Tile grout problem
 

I spilled cough syrup on my unsealed tile floor. I am unable to remove it so far. I have tried bleach and other cleansing ideas. now it is looking discolored and dark compared to my other lines of grout. How can I get it to look better? Thank you for any suggestions. :helpme

You really need to piss on it.

Only thing that will work.

Take photos and post them :)

damn dude same thing happend to me, but wasn't medicin, i personal had to re-grout the spot when the mess was and then seal it... you can also try concrete cleaner, or maybe go down to the nearest home depot/lowes or your local hardware store, calling might be better... they could probably help ya out... good luck... :thumbsup

get some oxyclean powder and make it into a paste and let it sit on that tile for awhile...If that doesn't work, you must replace it.

Don't know how you guys grout (especially what is this "sealer"?), but over here, the grout (which is already waterproof) is mixed with a water/strain proofing liquid instead of water. Never stains, even on the kitchen counter.

In any case, make a really concentrated solution of Vanish, the washing poweder thingy for whites, leave on overnight, then clean with a toothbrush.

Otherwise, there are erasers that work great on grout, made by UHU (comes in a box with an eraser for each type of surface).

Right - exactly, Vanish (in europe) is the same thing.

you can try pouring some some white vinegar on it

steam it

Thank you for the ideas! Is vanish similar to comet here?

no idea! it's a white powder that fizzes when you add water to it (the chemical in it is hydrogen peroxide, and the fizzing is oxygen release). So, if you don't have it, just pour some hydrogen peroxide on the grout and leave (but don't let dry out)

Thats like oxyclean for sure, not like comet. Good ideas, good luck

LOL I can't pee standing up... it will get all over my toes...

How much grout do you have? You can paint it with tile paint from Home Depot.

i think you need professor amos...
http://www.itsthebom.com/

I've fixed small things like that with a water based acrylic paint. You can get it for 99c at the craft store. Get a couple of shades if you need to to mix them and match the color. Dab it on a dry cloth, rub it in well so that it soaks in, wipe off any that gets on the tile part with a wet cloth before it dries. You might have to do it a couple of times letting it dry in between.

depends on what kind of grout you use. i buy the powder that you mix with distilled water from home depot. for ceramic you buy a can of spray sealer and spray the grout lines, for natural stone you buy sealer in gallon jugs and roll it on both the stone and grout lines.

i didn't quote you right so my stupid problem was repeated rather then what I actually said. (SIGH) I can't pee standing up... it would get all over my toes and wherever I walk across my house, that would be really annoying to clean up...

the vinger idea or muriatic acid. (pool acid)

get tinted grout seal and seal and seal the whole floor. You'll blend in the discoloration and also prevent future spills from giving you problems.

Try using Phosphoric acid, with a scrub brush. Or re grout it

Scrub with a solution of muratic acid and water, like 1:10 not too stong not to weak.

Wear eyegoggles and make sure the area is well ventilated.

Rinse with water.

If it has absorbed into the grout, then try a poultice. It will be pretty much the same process as cleaning stained stone such as a granite counter.

Ah right, for natural stone I understand, because you're sealing the stone to make it waterproof. to prevent stains. But that means then your powdered grout isn't waterproofed in manufacture. Our stuff is already waterproofed (which is odd, cos you mix it with water to make the paste!). It's just that you can mix it with a liquid product instead that prevents staining. I just mix with water though for the floor because I use grey grout for the floor, but for stuff like the shower and kitchen counter (especially), I mix with the product to protect the grout en masse.

FWIW I frikken HATE tiling. So god damn boring, although the finished result is fantastic.

I know it sounds crazy but get a small bowl and mix a pile of baking soda with some white vinegar or lemon juice just until it fizzes. Scrub that on the stain. 9/10 times it will come right out.

steam it as grumpy said... haha

so let us know how it turns out and which methods tried - I'm curious :winkwink:

cheap ass

Have you tried baking soda? You better try baking soda at first.

Easiest thing is to regrout that patch and then seal the fucker.

Wow some grout ideas in this thread. I would love to help but I know nothing agrout it. I probably wouldn't even worry about trying to fix it and just throw a rug on it. You know, grout of sight grout of mind.

Ding, ding, ding.

If you want it to look right, just regrout it. Don't paint shit on it. That looks ghetto.

your tile saw rental fees are due, you know my paypal.

Of course, if all else fails you could always just spill that cough syrup on the rest of your grout

then it would all look the same. :D

:1orglaugh

I will attempt this weekend...

YUP. muriatic acid is the answer:thumbsup

Just replace it.
Its alot less hassle and it cant re-appear later in the year.

You can only cover shit like that for so long.

"grout of sight, grout of mind" :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

just dilute it like i said or it will eat all of the grout out and then you will have to re grout. :2 cents:

well, my grout and tile is all over the first floor of the house, the color is kind of an off white, i would be concerned it would be mis matched with the rest of the floor.

Yeah, grout is alkaline and hydrochloric acid (or whatever you guys call it) is a strong acid... don't leave it on for long, and *absolutely don't* add this if your tiles are marble.... or bye bye tiles too!

So, weekend is over - how did it go?

Seems like the quickest way to go about it.

I'm redoing my bathroom right now and am using Laticrete Spectra-Lok grout. It is epoxy based and is resistant to stains and mold. No sealing is needed. It is a little more to apply, but I figured if it really works then it beats having to reseal every few years. You can buy it at Lowes.

yeah epoxy is way better, but harder to put in. i do houses that i flip so im not all that concerned, especially since its way more expensive, and you will go through more sponges.