FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Tiling

Guide Home
Chapter
  • Selecting Tile
  • Tools & Techniques
  • Installation Materials
  • Preparation
  • Tiling Floors
  • Tiling Walls & Backsplashes
  • Tiling Showers
  • Grouting, Sealing & Caulking
  • Maintenance & Repair
How-To

Removing Efflorescence

Learn how to deal with the white haze that sometimes forms on grout and tile due to excessive moisture.

By Robin Nicholas, Michael Schweit

Efflorescence is a fancy word for a white haze that sometimes forms on grout and tile. Efflorescence is due to excessive moisture that leaches salts from the grout (or the mortar or concrete substrate) and deposits it on the surface. Although efflorescence can affect many different kinds of tile, you’ll see it most often on low-fired terra-cotta and Saltillo tiles because of their porous nature. The haze may occur on the grout joints only, or it may show up on the surface of the tile itself.

You can often remove efflorescence haze from small areas by washing it off with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. For large areas, use a haze remover or sulfamic acid mixture 1. If this is a new tile installation, you must wait 7 days to 10 days before acid washing. You will need rubber gloves, safety glasses, old work clothes (unless acid-washed jeans is your style), a non-metallic bucket for the acid, a 5-gal. plastic wash-down bucket, a nylon-bristle scrub brush or toothbrush, and several new sponges. If you’re using sulfamic acid, mix 2 oz. to 3 oz. of the powder with 1 gal. of water. Saturate the affected area with clean water an hour before acid washing 2, so the moisture has time to penetrate through the grout joints. Before you apply the acid solution, rewet small areas at a time to prevent acid burn of the grout joints and tile. Apply the acid to the wet surface and agitate with the brush 3. Work on a small, 2-sq.-ft. to 3-sq.-ft., area at a time. Wipe down the tile with a wet, clean sponge and then wash the surface with fresh water several times to remove all the acid from the tile and grout.

Sulfamic acid dissolves the efflorescence that clouds the beauty of your original grout color. 1.  Sulfamic acid dissolves the efflorescence that clouds the beauty of your original grout color.
Always wet the joints with water an hour before applying the sulfamic acid solution. 2.  Always wet the joints with water an hour before applying the sulfamic acid solution.
Use gloves and goggles when you acid wash the area. A small brush helps you agitate the solution into the joints. 3.  Use gloves and goggles when you acid wash the area. A small brush helps you agitate the solution into the joints.

Tiling Complete, 2nd EditionExcerpted from Tiling Complete, 2nd Edition by Robin Nicholas and Michael Schweit.

Available in the Taunton Store and at Amazon.com.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
Previous: Regrouting with Epoxy

Guide

Tiling

Chapter

Maintenance & Repair

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Tiling

Tiling

Trusted, comprehensive guidance from the pros for a great-looking tile job in any room of the house

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Tiling Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Selecting Tile
  • The Basics
  • Tile Options
Tools & Techniques
  • Job-Preparation Tools
  • Cutting Tiles
  • Setting & Grouting Tools
Installation Materials
  • Membranes & Substrates
  • Adhesives & Mortars
  • Grout
  • Sealers & Caulk
  • Spacers, Hardware & Trim
Preparation
  • The Prep Job
  • Repairs & Surface Prep
  • Installing Backerboard
Tiling Floors
  • Layout & Installation
  • Setting Specialty Tiles
Tiling Walls & Backsplashes
  • Preparation
  • Backsplashes
  • Walls
Tiling Showers
  • Tile Shower Basics
  • Waterproofing
  • Shower Pans
  • Shower Drains
  • Shower Niches
  • Video Series: Tile a Shower
  • Video Series: Tile a Barrier-Free Bathroom
Grouting, Sealing & Caulking
  • Grouting
  • Caulking
  • Sealing
Maintenance & Repair
  • Maintenance
  • Tile Repair
  • Grout Repair

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in