How To Clean Grout Haze Off Tile

Tell all ya friends and neighbors!

The best DIY method to clean grout haze off tile. It’s easier than you think!

Didja hear?

I tiled our entire kitchen backsplash and I’m super proud. I learned so much and aside from the little tiny pieces that about took me out, I had fun.

But one thing that is inevitable is grout haze.

Truth be told, I thought grout haze was just something that was left behind if you didn’t clean your grout well enough, but as it turns out, grout haze is almost unavoidable.

What is Grout Haze?

Grout is a combination of minerals and cement mixed with water. When the water has evaporated, minerals remain on the tile surface. So having grout left behind is very normal!

Grout haze is a by-product of grouting that forms as the tile is scraped with a rubber float. At some point, the tile is completely covered with grout. The majority of the grout will be removed with the float, but there will be a thin layer—known as grout haze—that remains.

After searching high and low on the internet, I found out the easiest method how to remove grout haze off tile!

Supplies Needed

• Vinegar
• Ammonia
• Spray bottle
• Baking soda
• Large clean grout sponge

Steps to Cleaning Grout Haze off Tile

Make your DIY grout haze cleaner

In full disclosure, I did not create this recipe, but I *did* try several recipes and this was the easiest one and worked the best!

Here’s the recipe:

• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup ammonia
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 4 cups water

I actually cut the entire recipe in half because I knew I wouldn’t need that much.

Spray on tile

Be generous when spraying. The more you spray on, the easier it’s going to wipe off.

Wipe off using sponge

Using your large grout sponge, you want to have it damp, but not wringing wet. Very similar to the way you would do if you were removing grout from the tile as you’re grouting it.

Wipe the tile on one side of the sponge. Then flip your sponge over and keep wiping.

You want to make sure you rinse out your sponge frequently.

Use a microfiber cloth

You’re likely to have water left on your tiles from wiping so while it’s not necessary, I recommend going behind your sponge and use a dry microfiber to clean off the water.

That way, you won’t run the risk of having any of the haze from the sponge left on.

Grout haze can be super annoying, but as you see, it’s actually very easy to remedy!

Stay tuned to see the full reveal of our FINISHED kitchen space!