Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Possible grout haze?
« on: June 08, 2015, 08:43:20 pm »
Hi, cleaned a Porcelaine non slip tiled floor today.  Owners have always had problems with these tiles, in getting marks off and it generally getting dirty easily. Alkaline pre spray agitation and SX12 hardly touched it, so switched to Prochems acidic stone cleaner. This made a much better job with the general soil removal, mopping the acidic solution onto the tiles, then agitation and SX12. Tiles looked good until they dried with a white haze, worse in some areas than others.
My theory is that this is a case of grout haze that I have exposed by removing the layer of soiling.
The only other explanation I can think of but doubt, is that the acidic solution could have softened the grout lines to such a degree that it has been drawn across the tiles by the SX12. however going back and forwards with it giving a good rinse I cant see that as a reason.
What does anyone think, grout haze or grout drag?
Dave.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2015, 10:04:31 pm »
It is grout haze!  Very common on this type of tile! No idea what the term grout drag means?  Can you explain!
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2015, 10:33:37 pm »
Hi Kevin, grout drag is just the nearest thing Icould come up with for my theory. I wondered if it was possible to cause a problem that resembled grout haze by the softening of the grout lines and then dragging a thin layer of it across the tiles, however as i said I very much doubted that could happen giver the amount of back and forward rinsing with the SX12.
Do you think that the reason they have been so difficult to clean is because of soil from general mopping being absorbed by the thin coating of grout, or down to possible surface treatment during manufacture?
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2015, 10:38:39 pm »
No it is just grout haze that needs cleaning correctly in the correct sequence then they require sealing for future maintenance.
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2015, 11:08:31 pm »
Ok, thanks.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2015, 06:36:32 am »
1,  Apply Miracle Residue Remover leave to dwell for 5 minutes then agitate with Mono Rotary Machine fitted with soft to medium brush.
2.  Leave solution above on and add Miracle Heavy Duty Acidic Cleaner and let dwell for 5 minutes and agitate again with Mono
3.  Extract with a good quality Wet Vac.
4.  Apply Miracle Tile & Stone Cleaner agitate and  extract
5.  Allow to dry and seal with Miracle 511 Impregnator.

Leave your SX 12 on the van ;D ;  Pressure cleaning with water cannot even begin to compete with mono rotary mechanical cleaning method.  Think about it!  Could a WFP clean a window frame better than I could by hand with a microfibre cloth???
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2015, 05:22:38 pm »
Thanks again for that Kevin. I fully get the agitation aspect but SX12,  rinsing 'and' vaccing would make a better job than just a wet vac?
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2015, 07:15:35 pm »
It has nothing to do with the agitation or the rinsing it is the method you need to understand.  The mono puts down virtually no fluid therefore requires minimum rinsing the mono coupled with a wet vac is much quicker than any fsc and a lot easier.  You are also not running slurry and chemicals through a portable or a TM
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

COLIN BRIGHT

  • Posts: 787
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2015, 07:28:19 pm »
Hi Kevin ,can you tell me what these " Miracle Heavy Duty" cleaning and seals are, the reason I ask is i am starting to get a lot more tile & grout jobs and have been using up the product that it have got, I have some AMTEC product left and also some Nulife products left but am always on the look out for the BEST products I can source to offer my clients

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2015, 08:07:26 pm »
Hi Kevin ,can you tell me what these " Miracle Heavy Duty" cleaning and seals are, the reason I ask is i am starting to get a lot more tile & grout jobs and have been using up the product that it have got, I have some AMTEC product left and also some Nulife products left but am always on the look out for the BEST products I can source to offer my clients

Colin

Firstly let me make myself clear!  I do not claim that Miracle are the best products.  They were always the products of choice for our restoration company Marblelife Ltd but we were unable to get them because:

1.  We sold Aqua Mix and they would not allow us to sell miracle along side.
2.  Miracle products had never been exported to Europe.

That said we find them the best for what we do!  Miraclesealant products have been around for some 37 years they only make cleaning, sealing, problem solving and stone restoration products and have never deviated from this path.  My opinion is you should use what you are comfortable with.  If however, you would like samples, catalogues and pricelists please contact Abi tomorrow on 01217732450 and for the princely sum of £8.95 to cover postage you can have samples of every product they do,  \i will also send you samples of PSRP X-Treme HDT&G Cleaner, PSRP pH Neutral Pink as well.

I hope this helps

Kev
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

Shaun_Ashmore

  • Posts: 11381
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2015, 10:42:08 pm »
Excellent post Dave and excellent answers Kev.

Shaun

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2015, 12:27:37 am »
Excellent post Dave and excellent answers Kev.

Shaun

Shaun

Thank you!

Kev
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

COLIN BRIGHT

  • Posts: 787
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2015, 08:57:06 pm »
thank you for your post Kevin, sample would be great

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2015, 10:45:30 am »
Then please call Abi
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

D Freel

  • Posts: 24
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2015, 11:16:15 pm »
Hi Kev

Sorry to jump the post but i have this issue on porcelain tiles fitted to the walls of a retail unit. I need to remove the grout haze (8weeks old)  during trading hours. Any recommendation on best way and products?

Thanks in advance...

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #15 on: July 28, 2015, 12:22:35 am »
What type of porcelain is it polished  or honed?   Flat  or riven
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

D Freel

  • Posts: 24
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #16 on: July 28, 2015, 11:30:06 am »
They appear polished yet have a grain type effect as per pic

Brendan (chem2clean)

  • Posts: 958
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2015, 01:48:07 pm »
I am only learning about hard floor cleaning and restoring , I did not know you should seal a porcelain tile after cleaning. 😁😁😁

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2015, 03:32:15 pm »
They appear polished yet have a grain type effect as per pic

My first attempt as the grout is fully cured would be to try Miracle Heavy Duty Acidic Cleaner or Miracle Phosphoric Acid coupled with Miracle Porcelain Cleaner.  This will give you a chemical clean for the grout haze (provided it is not too thick) and a mechanical slightly abrasive clean.  However, if you do follow my advice try an inconspicuous area first before attempting the whole job!

Kevin
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: Possible grout haze?
« Reply #19 on: July 28, 2015, 03:33:52 pm »
I am only learning about hard floor cleaning and restoring , I did not know you should seal a porcelain tile after cleaning. 😁😁😁

Porcelain is porous (Only a low porosity) but all porcelain benefits from being sealed
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics