Easy Ways to Remove Grout Haze from Cloudy Tiles

Cloudy tiles left behind after wiping off fresh grout from your tile is probably one of the most annoying parts of any tiling project, but thankfully removing grout haze is a pretty easy job!

So you’ve just finished the messy and tedious job of tiling your backsplash or shower, you’ve sponged off your grout, and the tile is looking so fresh… for about 2.5 minutes until that stubborn film starts forming again.

This cloudy look that forms on new tile is called grout haze, and sometimes (unless the DIY gods have smiled upon you), a sponge and water just won’t be enough to get rid of it. We’ve done probably a dozen tiling projects in the last few years and have dealt with this problem a lot, so we can pretty confidently tell you there are two solutions to removing grout haze that really work.

Here’s an example from our Mediterranean inspired patio of the difference before and after removing the grout haze on cloudy tiles: it’s wild!

Know your tile

A quick note before we dive into our tried & true methods: make sure you know what kind of tile you’re working with. Grout haze remover products can be quite acidic to cut through that film and on some types of tile like natural stone, the chemicals can alter the finish.

I learned this the hard way by unintentionally removing some of the polish from our marble kitchen backsplash and even though I do like the more honed look it has now, I should’ve thought twice about the grout haze remover before going for it!

How to remove grout haze

Vinegar & Water

Mixing one part vinegar to three or four parts water is a great, non-chemical way to remove grout haze on porcelain and ceramic tiles.

Just put them together in a spray bottle (make sure not to shake it, just mix it), and spray it onto the tiles, then wipe off after a few minutes with a damp grouting sponge.

If there’s any residue left after that, use an old towel or a rag to wipe down the surface and remove it. If you don’t have a towel you’re willing to sacrifice for the project, painter’s rags are cheap and get the job done.

This option is stinky, for sure, but effective and on our kitchen floor, it worked much better than the harsher chemicals did!

Grout Haze Remover

Most hardware stores will have chemical grout haze remover options near their tiling equipment.

There are a few different kinds – like cement and non-cement – that depend on the type of grout you used and also on your tile.

They work in the same way as the vinegar and water where you spray or rub it on the surface then remove it shortly after, but make sure to check the instructions before you get going because a lot of them are concentrated and need to be diluted.

Make sure to wear a ventilator mask and rubber gloves while using this stuff, too, because it can be pretty fumey.

With either method, it might take a couple of rounds to get all the haze off but trust me, it’s so worth it to just do right away and make sure you keep that shiny new finish you worked so hard for!

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