Help!: cleaning black tiles

[chilli74]

need help, i am having an absolute nightmare trying to clean newly laid tiles in my bathroom, everytime i wash them they dont really look clean and all i get coming off the tiles is black having washed the tiles several times now.
the tiles are black porcelain riven tiles in a matt finish, also i have used black grout.
is there anyone who can provide some advice or a solution to my battle with these damn tiles!!!

[Sir Ramic]

How long has it been since you grouted. What grout and explain your grouting methods

[chilli74]

grouted next day after laying floor used a wide joint grout powder mix i think it was Larsen brand

[Sir Ramic]

Look you will have to explain in more detail so we can feel what is going wrong.
Have you grouted and washed off then washed again and again before the grout is dry. If so all you are doing is washing the grout out and over wetting the floor.

For these dark grouts I use Mapei, you dont get the problem.

[chilli74]

grouted then washed off before grout had dried (twice) and then washed then tiles the next evening again
i am waiting to seal the grout with protector have been putting it off as everytime i wash all i get is black coming off the tiles
ps the grout had fully dried when i washed them the next day

[Sir Ramic]

Have you tried buffing off.

[kilty55]

matt porcelain,,interesting did you seal these tiles?

[chilli74]

sorry am a diyer what do u mean by 'buffing off'
i was told that they did not need to be sealed

[Sir Ramic]

Buffing, rubbing with a dry cloth ?

[kilty55]

black grout can be a real pain to work with,it does seem to take a while longer to remove the haze once dry,buff the tiles once dry with a dry cloth to properly remove the haze...leave then wash again and you may see a difference

[doug boardley]

have you tried sponging them and changing the water very frequently?

[Sir Ramic]

Use the porosity test on this page to see if they need sealing
LTP Online

[chilli74]

went over the top with a hoover to clean some of the dust but will try buffing tomorrow
will let u guys know how the battle goes
PS black is an right royal ass to work with and i hope never to encounter this hell spawn after this

[kilty55]

hell spawn lol classic

[doug boardley]

last time I used black grout

[kilty55]

are those real peeps doug?

the boy on the right looks like a cross between john merrick and a turnip.......please dont say hes yer grandpa

[enduro]

last time I used black grout

And that's just opening the bag of black grout!!!

[doug boardley]

are those real peeps doug?

the boy on the right looks like a cross between john merrick and a turnip.......please dont say hes yer grandpa

Nah Jamie, I'm in the middle and that's my two young 'uns either side

[Phil Hobson]

That looks familiar Doug, a bit like my headlight pic.

[doug boardley]

same search on google Phil

[terry the tiler]

iam doing a black ceramic job with black grout at the min and the black grout is a nightmare to use! washed everything 6 million times and my squeegy still has black grout stuck into it ? also my favourate sponge has to go in the bin , and the bucket i used to mix the grout with has sadly had to go the jurney also !!...so glad i didnt use my washboy . pics to follow... p.s wheres the thumbs up and smiley faces gone on the forum ?

[Phil Hobson]

Go advanced Terry

[doug boardley]

iam doing a black ceramic job with black grout at the min and the black grout is a nightmare to use! washed everything 6 million times and my squeegy still has black grout stuck into it ? also my favourate sponge has to go in the bin , and the bucket i used to mix the grout with has sadly had to go the jurney also !!...so glad i didnt use my washboy . pics to follow... p.s wheres the thumbs up and smiley faces gone on the forum ?

if you click on the "go advanced" tab Terry, you'll find them there

[terry the tiler]

[kilty55]

use the buckets and sponges after black grout jobs for washing tools in the future saves throwin them out

[chilli74]

i have at last succeeded in cleaning my floor tiles, it has taken awhile and three sponges, copious amounts of water, both of my hands ending up looking like they have mutated, but finally that floor is clean and free from residue(i also have had to tell the rest of the family that they can only admire from afar as they are not allowed into the bathroom on account of the length of time it took to clean the floor and i would do my nut if they made a mess in there.)
that is a nice pic although not entirely accurate, i ended up looking like a member of the black and white minstrels.(sorry no offence meant to anyone for that reference)