Product Overview
Actichem Grout Restore 20 is a phosphoric acid-based cleaner for hard surfaces. It is a detergent-boosted solution containing 20% active phosphoric acid for the practical and economical removal of cement and grout residues, mineral scale build-ups, and efflorescence. Its powerful blend of acid and penetrating agents provides tough action on general grime and is excellent for grout restoration.
Benefits
- Versatile concentrate — by simply altering dilution ratios, Grout Restore 20 becomes a tough scale, scum and grime remover, or an effective maintenance cleaner or neutraliser following strongly alkaline cleaning.
- Restoration power — Grout Restore 20 has the muscle to tackle grout smear, cement residues, rust, efflorescence and years of scale and soap scum build-up. Speciality penetrating agents ensure quick and effective action, saving you time and effort.
- Grout specialist — helps overcome stubborn grout stains and embedded soils. Always use Grout Restore 20 to prepare the grout before applying a grout sealer.
Application Areas and Surface Suitability
Grout Restore 20 is ideally suited for use on masonry surfaces, flooring and walls. Safe for use on all man-made tiles. Use with care on sandstone, quarry tiles, terracotta, grout and slate.
Not recommended for use on acid-sensitive surfaces, including engineered stone, terrazzo, marble, limestone, granite and other natural stone. Avoid contact with all ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Grout Restore 20 can be used almost anywhere tiles or concrete are dirty, and is especially suited to builders’ cleans, restoration applications, washrooms, showers and pools.
How to Use
- Read and understand the SDS before use.
- Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location for substrate sensitivity to chemicals.
- Grout Restore 20 is an acid. Chemical goggles or safety glasses with side shields, and chemical protective gloves, must be worn — see Safety below.
Dilutions
- Mineral scale build-up, efflorescence, cement residues and heavy-duty applications — use undiluted
- Grout residues and light-duty applications — 1:4
Application — heavy duty
- Apply only to a limited area at a time. Do not allow the solution to dry. Apply with a mop and bucket, an auto-scrubber, or a pressure washer.
- Scrub thoroughly with an applicable nylon scouring/floor pad or brush.
- Allow 10 to 30 minutes reaction time, then re-agitate.
- Extract or pick up the resultant slurry with extraction equipment.
- Neutralise remaining residues by rinsing thoroughly with a 1:300 solution (30 ml per 10 litres) of Proneutro.
Application — light duty
- Apply with a clean mop and bucket, a rotary scrubber or an auto-scrubber. Apply only to a limited area at a time. Do not allow the solution to dry.
- Scrub thoroughly with the applicable nylon scouring/floor pad or brush.
- Allow 10 to 30 minutes reaction time and re-agitate.
- Rinse well with clean water.
Safety
Please read this section even if you have used this product before. Earlier versions of this page contradicted themselves — the instructions called Grout Restore 20 a corrosive acid while the specifications recorded the safety profile as non-hazardous. Neither statement matched the Safety Data Sheet. We have corrected both.
Grout Restore 20 is classified as a HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL under the Model WHS Regulations. It is not classified as dangerous goods for transport. It is a Poisons Schedule 5 substance.
- Signal word: WARNING
- H315 — causes skin irritation
- H319 — causes serious eye irritation
- GHS: Skin Corrosion/Irritation Category 2; Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation Category 2A
- pH as supplied: less than 1
- Active: phosphoric acid, 20% w/w, with a proprietary surfactant at less than 10%
To be precise about the classification. The SDS classifies Grout Restore 20 as an irritant (Category 2), not as a corrosive. That is a genuine difference from its stronger sibling Grout Restore 60, which is 60% phosphoric acid, carries the signal word DANGER and H314 (severe skin burns and eye damage), and is classified dangerous goods. Do not assume the two products need the same handling — Grout Restore 60 needs considerably more.
A note on the published pH. The Safety Data Sheet (version 3.3, 14 July 2025) states pH less than 1. Our page previously carried 1 to 1.5. We have published the SDS value.
Personal protective equipment
The SDS specifies chemical protective gloves — neoprene or butyl are recommended — and safety glasses with side shields or chemical goggles, plus barrier cream and access to an eye wash station. Undiluted use is the heavy-duty method for this product, so the concentrate is the working solution: use full protection, not reduced protection.
First aid
Eyes. Immediately hold the eyelids apart and flush the eye continuously with running water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention.
Skin. Remove contaminated clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Metals, Mixing and Reactivity
Metals. The SDS states that acids may react with metals to produce hydrogen gas, which is flammable and can form an explosive mixture with air, and specifically directs that aluminium and galvanised containers must be avoided. Do not decant into or store in aluminium, galvanised or unlined metal containers. Do not leave solution standing on galvanised steel, and ventilate confined areas. Heating a sealed container may cause it to rupture and release corrosive fumes including phosphorus oxides.
Never mix with chlorine. Mixing any acid with hypochlorite liberates chlorine gas, which causes severe respiratory injury and can be fatal in a confined space such as a shower recess, plant room or pool enclosure. Never mix, and never allow contact in a bucket, drain, extraction tank or on the floor, with:
- Actichem Chlorosan
- Actichem Mould Exterminator
- Actichem Hypo Enforcer working solutions
- Pool chlorine, any hypochlorite sanitiser, and any oxidiser or bleach-based product
This matters more than usual with Grout Restore 20, because pool surrounds are one of its listed applications and pool chlorine is on site by definition. Complete one step, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and use separate clearly labelled equipment before starting the other.
Also avoid storage with strong alkalis, oxidising agents and reducing agents.
Specifications
| Product code | AP161.05 |
| Pack size | 5 litres |
| Fragrance | None |
| pH as supplied | Less than 1 |
| Active | Phosphoric acid, 20% w/w |
| Dilution — heavy duty | Undiluted |
| Dilution — light duty | 1:4 |
| Dwell time | 10 to 30 minutes |
| WHS classification | Hazardous chemical |
| Signal word | WARNING |
| Hazard statements | H315, H319 |
| Dangerous goods | Non-dangerous goods — not regulated for transport |
| HAZCHEM code | Not applicable |
| Poisons schedule | Schedule 5 |
| Incompatible with | Aluminium and galvanised containers; strong alkalis; oxidising and reducing agents; hypochlorite and other chlorine products |
| SDS referenced | Version 3.3, issued 14 July 2025 |
Choosing Between the Acid Restorers
- Actichem Grout Restore 20 15 Ltr — the same product in the bulk pack
- Actichem Tile & Grout Restore — urea hydrochloride based, used at 1:10 to 1:100. Lower fuming, and the usual first choice where the surface tolerates acid.
- Actichem Grout Restore 60 — 60% phosphoric acid. DANGER, H314, dangerous goods, HAZCHEM 2R. Materially more hazardous, not simply stronger.
- Actichem Tile & Grout Power — alkaline. The correct choice on acid-sensitive stone and for greasy or organic soiling.
- Actichem Proneutro — the neutralising rinse specified in the heavy-duty method above.
Safety Data Sheet
Actichem Grout Restore 20 Safety Data Sheet — version 3.3, issued 14 July 2025
SKU: AP161.05
Not sure which restorer suits the floor in front of you? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before you order. Acid-sensitive stone and engineered stone are not mistakes you can rinse off.
