Grout efflorescence

[pablo79]

My kitchen diner floor - about 25sqm - was tiled 3-4 months ago, and the tiles look lovely (done by me) but the grout looks awful (also done by me).

The problem I have is that white salty deposits keep appearing on the surface of the grout after it gets wet, and it's getting worse. Considering it gets mopped at least once a week, it gets wet often. Whatever I did wrong (too much water in the mix, too much water when sponging down, who knows) I'm kicking myself, because it looks horrid. The grout was meant to be black, but now it's varying shades of very light to dark-ish grey, and is very splotchy.

Three questions:
1. Can I remove the stains?
2. Can I prevent this happening in future?
3. Will grout colourant and sealer (like Aqua mix) restore the colour and prevent this happening in future?

Many thanks,
One pee'd off homeowner.

 

[Ian]

What brand of grout did you use?

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

By the sound of it you have left too much water on the grout which has caused the efflorescence.

 

[widler]

I would of thought it's coming from the substrate ,what did you tile onto ?

 

[Andy Allen]

bal grout..?

 

[Ian]

bal grout..?

My money is on micromax ebony.

 

[John Benton]

Mapei Anthracite 2/1 on

 

[widler]

So does salts come out of the grout ?

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

How soon after tiling did you grout?

 

[Paul Smith]

.

 

[John Benton]

It will be the polymers causing the problem, generally too much water when cleaning up, more and more grouts are having this problem

 

[cam_low]

My money is on mapei

 

[charlie1]

Gran fix for me

 

[Andy Allen]

mapei......2/1

bal .........3/1

granfix.....4/1

any more..? :lol:

 

[pablo79]

The long awaited results...

It was Mapei Ultracolour in black.

I clearly made a ****-up here by using too much water on the clean up. Anyone know what I can do about it?

 

[Gazzer]

Try using a colourant.

 

[pablo79]

Try using a colourant.

Thanks. Will that also prevent the white stuff coming through again later when it gets wet?

 

[Gazzer]

It should do if you clean before hand and use something like this Universeal Grout Rescue - Colour & Seal 237ml Black £16.50 in stock - next day UK delivery

 

[pablo79]

It should do if you clean before hand and use something like this Universeal Grout Rescue - Colour & Seal 237ml Black £16.50 in stock - next day UK delivery

Many thanks!

What would I clean it with? Water just makes it worse. Is there a special cleaning solution for efflorescence?

 

[Gazzer]

there are cleaners on the link I provided. The best way would be to try it in a hidden area first.