How to Remove Grout from Glass Tile

You have beautiful glass tile installed. The problem is, there is unsightly grout haze on it, too. How do you remove it? We are here to help.

In this post, we tell you how to remove grout from glass tile and other related information that will help you take care of your glass tile.

What are Grout and Grout Haze? And Why are They There?

You are dealing with grout and grout haze. Before delving into removing grout from glass tile, it is a good idea to learn about them first.

So, what exactly is grout? Once the tiles you are installing have been set, you will need grout to fill the joints between them. That’s right. It is a filler.

Most grouts are created from a mix of lime, cement, and colour pigment. Sometimes, sand is also added into the mix.

While grout haze can be unsightly, grout offers various benefits. Including

• It gives the wall or floor a crisp and finished appearance.
• It helps keep debris and dirt from entering the space under and in-between the tiles.
• It adds strength and rigidity to the tile installation.

As for grout haze, it is the residue of grout that has been left to dry on the tile surface after the process of grouting is done.

Grout haze is there because often, it stays hidden during installation as it is masked by moisture. Once the process is finished, grout haze becomes visible.

The presence of grout haze brings disadvantages. Firstly, it dulls the tiles. This becomes even more apparent with glass tile.

Secondly, grout haze causes the tiles to get dirty very quickly. Thirdly, if severe, it can completely cover the tiled area, thus changing its looks.

Of course, you don’t want any of these. If you find grout haze on your glass tile, clean it immediately.

How to Remove Grout from Glass Tile

There are five ways to remove grout from glass tile.

You can do it using a cheesecloth, a nylon bristle brush, a cleaning solution made of white vinegar and water, a commercial tile cleaner, and a tile cleaner that contains sulfamic acid or phosphoric acid.

1. Using a dry cheesecloth

How to remove grout from glass using a cheesecloth? This one is very simple, so you might want to try it first. All you need is a dry cheesecloth.

To remove grout haze, rub it with the cheesecloth. As you work on the haze, shake out the cheesecloth to remove the dust.

2. Using a nylon bristle brush

If the cheesecloth method doesn’t work, try using a nylon bristle brush to remove the grout haze. Here’s how to remove grout from glass tile using a nylon bristle brush.

• Use warm water and a nylon bristle brush to scrub the tile.
• Some of the grout haze will loosen. Just use a sponge to wipe it away.
• Keep scrubbing until the grout haze is removed.

Keep in mind that this should only be done on dried grout. If the glass tile was installed just recently, you don’t want to use a nylon bristle brush on grout lines.

Doing so may loosen, or worse, cause damage to the grout.

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3. Using white vinegar and water

What if the haze remains? Try this one. Removing grout from the glass tile surface can also be done using a mixture of white vinegar and warm water.

Here’s how to remove grout from glass tile using the mixture.

• Mix one cup of white vinegar and one gallon of warm water.
• Dip a nylon bristle brush on the solution.
• Scrub the grout haze. Wipe away any loosened grout haze.

Note that continued use of vinegar is not recommended. Why? Because it can weaken the grout. What you want is to remove the grout haze.

So, use this method only on the haze. Please don’t use it for regular cleaning.

4. Using a commercial tile cleaner

The fourth method on our list of removing grout from glass tile is to use a commercial tile cleaner.

You can try this method if the previous ones fail. For this, you will need a nylon scrubbing pad, and a commercial tile cleaner specialized for use on glass tile.

And here’s how to remove dry grout from glass tile.

• Apply the cleaner on the grout haze, then scrub with the scrubbing pad.
• Let the cleaner clean the grout.
• Once the grout has been cleaned, rinse the cleaner from the glass tile with water. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly.

5. Using sulfamic acid or phosphoric acid

Last but not least, use a tile cleaner that contains sulfamic acid or phosphoric acid. This one is the final resort. So if all else fails, you can try this one. It is very effective for removing grout haze.

Don’t use a tile cleaner with a phosphoric acid content on coloured grout. Why? Because doing so may cause discolouration or bleaching.

However, we can’t tell you how to remove grout from glass tile using such a tile cleaner. But don’t worry. All you need to do is follow the product’s label instructions and safety precautions.

Glass Tile Maintenance Tips

Knowing how to remove grout from glass tile is important. So is knowing how to maintain it. Here are some tips to keep your glass tile looking new.

• Clean it regularly. To maintain its look, you need to clean your tile regularly. A regular glass cleaner will do the job for daily cleaning. For built-up stains, you can use a heavy-duty cleaner.
• Wipe up spills immediately. If there is a spill on your glass tile, clean the spill immediately. Don’t wait. If you leave the spill for too long, it may stain the grout and tile. To wipe your glass tile, use lint-free or microfiber cloths.
• Replace sealants. To keep your glass tile looking new, replace its sealants every few years or so. Ask your glass tile supplier if you are unsure what sealants to use.

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And that’s how to remove grout from glass tile. When performing any of the above methods, always be careful and follow safety precautions.

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You are working with glass tile; after all. Glass tile is hard, sometimes even impossible, to repair if it is damaged. So, do be careful.