Foolishly, I didn't put a plastic sheet down when I tiled the bathroom, and I now have very stubborn patches of grout on the bath. I've managed to remove some of it by carefully scraping it, but is there anything else I can try that will make my life easier?
Hot water on the bath may help in expanding and popping the hard grout off. But don't crack the bath with boiling water directly on to a cold bath. Warm the bath up first, then slowly increase the temperature of the water you pour on until it helps pop the grout off easily.
What's the bath made of?
If it's plastic, then acids such as kettle descaler will work on the cement, although some of the other things in grout such as polymers and waterproofers may limit the ability of acids to attack the cement. I've removed cement which was firmly attached to a dinner plate (don't ask;-) with sulphamic acid (furnox DS-3 descaller). Some of the small kettle descaller sachets seem to have some sand in them -- be careful not to scratch the surface with that. Brick acid (Hydrochrolic Acid) is a more powerful acid sold for the purpose, but I don't know what it might do to the bath and waste fittings.
If it's an enamelled bath, don't use acids in it as they will destroy the polished enamel finish. I don't have any suggestions what to use an as alternative though.
Brick acid, although it is quite easy to cause damage with it. You need to be very careful and give a good test on a bit of bath that you can't see. Loads of health warnings to read, too. Wear thick gloves and rinse very thoroughly.
Christian.
I always double check the sandwiches when Andrew's made them ;)
NT
Formic acid kettle / toilet descaler on a cloth (and rubber gloves) until the grout releases with a plastic scraper. Then rinse generously with plain water.
Don't leave it siitting unattended on chrome fittings, but it's OK for shifting splashes.
limescale remover, or at a pinch, brick acid.
I've found grout and adhesive more susceptible to hot water and detergent. Just work it over the lumps with a paintbrush until soaked. There's nothing in ordinary grout to make it stick, which is why a film of it brushes off the tiles easily. Lumps just take a bit longer.
Bal grout is tenacious stuff...and some epoxy grouts won't repsond to acids either.
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