How can I scrub the grout from the tile?

Today, a fairly common finishing material is tile. It perfectly withstands the negative effects of the environment. Its service life is quite durable, and at the same time it does not lose its attractive appearance.

Renovating a bathroom or kitchen is quite a laborious process. The best material for finishing is ceramic tile. For such works it is better to use the help of a professional, but this article will be useful to those who want to save on repairs by making it independently and efficiently.

First of all, you should have a lot of patience, because cleaning the grout from the tile is a rather monotonous process that requires patience and care.During the repair there will be constant contact with chemicals and power tools, do not neglect personal protective equipment - gloves, respirator and goggles.

The most budget and most used is cement grout. Special impregnation against mold can be added to the mixture, it is good to use it in the bathroom. This fugu is used for joints of not more than 0.5 cm. Sand is added to the trowel for embedding larger widths, and it should be noted that it will not work for tiles with ceramic veneer. Sand will damage the ceramic coating..

Epoxy grout - consists of two components: epoxy resin and hardener. Substances are mixed together in certain proportions, and a trowel is obtained. "Epoxy" has many advantages over cement grout. It does not fade in the sun, does not respond to temperature extremes, and is almost unaffected by chemical detergents. Most often, this grout is used to repair the kitchen. The disadvantages of "epoxy" can be attributed to the high setting speed and the difficulty of removing the old mash.

Silicone Grout apply in places with high humidity. The special advantage of this grout is that it is resistant to fungi and bacteria. Another advantage of silicone is its water resistance. Thanks to the elongated “nose”, the sealant is conveniently applied in hard-to-reach places, and a rich palette will allow you to perfectly match the color of the sealant, in harmony with the tile.

Silicone grout has one major drawback - its low strength. Such a fugu is easy to damage even with a blunt object. Masters use silicone as an additional agent for cement or epoxy fuge. In this case, it is first recommended to undergo seams with silicone, and after it dries, apply cement or epoxy grout. This method completely eliminates the ingress of moisture into the interglacial crevices. The combined version is used for seams wider than 5 mm.

Fugu can be removed from the tile in different ways.

Even with the preparatory operations, the seams and tiles will have to be cleaned. The curing time of the grout is 15-30 minutes and depends on the manufacturer. Fresh composition is removed rather quickly and effortlessly.. To do this, use a food sponge and warm water. The sponge must be constantly washed thoroughly, as it is quickly clogged with a fugue. The process can be considered complete when the sponge will stop getting dirty. After that, you must wipe the tile with a clean cloth.

The problem will arise if you overdo the grout and remember about it only the next day. There can not do without chemistry.

First you need to find out what is included in the composition of the mash. Cement grout is easily cleaned with acidic substances.. For work it is recommended to use a respirator and rubber gloves. Well removed cement grout cleaners brand Litoclean, Clutoclean. The tool is applied to the ceramic surface with a sponge or cloth.After 10-15 minutes, without making significant efforts not to scratch the tile, we remove the frozen cement in circular motions.

It is recommended to test the product in an inconspicuous place., as excessive concentration of acids can damage the pattern on the tile. The remnants of the cleaner clean with a damp cloth. For the first wipe, use water-soda solution at the rate of 2 teaspoons per liter of water. Soda as a weak alkali perfectly neutralizes acid. After the alkaline solution, once again we wash the tile with warm clean water, and finally we wipe the tile with a clean, dry cloth, this will save you from stains on ceramics.

Epoxy grout has a lifetime of 30 years or more, while it does not change its beauty and properties. Acidic substances have a neutral effect on this grout.

The most well-proven remedy Litokol or Litonet. This tool is intended for cleaning walls and seams, lined with natural stone, granite and glass mosaic.Litonet gel - used to remove grout from vertical walls, it has a more dense gel consistency.

It often happens that during the lifetime of a ceramic tile, the coating itself remains new, and the grout has already lost its protective functions.

This happens for the following reasons:

• Low quality trowel compound or expired shelf life. When choosing a fugue, it is necessary to take into account the humidity, ventilation and temperature conditions of the room.
• Incorrect mix preparation. Initially, the liquid consistency reduces the strength and reliability of the mash.
• Errors when working with grout. If the grout is applied to seams with large voids or to an insufficient depth, then it will not last long.
• High humidity and the lack of ventilation in the room, and, as a consequence, the appearance of mold in the inter-tile space.
• Bright seams very quickly pollute.
• Lack of proper tile care. Cleaners for ceramics are not used according to the instructions, the tile is located next to the heating devices and is experiencing large temperature differences, this is very often the case in the kitchen.

The easiest way to remove old grout - the use of chemicals. When working with them, you must strictly adhere to the manufacturer's instructions.

Sopro ESE 548 tool used to remove old residues. At the same time, the old fugue softens for a longer time.

The procedure for removing grout with Sopro ESE 548 is as follows:

• Apply a softener and wait 15-30 minutes depending on the statute of limitations of the fugue.
• Remove the mass between the seams with a scraper or seamer.
• With the scraper we expand and remove the parts of the fugue.
• Wet sponge gently wash off the old grout.
• In the event that it was not possible to remove the old fugu from the first time, we again apply the cleaner and repeat the process. It should be borne in mind that the tool Sopro ESE 548 can change the color of the grout.

This method is the most time consuming, requires great concentration and patience. It is used when you need to quickly remove the old fugu, but it does not damage the tile.

With great success, an electric drill or screwdriver is used for this. The procedure will be as follows:

• A solution is made of water and citric acid, and Sopro can be used. Sponge or a toothbrush can be coated with all the furrows.
• We take a thin drill diameter less grout.Instead of a drill, you can use a special brush.
• We wait for a certain time until the seams are softened.
• At minimum speed, we remove the interlayer joints - slowly and evenly, moving the drill up and down.
• The resulting furrows gently expand sandpaper, folded in half.
• We wash and treat the surface with antiseptic composition.

The execution of works with the help of Dremel has recently become widespread.

If you are a happy owner of such a power tool as a Dremel, then removing the mash will not cause you problems. Dremel is something between a drill and a jigsaw. The role of sawing in the tool performs a round semi-disc. Usually dremel is used by professionals. To comply with safety regulations all work is carried out in a mask and glasses.

In the absence of Dremel and drill work can be carried out using the grinder, but only with the ability to use this tool. The grinder is convenient to use for repairs associated with the complete or partial removal of old tiles. At the same time it is necessary to work in a respirator, glasses and a headdress. Grinder is the most "dusty" power tools.

It often happens that the grout needs to be restored.

There is an option to update the fugu without resorting to complex steps to remove it. Sometimes it is enough to wash or restore the top layer of grout. This will help us special formulations and household chemicals:

• Mellerud perfectly removes stubborn dirt, foreign plaque, grease stains. The composition is diluted with water strictly according to the instructions, applied to the seams, then the dirt is rubbed off with a toothbrush, after which the product is washed off with water.
• Has proven itself very well liquid on a biological basis Eco mist grout. According to the manufacturer, the composition includes ingredients of plant origin, while the mixture is harmless and eventually decomposes itself.

All the special tools are quite expensive, there is a cheaper way, and household chemicals will help us in this. For example, liquid with chlorine will help to neutralize blackened from fungus joints "White". It is necessary to work with "Belize" in gloves and a respirator.

Fresh dirt and fatty compounds are easily washed with ordinary soap and water. Wipe the soap grated, and dissolve it in warm water. Then, using a toothbrush or sponge, wipe the stitches. Rinse with clean water and dry with a dry cloth.

Positively recommended Pemolux. It is carefully applied to wet seams, wait about 10 minutes, and then with a brush or sponge remove the dirty powder.

The top layer of the fugue is removed using a scraper. The scraper is a special chisel with a semi-circular scraper at the end. Wood cutters will completely replace the scraper. You can even make it yourself., having picked up a bar of the necessary diameter and having cut off it the Bulgarian.It is better to choose a scraper a little less than the width of the seam joint.

Before the arrival of guests, you can use a little trick. Quickly cover up the old dirt on the seams will help ordinary white marker. It is necessary to choose the right shade. It should be remembered that this tool is short-lived, and after a month the joints will become unpresentable. Marker paint only a dry surface, otherwise the work will be in vain.

Cleaning the grout from the tile is the final repair process. It requires considerable care. As they say, it is better to prevent the disease than to treat it.

There are several operations that will speed up this process:

• After laying the tiles you need to pay attention to the excess glue on the seams. In some places, the glue will be strong. Remove the remnants with a special tool or a rubber trowel. In the future, when cleaning the tile, the grout will not mix with the abrasive glue particles. So you save the color of the grout and do not scratch the tile.
• If you are doing repairs in the bathroom, pay a little more attention to the wall opposite the door. This wall should become the standard of quality and beauty. It will be on her eyes that guests will look at the future housewarming. To start, wipe the wall with a soft and slightly damp cloth. Stick the adhesive tape to the edges of the tile before grouting. This is especially recommended for relief tiles. You will save a lot of time and effort just by removing the adhesive tape from the wall, you do not need to wash the frozen mass on the entire surface of the ceramic.
• And another important final tip. Consider good ventilation in the bathroom. Install an additional exhaust fan between the ceiling and the exhaust vent. Remove the metal mesh on the exhaust grille; it is often clogged with dust and small insects.Always keep the hood clean, she likes to get clogged with dust and dirt. With less humidity and good ventilation tiled grout will last much longer, it will be more difficult to erase.

It is much easier to clean a matte surface than to cope with a rough one. Tile with a porous surface is also very difficult to whiten.

We wish you a joy to repair. It's so nice to watch the result of your work every day.

On how to scrub the grout from the rough tile, see the next video.