That bathroom tile renovation you made looks great! The grout has dried, and your tiles are looking better than ever. But check your bathtub, and you may be surprised to see the remnants of your tile improvement project lying at the bottom of your tub.
Those dried pieces of grout, chunks of tile, and excess grout from your tileworks project have probably found their way on the bottom of your tub, forming crusted edges and rough patches on your otherwise smooth tub. Grout is notoriously difficult to clean off once dried, so best to tackle the clean up immediately while the grout is still soft.
Our blog here at Luce is dedicated to presenting ways for you to keep your home spotless with references, tips and more. In this guide, we’ll show you how to remove grout from your tub, and how to prevent grout from forming on your tub again. Whether large chunks or small smears, we’ll guide you to safely removing these without damage to your tub.
What You’ll Need
Thankfully, grout is generally water-soluble; although you will need to do a little scrubbing to remove dried grout pieces from your tub. You’ll need a couple of tools to get started, especially for large grout deposits. You can find all these equipment at home improvement stores, or general hardware shops.
- Chisel or any flat-ended tool
- Scouring sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Plastic scraper
- Hot water
- Muriatic acid or Grout haze remover
- Gloves
- Mask
- Eyewear protection
Before you start cleaning, always protect yourself from harsh chemicals. Grout removers can burn your skin, while the powdery residue from minerals can irritate the lining of your esophagus and lungs. Take precautions when dealing with these hazardous materials.
How to Remove Grout From a Bathtub
Removing Fresh Grout
Fresh grout can still dissolve with water, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to flood the tub and let the paste drain into your pipes! Avoid letting minerals go down the drain as the particles may harden up and clog your drain in the future.
Instead, take a wet scouring sponge or soaked microfiber cloth, and remove as much excess paste as you can from the tub. Make sure you wipe away the remaining residue in a gentle, circular motion as grout is abrasive, and can scratch the surface of your bathtub. Rinse any grout residue with warm water to completely remove it.
Removing Soft Grout
Soft grout that has slightly firmed up but not cured, can be removed with some hot water and a firm wiping. Although the paste has firmed up, you can easily scrape it with a plastic scraper, such as one that you might use for bread baking and cake decorating. A plastic scraper can get the soft, but firm, grout out, but won’t leave any scratches on the surface of your tub.
If the grout feels soft, but is difficult to remove, place a sponge soaked in hot water over the area to soften the minerals. This will make it easier to remove the paste. Again, avoid scrubbing with too much pressure as to prevent scratching the tub surface as you remove grout.
Removing Hardened Grout
If the grout is hard to the touch, but has not yet been left to cure for more than a day, you may be able to remove the hardened grout by softening it with some hot water and vinegar. The best way to remove hardened grout is to soak a sponge or cloth in a solution of half hot water, half distilled white vinegar, and apply the cloth directly onto the hardened grout.
Let the warm, acidic solution seep into the pores of the grout to dissolve the stone, then remove the cloth. Take your chisel, and start gently scraping off the upper layer of the hardened grout, making sure to avoid scraping the surface of your tub.
Stop scraping once you start to see the surface of your bathroom tub, and continue soaking with the warm diluted vinegar solution. For any remaining grout residue, wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth until the grout haze is completely removed.
Removing Cured Grout
After the grout has been left to cure for a day or two, it is no longer soluble in water. As such, you will need some acidic solution such as muriatic acid to dissolve and remove the cured grout. Take note that muriatic acid, as well as similar acidic solutions, is poisonous when ingested, and corrosive to the skin, lining of the lungs, and eyes.
First, protect yourself by wearing a thick pair of gloves, a face mask, and eyewear protection. Turn on your exhaust fan while removing grout for good air circulation, and avoid inhaling the fumes from the acid.
Use the muriatic acid to dissolve the minerals. Apply a small amount of muriatic acid onto the site where the grout is located, concentrating the acid onto only the grout. Leave it to dissolve, then start chiseling away the grout once it has softened. Use a scouring pad for any remaining residue, and keep scrubbing until the grout is completely gone. Rinse with hot water.
How to Keep Grout Stains From Appearing on the Bathtub
Grout stains are difficult to remove at any stage in its curing process, so the best way to minimize grout stains in your bathroom tub is to cover your tub with a plastic film each time you do any sort of home improvement.
Prevention is key in avoiding stains in your bathroom, so be sure to cover areas you don’t want to get soiled whenever you do a home improvement project or renovation. When working with cement or minerals, which can harden on surfaces once cured, always wipe off the excess while it is still a paste. Avoid letting it cure in unintended areas.
Professionally Done
Having a bit of trouble with those grout stains? Give us a call, and let us know the extent of the staining, and we’ll get a professional part time cleaner to your home in a jiffy! When in doubt, always call on the professionals to safely and effectively get the job done.
Check out our website for a full list of our services, and send us an email for any questions or inquiries you may have.
