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I installed 100 sq ft of mosaic tile on a floor without cleaning excess mortar as I went. Now I have what seems like 10,000 grout lines that all need to be cleaned. Any advice or suggestions on how to clean them? How clean do they need to be?

Chad Verity
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  • I didn't do mosaic, but I did do some 3x6 tiles in a herring bone pattern with narrow grout lines. Rather than using the traditional "mortar remover" with the triangle shaped head, I purchased a "backer board cutter" [like this](http://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-Cement-and-Backerboard-Scoring-Knife-with-3-Carbide-Tip-Design-10015/100046621) that has a sharp carbide blade. Worked good for the narrow lines. – JPhi1618 Oct 01 '15 at 19:35

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Make a weak acid solution using Muriatic Acid (pool acid) and water in a 5 gal. plastic bucket, 1 cup:gallon. Using gauntlet type chem gloves and eye protection, scrub with acid. Use a grout sponge to rinse and wipe clean, using clean water and wringing frequently. Repeat until all excess mortar and haze is gone.

Note: above method is effective for removing dried smears and haze, solid clumps of dried mortar must be mechanically removed (scraped).

Jimmy Fix-it
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