Best Solution For Cleaning Dried Thinset From Granite Tiles

Never use an abrasive scrubber.

Best solution for cleaning dried thinset from granite tiles.

Fill a container with muriatic acid and soak the pieces in the solution if you need to remove thinset from porcelain tiles in a demolition project. Employ a granite safe cleaning solution for more difficult jobs. Scrub the tile surface and the grout with a soapy sponge making sure to remove any of the thin set that is not entirely hardened. I didn t do a good job cleaning the thinset off the face of my tile as i went.

Spray the solution over the granite surface. Now i have some globs of hardened thinset and too much buildup in some of the grout lines. Wipe the areas down with a sponge and some clean water. Dampen the thinset with the sponge then wipe it gently to see if it will wipe up with only one pass.

Dry the counter thoroughly with a clean microfiber cloth. A general multi surface cleaner is not the best choice for granite countertops because it may contain an acidic base which could etch and damage your stone. Wipe the tiles down with a dry rag. Remove the pieces when they are clean of thinset and rinse them off with water.

To disinfect the surface make a solution of half water and half isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. If your floor is very dirty or has not been washed in a long time it can be helpful to use a granite safe cleaning solution such as method granite cleaner spray or weiman granite cleaner. This works best for light areas where there is just a thin film of thinset covering the tile or along the edge of a joint. After setting tiles thinset mortar must quickly be removed or it dries into a hard stubborn substance.

Muriatic acid is a fast acting acid that works well against cement based materials. One of the ways to clean grout and remove the thinset is to start by adding some dish soap to the bucket of warm water. When looking for natural solutions to clean your granite never use an acidic cleaner like vinegar. Most tilers attempt to remove the thinset as they work or the next day at the most.

This was my first tile project and i made a stupid mistake. Never use all purpose household cleaning products on granite. Choose one that is listed for daily cleaning and follow the package directions but only apply with a soft cloth.