QUESTION

How to Clean Epoxy Haze off Tile? I just had 1000 sq' of tile installed with epoxy grout. It left a film on the tile and I cannot seem to get it off. What cleaner, besides Muriatic Acid, can I use to remove the residual film on new porcelain tile and not damage the grout?

ANSWER

ANSWER - If tile installers are not experienced at using epoxy grouts it tends to result in leaving an epoxy haze.

Never use muriatic acid for anything to do with a tile, let alone for trying to remove epoxy film. Acid will not attack epoxy resins.

Epoxy removers are normally paint removers. Also goof-off is a type of remover that will remove epoxy. These are tedious methods of removal and you have to be careful using them or you can harm the epoxy grout or tile. Always test out of the way areas first to make sure they are working for you.

Since you have a porcelain tile and if it has a durable surface, as many porcelain tiles do, what works best for removing epoxy haze is get clean silica sand with a liquid detergent and scrub the surface to abrade off the haze. Again, test the tile surface to make sure it can withstand this method of cleaning before doing so on the whole floor. Use a wet/dry vacuum to pick up the excess wet slurry afterwards.

For any thicker epoxy residue you can use a heat gun to soften the epoxy and scrape it up. good luck.