How to Get Dry Grout Off Tile

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: October 25, 2021 References

Removing grout can be tricky, especially since standard dish soaps and tile cleaners tend to be ineffective. Luckily, you can remove grout with some basic tools and a steady hand. You can use a plastic chisel or putty knife to scrape away chunks of dried grout, and white vinegar will be helpful if you need to remove grout haze. If neither of those methods works, you may need to get your hands on an acidic cleaner.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:
Scraping Smooth Tile with a Chisel

1
Get a plastic chisel or putty knife with a flat cutting edge. You can use a socket or wood chisel, as long as it is made of plastic and doesn’t end in a serrated or rounded cutting edge. A metal chisel or putty knife with scratch or damage your tile.^{[1]
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- You can use a putty knife if your tile is bigger, but they tend to be harder to use with sharp angles or curves.
2
Hold the handle and brace the chisel or putty knife. Use your dominant hand to grip the handle like you’re shaking someone’s hand. Place the fingers of your free hand on top of the putty knife or chisel’s blade. If you don’t brace the blade, the edge of your chisel or putty knife may scrape over the grout instead of getting under it.^{[2]
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3
Scrape at a sharp angle in short, even strokes. Scrape away from you with the blade angled 20-30 degrees towards the tile. Use a firm grip and guide the top of the blade so that it stays on the surface of the tile. Don’t scrape aggressively or press down too hard or you’ll risk damaging your tile.^{[3]
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Tip: Keep your handle at the same height from the tile as you scrape it and adjust the blade with your nondominant hand to keep each scrape consistent.
4
Use a damp sponge to wipe up the grout residue. Dip a standard sponge in warm water and wring it out over your sink. Gently wipe each section of the tile where you used the chisel or putty knife and wring your sponge out over a trash bin to dispose of the grout dust and residue.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:
Scrubbing Grout Haze with Vinegar

1
Put on rubber gloves and a dust mask and work in a ventilated area. Vinegar can be a skin and lung irritant, so put on your protective gear and crack a window to get some ventilation in the room. If you can, use a fan to guide the fumes out of the window.^{[5]
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Warning: This method will only work with porcelain or ceramic tile. You will damage slate or stone if you use vinegar to remove grout.
2
Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water in a large bucket. The amount of vinegar and water that you’re going to mix depends on how big your surface area is. Pour your vinegar and water together in a large plastic bucket.^{[6]
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- For a 10 ft × 10 ft (3.0 m × 3.0 m) wall or floor, you’ll probably need about 64 fluid ounces (1.9 L) of water and 16 fluid ounces (470 mL) of vinegar.
- Avoid using red vinegar. It could permanently change the color of your tile.
3
Cover large surfaces with a mop after dipping it in your solution. Take a clean, dry mop and let it soak in your bucket for 5-10 seconds. Wring your mop head out over your bucket to remove excess water and vinegar and mop your wall or floor in a circular motion. Cover each area where there is grout haze with your mop head.^{[7]
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4
Scrub details and smaller areas with a soft nylon pad. Soak a soft nylon pad in your bucket for 5-10 seconds so that it absorbs a decent amount of vinegar. Use the pad to scrub your tiles in firm, circular strokes. Scrub each section for as long as it takes to remove the haze.^{[8]
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- You can use a sponge if you don’t have a soft nylon pad, but it will take much longer to get the dry grout off.
5
Rinse your tile with cold water and dry it with a cloth. Wash your gloves to remove any vinegar. Fill a clean bucket with cold water and soak a clean rag or cloth in the water for at least 10 seconds. Wring your cloth over your bucket and run it lightly over every section of your tile. Do this twice to make sure that you don’t miss any vinegar.^{[9]
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- Let your tile air dry after you’ve rinsed it with water.
- Repeat this entire process if any grout haze reappears.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:
Mixing Sulfamic Acid and Water for Tough Grout

1
Purchase a sulfamic acid based on your tile’s material. Sulfamic acid comes in a variety of different combinations based on the type of tile that you’re cleaning grout off of. Read the label on a container of sulfamic acid to determine whether a specific batch will work for you. You can find sulfamic acid online, in your local hardware store, or at a janitorial supply shop.^{[10]
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- Pay extra attention to what you put on slate and stone tiles. These two materials are especially sensitive to chemical cleaners.
Tip: This method works well with large amounts of dry grout, but the acid can be dangerous to work with. Use this method only after you’ve exhausted other options.
2
Put on rubber gloves, protective eyewear, and a dust mask. Sulfamic acid is a harsh irritant that will cause you a lot of pain if it gets on your skin. Wear thick rubber gloves, and protect your lungs by wearing a dust mask or respirator. Open a window to keep your room well-ventilated.^{[11]
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3
Combine your acidic cleaner with warm water in a clean plastic bucket. Most acidic cleaners will come with instructions on how much water you need to mix with your sulfamic acid. If you’re not sure how much water you need to add, a good combination is 2 ounces (57 g) of sulfamic acid and 16 fluid ounces (470 mL) of water.^{[12]
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- Add your sulfamic acid first and then pour your water in. This way you can avoid having to mix them by hand and potentially spill some acid.
4
Apply your solution to the surface and let it soak for 5 minutes. Use a paper towel or clean cloth and soak it in your acid. Then, put you towel or cloth on top of the area where you need to remove the grout. Let it rest for at least 5 minutes.^{[13]
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- If you’re removing dry grout from a wall, soak a paper towel in the acid and then stick it to the wall. The acid will keep it from falling to the floor.
5
Scrub the area with a stiff brush until the grout disappears. Remove the cloth or paper towel. Take a stiff brush and start scrubbing the grout in hard, back-and-forth strokes. Scrub with the brush for as long as it takes to remove the grout. It may take several applications to get thicker grout off of your tile.^{[14]
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- You can use a toothbrush if you’re particularly worried about sensitive tiles getting lodged loose or damaged.
6
Use a wet mop or cloth and rinse the area several times. The sulfamic acid will leave a residue behind that is toxic. Use warm water and a clean cloth or mop and clean the surface where you used the acid thoroughly by using aggressive circular strokes and covering each area several times. Let your surface air dry and then wash it again. If there is any residue still present, wash it a third time.^{[15]
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