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

[Gazzer]

Thanks Sir Ramic, never heard of Machine Mart. Did a search and found a branch about 5 miles from where i'm working tomorrow! also did a search on their web for 'brick' and 'acid' but only found Nilfish brick/stone & wood cleaner 2.5l £14.39 is this the right stuff? Cheers Sean

Dunno, I bought some a while back and it was just called brick acid /cleaner about £7 for 5ltr

 

[jay]

its called Hydrochloric acid over here http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&s...5LSxAw&usg=AFQjCNExM3hf1e42SmhSM8jn9qXKCOPaeg

or spirits of salts but be warned it can be nasty if you dont take care try a mix of 5 parts water to 1 part acid you can use a spray bottle to apply and scrub with a scrubbing brush make sure you wash it off well
hope this helps (watch your metal trims to)

 

[Sean Kelly]

spray bottle. now that's a very good idea Jay. Thanks for your advice. I'll pop into the Twickenham branch tomorrow Sir Ramic, I doubt it will be £7 tho!! Cheers Sean

 

[Gazzer]

Try this Brick and Mortar Cleaner - Cement Additives - Cement & Mortar -Building Materials - Wickes

 

[tommyzooom]

Sean,
Take a deep breath and relax, I'm sure you could clean that yourself if you have the right materials.
First forget about the DIY sheds and get yourself to a proper builders merchant for some heavy duty cement remover or brick acid. It will probably say to dilute it down to 5:1 or something, but you may need to keep it a stronger mix,
As has been said, don't let it dwell too long on metal trims though, I would maybe try the acid on an offcut of trim just in case

Thats how I cleaned mine, neat in a spray bottle and a scrubbing brush (I didn't tile it originally btw)

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks Tommyzoom, I'm just collecting info on the web about all these acids, and their different names and strengths. It's a minefield. We only sell 'high strength' acid, but they don't tell you the strength!! I don't want to keep buying stuff that does not work. Gisela's web link sells acid for £10 with £20 p&p. The cleaning guy said he could sell his 'high strength' acid to me for £60. I don't mind paying £100 if the stuff works. You are quite right Tommyzoon, having the right materials is the key to this dilemma. Cheers for your advice. Hopefully I will be posting a success story in a few days time.

 

[lucius]

You need to wet down your grout lines idealy as the acid will eat into them and only use a pure bristle brush as nylon or plastic reacts with it and weakens it

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks Lucius, I decided to opt for the £60 5l bottle of very strong acid off the cleaning man. I went to a builders merchant but could only find patio cleaners with 'acid based' on the label. I bought some tight goggles and long gloves and a respirator. I guess I must go out again to get a bristle brush. Cheers Sean

 

[lucius]

I used to get it from the chemist as spirits of salts plenty strong enough and cheap, in Spain you can buy it in a supermarket.Isuggest you try a small area first out of sight let it dry out and see what it looks like just incase it has some adverse effect.

 

[Sean Kelly]

I'm busting a gut to try and help this woman. I re-arranged other work so that I could start cleaning her tiles today. I bought the safety equipment etc, and I bought the acid. I got a call last night at 20:00 from the woman who told me that it was not convenient for me to work at her home this weekend! I really feel this woman is mucking me about big time. I picked up the acid this morning. The label says 'Clean Tile & Grout Ltd' 20-25% phosphoric acid. 5l cost me £60. I'm looking at ebay and finding 40% acid for a lot cheaper! The thing is I had to buy it in a hurry for today. She said I can only come over next weekend

 

[Gazzer]

Have you not got a few tiles you can try it on before attacking the job full on ?

 

[Sean Kelly]

Have you not got a few tiles you can try it on before attacking the job full on ?

I did have a tile that a I gave to the cleaner man. He used his acid and got the tile clean. However, I think that's a good idea Sir Ramic. Hopefully they still have a load of offcuts at the side of their house. Cheers Sean