Chalky Residue from Tiling Help - TilersForums.com

[poshprice]

Hi all, having just had my kitchen and bathroom retiled, I'm finding it difficult to remove the chalky residue from my kitchen tiles. The bathroom ones are fine, but I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what to use to totally remove the chalky residue? The tiles I have had put in the kitchen are these white chapel gloss tiles:

https://www.wallsandfloors.co.uk/catrangetiles/wall-tiles/metro-brick-200/white-8397/13430/

I love them, but am afraid to use the wrong thing to clean them and risk making getting the chalky stuff off them even harder. I want them to be pristine, with no chalky traces at all.

Thanks in advance
Ceri :smilewinkgrin:

 

[cam_low]

the grout haze you are seeing should come off with some blue roll and a bit of elbow grease.

have you any pictures ?

 

[poshprice]

I've tied taking some pics, but the residue doesn't show in them. When I run my fingers over the tiles a thick layer of chalk comes off. I was thinking of trying some washing up liquid and warm water.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Get your tiler back to finish the job properly!!

 

[judge]

Get your tiler back to finish the job properly!!

Ditto

 

[Rookery]

Try wiping over with a clean sponge and clean water then wipe over with a damp tea towel. If its been on a while you may have to use some cement residue remover. As others have said, the tiler should have polished off the tiles.

 

[poshprice]

Thanks all. Unfortunately my tiler told me that he would charge me for an extra day to come back and sort it out. I'm fed up with him, so to be perfectly honest I'd rather do it myself. I've ordered some haze residue remover and will have a go at using that.

 

[Lithofin BOB]

Thanks all. Unfortunately my tiler told me that he would charge me for an extra day to come back and sort it out. I'm fed up with him, so to be perfectly honest I'd rather do it myself. I've ordered some haze residue remover and will have a go at using that.

Try / test the advice given by the guys first/ elbow grease with cloth / paper towel/ wet sponge, looking at the tile you have ,this should remove. If it wont remove, try a white emulsifying pad dry or with water.( you can get the pad from most tile shops)

As a last resort, use the haze/ residue remover, if you use your acidic based cleaner ,
wet the grout first with a sponge and water to minimise surface acidic Damage to the grout lines.
Test ,Work in sections heavily dilute ,test, use your white pad and rinse well.

Sure this will remove without the product,

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I'd name and shame him!

To add to the previous posts if you use any acidic cleaners protect any chrome and ventilate the room.

 

[m3fitter]

I'd name and shame him!

To add to the previous posts if you use any acidic cleaners protect any chrome and ventilate the room.

good call !!! one of my tilers, cleaned some porcelain slate look a like last xmas, as grout residue on them, the room had an unusual 6 niche alcoves, all trimmed with polished metal, the next day, they had corroded with surface rust !! took us plenty of wet&dry paper and hair lacquer to cure this problem !

 

[Lithofin BOB]

good call !!! one of my tilers, cleaned some porcelain slate look a like last xmas, as grout residue on them, the room had an unusual 6 niche alcoves, all trimmed with polished metal, the next day, they had corroded with surface rust !! took us plenty of wet&dry paper and hair lacquer to cure this problem !

Always protect/ wrap your insitue metals and other, try to use removal products that are phosphoric acid based as these will not give off vapour that the hydrochlorics will as even the vapour can damage your trims, shower fittings lights!!!!

Yep me to, lol . spent 4 hours polishing a small fridge that oxidised.!!!

 

[poshprice]

Excellent advice, thank you all so much. I tried a bit of elbow grease first and the majority of haze seems to have come off now. Yay! There are some small, caked on bits though that are a bit more stubborn, but I will get one of the emulsifying pads mentioned and try that. Thanks again .

 

[Andy Allen]

your tiler tried to charge you again to put his work right. ....Some right cowboys out there. .

 

[m3fitter]

Excellent advice, thank you all so much. I tried a bit of elbow grease first and the majority of haze seems to have come off now. Yay! There are some small, caked on bits though that are a bit more stubborn, but I will get one of the emulsifying pads mentioned and try that. Thanks again .

Take advice from the tile shop, don't get some that are too abrasive and scratch it to buggery ! or try on a spare tile first