I had some travertine with filthy grout and embedded into the pores dirt,
NOTHING worked: strong alkaline with HOT water spinner, Klenztone with the
spinner (and zero degree nozzle)  This is what I did and it worked
beautifully. Sometimes you have to break a few eggs...  I made a mix with
10% hydrochloric acid and a tad of neutral cleaner to make it lay. Sprayed
lightly over an area, then sprinkled generously oxalic acid crystals over
the area and brushed it in with a coarse broom. There is a reaction and the
soils rise to the top like nothing I have ever seen.  Then extract with the
spinner and it is like new, 100% clean.  This is the MOST effective way to
get travertine with embedded dirt clean. This was a honed finish surface I
did and the sheen was restored with a couple quick passes with a grit brush.
If the finish is polished it will need to be polished with 5x. It won't need
any sanding.

-----Original Message-----
From: list-manager@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com
[mailto:list-manager@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Mitch
Heitman
Sent: Friday, 1 August 2014 2:43 AM
To: sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com
Subject: Grout cleaning

Hi everyone,
I was called to a job that the homeowner wants the grout cleaned on this
stone. He installed the floor himself and has many different types of stone
through out it. We went to give him a sample and I mopped a 12ph alkaline
cleaner on it and scrubbed the grout lines and let it dwell for ten minutes.
Then I used my 1200psi portable with spinner tool. It made no difference
whatsoever. Usually on tile and grout we can use a strong acid and it cleans
the grout perfectly. However we all know that acid would destroy this floor.
Color seal isn't an option because the grout lines are all different sizes
and the stone has a tumbled edge, so i think it wouldn't come out very well.
Has anyone come across this before? I also attached a picture of the sealer
he used on it because I believe the sealer is keeping us from getting the
chemical into the grout deep enough to clean it? He also wants to go back
with a color enhancer to brighten the floor. I have not used a color
enhancer before since I usually clean regular ceramic tile. Is there
anything I should know in order to put it down? Other than just putting it
in a paint tray and applying it with a window cleaner?

Thanks for the help

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