Stain from plug in air freshener?

[moteyi]

9 months ago as a favour I tiled a kitchen for a customer that I've done quite a lot of work for (I'm not a pro tiler - I mainly do bespoke fitted furniture). I did the tiling using Milford White Brick effect ceramic tiles from Topps and fixed with BAL green star. To save some money, the customer said that he was happy to do the grouting himself and so I left him with a bag of BAL microflex wall tile grout. Got a phone call last week to ask me to have a look at the tiles as he said that they'd gone yellow - he wasn't joking :yikes:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc307/promhandicam/tiling1.jpg

Thankfully because he didn't make a very good job of cleaning the grout from the surface of the tiles it is obvious that the staining is coming from inside. My immediate thought when I looked at it was that it was from the plug in air freshener. The customer was doubtful as according to him they've always had one and didn't have this problem with the previous tiles. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I contacted BAL and they were quite helpful suggesting firstly to try HG Mould spray and if that doesn't work something like LTP grout stain remover with an emulsifying pad. Any other suggestions?

Cheers,

Steve
Home - Allford Property Maintenance

 

[david campbell]

never seen it before but the mrs nearly killed me when i sat one on top of really expensive teak tables we have and it stained all the wood just from the little dampness on the air freshener

 

[Andy Allen]

is it yellow on all the tiles or just where the air freshner is

 

[moteyi]

is it yellow on all the tiles or just where the air freshner is

The worst area is round where the air freshener is but it is on most of the grout. As the kettle is nearby, we (BAL technical support and I) think that perhaps the water vapour from the kettle and the hob when cooking have carried the airbourne particles around the kitchen.

 

[Terry Cottar]

Try scrubbing the grout with some Aqua Mix Nano Scrub then if it works seal all the grout and even the tiles if it will accept sealer

tel

 

[Andy Allen]

as the job is 9months old are you sure it isnt somethink hes been yousing to clean the tiles with;microban grout can be tricky to get off if you havent yoused it b4 ;if some has been left on the surface of the tile any grease,dirt;cleaning products could cause stainig

 

[moteyi]

Try scrubbing the grout with some Aqua Mix Nano Scrub then if it works seal all the grout and even the tiles if it will accept sealer. tel

Thanks for that - from the description on the company website it looks as if it should do the job. What sealer would you recommend?

Cheers,

Steve

 

[moteyi]

as the job is 9months old are you sure it isnt somethink hes been yousing to clean the tiles with;microban grout can be tricky to get off if you havent yoused it b4 ;if some has been left on the surface of the tile any grease,dirt;cleaning products could cause stainig

Hi. The customer assures me that they have only used warm water to clean the tiles. I've known them for a while and don't think that they are telling porkies although you never know!

Steve

 

[enduro]

Try scrubbing the grout with some Aqua Mix Nano Scrub then if it works seal all the grout and even the tiles if it will accept sealer

tel

I agree, but will frankfarter!!!!

 

[Terry Cottar]

I agree, but will frankfarter!!!!

I personally don't care whether he agrees or not. It's advice I offer free of charge based on what works for us on an everyday basis. I never offer advice unless I have tried the products and most products we reccommend we use on a daily basis. I wonder if he has tried the products?

tel

 

[ACTROS1945]

I've heard of this befor but never see it. If there biscut tiles coming out of china its iron in the biscut deposited there when they where sawn and the grout is acting like a poultice sucking it out as rust.
changing the grout wont fix it sorry.