

Quite a few comps will sell products to help.. some grout haze removers work and others will not.. but over wetting and washing off to early is the cause 90% of the time.

Believe it or not Dave this grout was left at least 30 mins before cleaning and I can't see how I could of used any less water. Used it lots n never had issues so it must be something I've done different.

 

[DHTiling]

Was it firm to touch..? some slow setting groits take quite a while to set up and this can be increased with vitrified biscuits as they don't soak any moisture up..

I like to use ultra colour as it sets quick, just as i like it..

All i can say mate is use a white scotch pad and some élbow grease.. what tile type is it, natural or a looky like..?.. the other way is to re-colour the grout.

 

[ishi69]

It's looky likey cheap porcelain, I'll give it some elbow grease tomorrow see what happens. Cheers Dave.

 

[Peter]

By leaving the grout to set longer, firm to touch and then you will not soften the grout to causing polymer leaching..

Always leave it on until it's at it's hardest workable level. Will just give it a by ball in future.

 

[DHTiling]

Always leave it on until it's at it's hardest workable level. Will just give it a by ball in future.

A what ?