Potential efflorescence- how to remove - TilersForums.com

[nikloc99]

Hi, ive just had a new tile floor laid with black BAL grout. This was laid on top of a new concrete base to help level the floor. Tiles were unglazed porcelain from Topps (https://www.toppstiles.co.uk/shapes-mosaics/shapes-hexagon-unglazed-black-mosaic-tile).

All looked great for a few days until I started to see a whiteness on the grouting.All is well when wet, but when dry it’s looks off colour, like a thin dust coating.See attached images for example.

I researched this online and I can only assume it to be efflorescence. There are several threads on this already recommending certain cleaning products but these seem to be only available in the US, not in the UK. I’m also concerned that the tiles are unglazed and whether any products would damage the tiles.

Once removed I would the like to seal the floor to provide a satin finish so it looks better that the dull unglazed finish.

Any advise on how to get my new floor looking great again would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[demi34]

I have same problem with the regal tiles from Topps tiles, grout it yesterday anthracite grout. I can’t clean the floor properly because has left efflorescence

 

[Tile life]

Porcelain is quite acid resistant so you could use acidic cleaners to remove that efflorescence. Deffinatelly do a test first to see if acidic detergent will effect the porcelain though. I like a Fila product called Deterdeck as is not hydrochloric like brick acid so packs less of a punch but will dissolve those white patches easily. A good stiff bristled hand brush to scrub the grout lines will be needed.
The best way to change the surface of a tile is a topical wax but this may not be the best idea on porcelain.