Removing very old dry grout chunks

My GC finish tiling the bathroom in Sept. I just moved in and used the shower for the first time tonight and noticed a lot of old dry grout chunks. What is the best way to remove it without demaging the tile?

allyslope

in Construction 11 years and 6 months ago

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greenmountain | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Grout, mostly processed limestone (CaCO3) dissolves in acid. Unless you have cement tile (popular now and also contains CaCO3) it is unlikley to damage your tile. but test it to be sure. Most tile is made from clay and glass. The acid available in hardware stores is called “Muriatic,” but it is Hydrochloric (HCl). HCl quickly evaporates in air, and is dangerous to inhale in poorly ventilated spaces like bathrooms and shower stalls. It neutralizes in baking soda. Stay away from Sulfuric acid, which evaporates less, soaks in and continues working uncontrollably. Wear gloves. Deploy a fan. Open windows. Dilute the Muriatic acid in water using as little as practical. Apply on a cotton cloth in one small section at a time. Step away while it works, come back and rub off the excess grout quickly. Step away. Repeat. Proceed at your own risk. I am not sure your only problem is sloppy grouting. Do you have a shower stall? Or is this a tub surround?