The worlds worst anti-slip tiles (in my opinion), and how to clean them.

[Sean Kelly]

I am now on day 9 of a 5 day job!

I have set & grouted 25sqm of 45x45x8 porcelain anti-slip tiles. This link gives more detail Walls and Floors Tiles -Anti-Slip Floor Tiles, Bathroom Tiles, Floor Tiles, Porcelain Wall & Floor Tiles - Cordoba tiles - Nacar tiles - 450x450x8mm

I last worked with anti-slip tiles for a commercial kitchen 2 years ago. They were a bugger to clean, but at least we only had to use water and a scrubbing brush. The tiles I have been tiling with this week are an absolute nightmare to cut because they are made up of a grid pattern and within each tiny square there is what I can only describe as a ‘fingerprint’. The dry cutter jumps from grid to grid and I keep getting jagged cuts.

Anyway, the tiling has been completed and I did the grouting. I tried to clean off the residue within a few minutes, but as you see from the pics the grout is still embedded in the tiny grooves of the tiles. I had to leave the job the other day because the more I tried to clean the tiles the more grout I was raking out of the grout line.

These tiles are on the walls and the floor.

I have tried sponges, emulsifying pads, grout brushes, Black & Decker sander, Fila grout residue remover, Lithofin Cement Away, Fila Tiles & Stone cleaner, wire wool. It took me 3 hours to clean one tile, and that tile is still not as clean as I would like.

I am at the point where I’m thinking of using a specialised tile cleaning company.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[jay]

oh dear what color is the grout

and why would you put antislip on the walls

 

[Sean Kelly]

White grout.

 

[jay]

Bugger what a nightmare .the only thing i can think of is laticrete TC50 tile and grout cleaner and a scrubbing brush but this product is acid based not nice to use (gloves and eye protection not to mention the fixtures)
i hope someone has an easier solution but it may be a lost cause

SORRY

 

[Sean Kelly]

The floor grout (because it contains more sand) was easier to remove than the grout on the wall tiles. Do you think I should have used floor grout on the walls?. Everything just dried so quick.

 

[jay]

No floor grout is norm course in Finnish designed for wider joints the tiles you have fixed are a nightmare and take special attention ie masking tape to all joints to stop staining or a coat of sure seal spay on grout sealer over tiles to stop grout staining as you have . other replies may differ

 

[jay]

here you go http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laticrete.com.au%2Fpdf%2Fproduct_data_shts%2Fdatashts%2FLATICRETE_TC50.pdf&ei=GDAPTvjZF4PvmAXq5YGnDg&usg=AFQjCNHWVg_vXTb4dOvy8sckHHITxGMXlg

belive me wear gloves and eye protection

and it will take more than one go

 

[tommyzooom]

I had to clean tiles and intricate borders that had grout on them for 3 years, I used a grout remover (smp i think). I used it neat with a nail brush, scotch pad and a small screwdriver to get into all the corners of the borders. Came up a treat. Be sure to use gloves etc and open all the windows.

Feel for you bud, that looks like a nightmare

 

[Sean Kelly]

For a second there Tommy I thought it took you 3 years to clean them! I've spoken to a man from a tile cleaning company. He is coming with me to the customers home this afternoon.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Went to visit a man today that cleans tiles/carpets for a living. I brought a sample of my anti slip tile that I had grouted. The grout was about an hour old. The acid he used (not sure what type), fizzed away and he wiped the embedded grout off with a rag. He has the tile and will repeat the exercise tomorrow. I really hope this works.
The problem with these flippin tiles is that they are on the wall, and it is difficult to keep the acid from running onto the floor. Anyway, I will call him tomorrow and see how the experiment goes. He also said that any cleaning product that you can buy over the couter is not worth the money. I must admid that the Lithofin I used neat did not do much to shift my problem. Cheers Sean

 

[DHTiling]

You have to remember that over the counter products are used by DIY as well...

Brick acid is what will shift it..

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks Dave. Will investigate this one. cheers Sean

 

[user123]

Wow, what a pain! When I saw the first close-ups I thought, hey, that looks quite good, varnish the things with a good strong clear acrylic, don't clean them and a new look is born. But from the distance it's not quite the same is it, oh dear. Brick acid sounds good and then there was that car tar and cement eater product, too, wasn't there, I'l see if I can find it now and edit it on if I can find it. What a daft idea to put antislip tiles on the wall though! Why?

Yes, found it, have never tried but it sounds really intruiging and a good thing to me... have a look, just in case the brick acid doesn't work the way you want it to:

Cement Remover

 

[Sean Kelly]

Gisela, I think they put the anti slip tiles on the wall for my benefit. Next time I see that bathroom again I will probably be climbing the walls! Cheers for your help. Sean

 

[user123]

Gisela, I think they put the anti slip tiles on the wall for my benefit. Next time I see that bathroom again I will probably be climbing the walls! Cheers for your help. Sean

You're in training as Spiderman then? :lol: Good luck with it, I think everyone who saw those pictures groaned inwardly... and let us know the outcome! Dave mentions brick acid quite a bit, doesn't he, might be useful to have around..