Pam asked: After having a fireplace built on our sunporch, they got cement on my quarry tile floor. How do I get the cement off the tile?
Ceramic
tile is much harder than cement and can tolerate the cleaning methods needed to break down and remove the cement. For thin layers or small amounts of cement, common household products may be sufficient for removal. However, for larger jobs, stronger acids may be needed to get the job done. If the tile is glazed, use caution as even a weak acid like vinegar can eat through the glaze. Be sure to protect your skin and use good ventilation as you work through the steps below.
You Will Need:
- White vinegar (for thin layers or small spots)
- Flat head screwdriver
- Phosphoric Acid Cleaner (for larger spots and thicker layers)
- Tampico brush or
- Scotch Brite scrubbing pad or
- Metal scouring pad
- Sponges
- Soft cloths
- Water
- Soap or detergent
- Bucket
- Protective gloves and eyewear
- Small brush or old toothbrush
Steps to Remove Small Amounts or Thin Cement:
- For mild problems such as small spots or a thin film of cement, white vinegar typically provides enough acidic power to loosen the bond between the cement and the tile.
- Use a sponge or pad to apply enough vinegar to the area to cover it completely.
- Allow the vinegar to set on the cement for at least an hour or two.
- If the weather is warm and the vinegar is evaporating, reapply frequently to keep the area moist.
- After the cement starts to loosen, scrub the area with either a brush, Scotch Brite pad or scouring pad.
- It will take some elbow grease, but the vinegar will have loosened the cement enough that it can be scrubbed away.
- If a small amount remains, reapply vinegar and allow it to set again.
- Scrub again until all of the cement is removed.
- Rinse the area with water.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Rinse the area again to ensure all of the acid is removed.
Steps to Remove Large Amounts or Thick Cement:
- For areas with thick layers or larger spots of cement, a stronger acid will be necessary. In these cases phosphoric acid, a commonly used acid to clean up masonry projects, will give the necessary cleaning strength to cut through the layers of cement. You can buy phosphoric acid cleaner online or in some hardware stores.
- Use a scraper, metal scrubber or flat head screwdriver to remove as much of the cement as possible.
- For the remaining cement, apply the phosphoric acid following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once the cement loosens, scrub the area with a scrubber until it is all removed from the surface.
- Rinse the area well with clean water.
- Clean the area with soap and water to remove any remaining acid.
- Rinse completely.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Always use caution and protect yourself when using acids for cleaning procedures. Ensure the area has proper ventilation. Read through all of the instructions and warnings on the package prior to use.
- If the instructions say to mix the acid with water, always add the acid to the water. Adding water to acid can create a reaction that causes the acid to splash out everywhere. This quickly becomes a safety hazard.
- There are products available to neutralize acids when the cleaning process is completed. Applying these products at the end will ensure that there is no acid remaining on the surface that could cause further damage.
- As a last resort, hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, can be used. If you are not familiar with these products, it is best to contact a professional who is used to working with them. Improper handling of these acids can create dangerous situations and cause more damage than the original cement stains.
I have moved into an apartment that has a roof-top terrace. I can see that the original flooring is red terracotta paving, which I want to expose. It has been covered with an ugly layer of grey cement/concrete (I don’t know), but it is worn and beneath I see this lively red color. How can I remove the ugly grey to expose the pretty red floor?
Jenny,
Vinegar and phosphoric acid cleaner are safe to use on terracotta. You can also use HG Cement, Mortar and Efflorescence Remover safely on terracotta.
Source: Solutions – Sealers for Stone and Tile
Source: Homecare Essentials
I used vinegar to remove concrete off my tiled floor. Thank you so much – all the cement came off. I am so happy with the result!
I will try these cement stain removers.
Thanks for the information; so useful. God bless.
The information was really helpful… will try it out for sure.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the helpful information; so useful.
This information was spot on. I tried the vinegar and the scoring pad, and it worked extremely well. I would recommend this to anyone.
I took the tile from around my fireplace and there is mortar/cement that was holding up the tiles. I cannot get it off. I don’t want to use muriatic acid as it scares me. What can I safely use so I can do it myself?
Thanks!
Leslie,
Phosphoric acid is not the same as muriatic acid. Muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, is a dangerous chemical as you know. Vinegar is not dangerous. Phosphotic acid is a bit stronger than vinegar, but nowhere near as strong as muriatic acid. It (phosphoric acid) is actually used as a food additive sometimes, like in soft drinks.
If you don’t want to try one of the acids, Google “Concrete Dissolver” and there are several product results that look very user-friendly. They seem to be mostly used for removing dried concrete from tools, but they could probably work in your situation as well. Just make sure that they will not damage the surface underneath the cement, whatever that may be (brick, etc.).
Source: Wikipedia – Phosphoric acid
Source: Wikipedia – Hydrochloric acid
Vinegar results…just great. 🙂 Thank God for sites like this…satisfactory.
I’ve been researching for cleaning chemicals that will suit my industrial business. Thanks for this information. Can’t afford to do a bad job for a customer. Now I’m glad I know what to use and how to use it. A big kiss for this info.
Thank you so much for such great information! It really worked for the tiles in my kitchen. 🙂
Thanks for information. I will try to remove it from my neighbor’s terracotta roof tiles which were marked by cement while I was constructing my house.
Will any vinegar do? Any tips on removing bitumen? Very easy instructions by the way. Thank you.
Check it out! We’ve answered your question! Yay!
A big thank you for the information; the vinegar worked wonders removing large thick areas of cement from my Victorian red quarry tiles.
Please tell the exact quantity of chemicals, i.e
molarity or molality of HCL
molarity or molality of H3PO4
Is it only vinegar I shall use without mixing it with water, or should I mixed it water to remove cement of my tiles?
Lamin,
Use undiluted vinegar (no water). Adding water will dilute the vinegar and make it less acidic. You need the acid power of the vinegar to remove the cement.
I have just ripped up some old ceramic tiles and the cement on the back is a good 2 to 3 cm thick. I don’t want to chip away at it with a screwdriver or chisel in case I break the tiles. Will vinegar work on such a thick layer of concrete? Do I just submerge the tiles in the vinegar for a period of time?
What is the answer? Can I submerge the tile in vinegar?
Hi Kathy,
If the cement on the tile is thin, then vinegar can work to remove it. Submerging the tile is not necessary, simply wet a cloth with the vinegar and apply it to the cement area.
Good luck!
Please can I use the vinegar to clean cement from the window glass?
Precious,
Yes, vinegar is safe to use on glass; actually, it is a great glass cleaner that you can use on a regular basis. If your window is installed (and therefore standing upright), you can soak a paper towel with the vinegar and put it over the cement, then over the paper towel with plastic wrap and tape the plastic wrap in place. This will allow the vinegar to soak on the window. The plastic wrap will help to hold the paper towel in place and also will help to hold in the moisture. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your professional answer to all the questions asked. Please, what kind of chemical can one use to remove paint stains from wooden door frame, tiles and metal frame?
Precious,
Some things you can try are washing off the paint with soapy water, using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, or using a solvent like mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, or nail polish remover. The paint can also sometimes be chipped off with a razor blade. Always test a cleaning solution on a small hidden area of a surface first to look for any adverse reaction.
Source: How to Remove Paint from Wood Trim
Source: How to Remove Water-Based Paint from Appliances
Which vinegar is used for removing unwanted cement from bathroom tile?
Vipin,
Use white vinegar. It is stronger than apple cider or red wine vinegar and also it is clear, so it will not stain.
Hi, I’m a contractor in India. I’m an Indian that’s why I’m talking about net for workers safety in construction of buildings and all as a safety belt; it’s like a bed we are providing for workers… But it is very costly for contractors like me if we use it only once. Because of the workers, the concrete cement is all sticking in that net. If I can remove that, I can reuse it and also I can recover my earnings. If anyone has an idea to remove that concrete from the net, please give me an idea, please.
Binoy,
Any solvent that you would use to dissolve the cement would probably also degrade the fibers of the net, which would make it no longer safe. Instead, you could try crushing/crumbling the cement with force, such as with a hammer. If the cement could be crushed into a dust, that might work to remove it enough that the net would no longer be hard if someone fell on it and the fibers of the net would stay structurally intact.
Another option might be maintaining the problem on a daily basis. You could wash (or power wash) the net with water to remove the cement that gets on it before it dries each day, possibly twice per day if needed. However, it is also possible that over time the water could degrade the fibers of the net, making it no longer safe to use.
Just some ideas. Proceed at your own risk of course. Good luck!
Hi,
Very useful info. We have some cement marks on neighbour’s roof tiles. Would the second option of removing thick cement (use of acids) work better than vinegar?
Shadi,
It is always best to try the weakest product first to avoid damage. Phosphoric acid has a pH of about 1 whereas white vinegar has a pH of about 2.4. Working with phosphoric acid on a roof could be dangerous, and you want to use as little as possible to be sure the acid does not drip underneath the roof tiles, so it would be best to try using vinegar first. Good luck!
Source: Aqion – Phosphoric Acid H3PO4
Source: Cultures for Health – Testing the Acidity of Vinegar