After tiling, grout haze, cement and plaster residues and builders’ dust are often left on the surface. This guide shows how to remove them with Cleaner No.4, TileMaster’s concentrated acid cleaner for ceramic, porcelain and acid-resistant natural stone.
Before you start: check your surface
- Suitable: ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and acid-resistant natural stone.
- Not suitable: wood, vinyl, or acid-sensitive stone such as marble, limestone and travertine. Do not use on any polished or other acid-sensitive surface.
- Diamond Dust: never use it on polished or shiny floors.
- If you are unsure whether your stone is acid-resistant, test a small, inconspicuous area first or contact us before use. You can send us a picture of your tile or stone and we will advise.
What you need
- Cleaner No.4 (Grout & Builders Dust Residue Remover – Acid Cleaner 4)
- Scrub Pad on the Aurora Spray Mop, or a TileMaster machine fitted with the tile and grout brush
- For stubborn haze: Diamond Dust, a 220-grit diamond honing powder
- A separate container for diluting No.4, clean water, and a clean mop, sponge or cloth (or a wet vacuum)
- Protective gloves and eye protection, plus a dust mask/respirator if you are handling Diamond Dust
Everything except the water, container and protective equipment comes together in our kits: the Grout Haze Removal Mop Kit, the Grout Haze Removal Mop Kit with Diamond Dust and the Grout Haze Removal Pro Kit.
Step by step
- Put on your PPE. Wear protective gloves and eye protection. Cleaner No.4 is corrosive and causes severe skin burns and eye damage. When handling the dry Diamond Dust powder, wear safety goggles, gloves and a dust mask/respirator, and work in a well-ventilated area.
- Test a small area first. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area before treating the whole floor.
- Sprinkle Diamond Dust (for stubborn haze). For extra cleaning power, sprinkle Diamond Dust onto the floor first. Never use it on polished or shiny floors.
- Dilute Cleaner No.4. In a separate container, mix 1 part cleaner to 4 parts water (100ml cleaner to 400ml water). For grout haze, always use it diluted.
- Apply directly to the floor and keep it wet for about 5 minutes. Apply the diluted No.4 directly to the floor and leave it to work for 5 minutes, keeping it wet so it does not dry on the floor. Never put Cleaner No.4 in the mop’s spray bottle: it can break the seal.
- Scrub. Scrub the tiles and grout lines with the Scrub Pad on the mop, or with a TileMaster machine fitted with the tile and grout brush.
- Remove the residue. Take up the dirty solution with a clean mop, sponge or cloth, or extract it with a wet vacuum.
- Rinse. Rinse well with clean water.
- Clean up. Rinse the Scrub Pad with water. Rinse or machine wash the microfibre pads and let them air dry. Store Cleaner No.4 locked up, out of reach of children and pets.
How much will I need?
For grout haze removal at 1:4, Cleaner No.4 covers approx. 15 m² per litre of concentrate. A 1 litre kit covers around 15 m² and the 5 litre Pro Kit around 75 m².
Safety summary
- Cleaner No.4: Danger. H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. P280: Wear protective gloves/eye protection. P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. P405: Store locked up.
- Diamond Dust: H302: Harmful if swallowed. H319: Causes serious eye irritation. Clean up spills using wet methods. Avoid dry sweeping to prevent airborne dust.
- Always read the product labels and the Safety Data Sheets before use: Cleaner No.4 SDS · Diamond Dust SDS.