Prep first
Before you start
- Check whether the grout is cement or epoxy before you pick a cleaner.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection when working with haze removers.
- Keep acid away from marble, limestone and travertine.
Stains that soak into cement-based grout become part of it, while epoxy grout can generally be cleaned back to its original color with the right approach. Whether the grout is cement or epoxy is the deciding factor, so check which one you have before anything else. Cement grout takes more patience, since deep or stubborn stains may need a repeated alkaline dwell before they lift.
Test any grout cleaner on a small hidden patch first, especially near marble, limestone or travertine, since acidic products can etch them. If the grout is sealed, keep the cleaner mild and skip anything abrasive. If the stain still shows after a couple of rounds, repeat the neutral cleaner once more before you call a tile pro.
Before you start
What grout can take
Safe to use4
- Water
- Hot water
- Enzyme cleaners
- Heat, once the stain is out
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- White nylon padThe recommended scrubbing tool for grout. (opens Amazon)
- Soft nylon brushWorks the cleaner into the grout lines. (opens Amazon)
- Mop or wet vacuumPicks up the dirty solution before it dries. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towels or a clothWipes up any spill right away. (opens Amazon)
- Mild neutral-pH tile and grout cleanerHandles the everyday film without harsh chemistry. (opens Amazon)
- Nitrile gloves and eye protectionProtects you from haze removers and cleaners. (opens Amazon)
- Clean water and a bucketFor scrubbing and rinsing. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Check the grout and the tile
Check whether the grout is cement or epoxy, because each needs its own haze remover. Then check the tile: marble, limestone, travertine and some glazed or metallic tile can be etched or discolored by acid, so they only get the gentle method.
Tip. If you can't tell the grout type, skip acid and start with the warm water scrub.
Step 2 of 5
Test on a hidden spot
Pick a small, inconspicuous area and apply the cleaner you plan to use. Let it dry, then check the result before treating the whole surface.
Careful. A cleaner can change the color or finish of the tile once it dries, so don't skip this.
Step 3 of 51 minute
Scrub with warm water
Wipe up any wet spill with a paper towel or cloth first, then scrub the stain with warm water and a white nylon pad. Keep scrubbing for at least 60 seconds, working in small sections.
Tip. A white nylon pad is the right tool here, so skip harsh abrasives.
Step 4 of 5A few minutes
Apply a neutral cleaner
If a film is still there, apply a mild, neutral-pH cleaner made for tile and grout. Let it sit a few minutes without drying, then agitate with a soft nylon brush or nylon pad.
Careful. Don't let the cleaner dry on the surface.
Step 5 of 5
Lift and rinse the solution
Pick up the dirty solution with a mop or wet vacuum before it dries. Rinse with clean water, then let the area dry and check the grout.
Careful. Leftover cleaner leaves a sticky film that attracts dirt, so rinse until the water runs clear.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for cement on grout
Pick a haze remover labeled for your grout type, cement or epoxy, and check that it's safe for your tile. Keep a mild neutral-pH cleaner made for tile and grout on hand for everyday film.
Zep Grout Cleaner & Brightener
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on grout, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The grout should look even in color, with no white film left across the tile. The tile should feel smooth to the touch and look as glossy as the untreated tile around it.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your grout
Greasy soil
Greasy soil needs an alkaline cleaner made for tile and grout, not the neutral one. Dampen the grout first, let the cleaner dwell for 3 to 4 minutes, then scrub it with a white nylon pad for at least 60 seconds.
Rinse thoroughly and repeat the scrub if the grout still looks dark. Stop once the grout looks even, because strong cleaners used for routine care can damage grout.
Mold or soap scum
Mold and soap scum need a cleaner made for those deposits, applied the same way as the neutral cleaner. On epoxy grout only, a bleaching cleanser on a nylon pad can handle tough soil.
Use the bleaching cleanser last, after everything has been scrubbed and rinsed out, and keep it off stainless fixtures and partitions, since chlorine can damage the finish.
Epoxy grout haze
Hot water is safe on epoxy grout, so start there. Damp-mop the grout with clean hot water and rinse with hot water.
For film that stays, scrub gently with a white nylon pad and clean water, then rinse again. Epoxy grout can be cleaned back to its original color, so repeated gentle scrubbing works better than harsh cleaners.
Marble, limestone and travertine
These stones can be etched, lightened or discolored by acid, so acid haze removers are off the table even when the haze has cured. Stick to warm water, a white nylon pad and a neutral cleaner, and test each product on a hidden spot first.
If the haze won't lift, ask a professional rather than reaching for acid.
Sealed cement grout
Sealed cement grout is damaged by acids and general cleaners, which etch the cement and break down the sealer. Use only warm water and the neutral tile and grout cleaner, and skip lemon, bleach-containing products, ammonia and all-purpose bathroom cleaners.
If you're not sure whether the grout is sealed, use the neutral cleaner only and check how the spot looks once it dries.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old cement haze that has cured for days needs more than the everyday method. Start by saturating the tile and grout with water for at least one hour, since acid won't work on a dry surface.
Then apply an acidic cement haze remover to small areas, undiluted for heavy haze or diluted 1 part to 3 parts water for light haze, and scrub with a white nylon bristle brush. Flush each area with water right after brushing, and don't let the acid sit longer than it takes to scrub.
Don't repeat acid washings, since repeated acid can damage the surface, and keep acid off metal fixtures. If the stain still shows, pressurized steam can lift some stains that resist conventional cleaners, but some stains become part of cement grout and stay.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on cement on grout?
Most household remedies either can't go on cement grout or don't do the job here. Anything marked skip is either unnecessary or can't go on cement grout.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix haze removers with other cleaners
Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection whenever you handle a haze remover. Never mix bleach with ammonia or ammonia-containing detergents, because they form a toxic gas.
Don't use oil or wax cleaners
They leave a film in the grout, and that film is exactly what you're trying to get rid of. Stick to the water-based neutral cleaner in the steps above.
Don't acid-clean new grout
Wait at least 10 days after grouting before you use any acid, since grout needs to cure first. Until then, the warm water scrub and neutral cleaner are the only safe options.
Don't use acid on epoxy grout
An acid cement haze remover isn't safe on epoxy or premixed grout haze. Use a haze remover made for epoxy instead, and keep the hot water method for everyday film.
When to call a professional
Acid cleaning of stone or deep cement haze needs extreme care, so this is a job to hand to a professional. If a stain stays after the steps here, a professional can test the grout and tile before any stronger treatment is used. Ask for someone experienced with both grout and stone.
Questions
Can I use vinegar to clean cement grout haze?
No. Vinegar is an acid, and acids etch cement-based grout even though it's a common home remedy. Stick to warm water and a neutral tile and grout cleaner for everyday haze.
When should I clean grout haze?
Grout haze is usually buffed off after the initial 12 to 24 hour cure. Once it has cured, it takes a mild acid to break down, which is why the gentle method comes first.
Can I use acid on marble?
No. Acid can etch, lighten or change the color of marble, limestone and travertine. Use warm water and a neutral cleaner instead, and call a professional if the haze won't lift.
Can I use bleach on grout?
Only on epoxy grout, and only for tough mold or soap scum. Use it as the last step, after everything has been scrubbed and rinsed out.
What if I'm not sure whether my grout is cement or epoxy?
Don't use an acid remover until you know. Start with warm water and a white nylon pad, which is safe on both, and ask the tile installer or manufacturer about the grout if the stain stays.
Will the stain come out of cement grout?
Some stains become part of cement grout and stay there, even after acid treatment. Pressurized steam can lift stains that resist conventional cleaners, so it's worth trying before you give up.
Can I use hot water on grout?
Yes on epoxy grout, where clean hot water works for damp-mopping and rinsing. For cement grout, stick to the warm water scrub in the steps above.
Cement on other materials
Other stains on grout
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.