How To Use Mineral Spirits To Remove Dried Grout On Tile

Messy grout installation is often the bane of homeowners. Dried grout left on tiling can ruin the entire appearance of flooring, walls or counter tops. Loosening up the grout with mineral spirits will reduce the amount of scraping you will have to employ to remove the grout. In addition, excessive scraping can result in scratched tile that will have to be replaced.

Step 1

Apply mineral spirits to a rag. Mineral spirits or Stoddard solvent is a petroleum distillate product that can be used to cut through chemicals and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Lay the saturated rag over the grout stain and allow the mineral spirits to break down the adhesive qualities of the grout for an hour.

Step 2

Lift up the rag and check the progress of the mineral spirits. Use a razor blade to scrape up in between the grout and the tile.

Step 3

Wipe the grout that has been lifted up by the mineral spirits with a rag. Spray the area with a household cleaner and wipe down with a paper towel.

Step 4

Apply mineral spirits directly to hard-to-remove grout on tiling and wait half an hour.

Step 5

Scrape up the rest of the grout with a razor blade and medium-bristled brush. Wipe down the tiling with paper towels and household cleaner.