Product Overview

Tile & Grout Restore is a proprietary restoration cleaner for neglected, black grout lines and tiles. Tile & Grout Restore’s low pH formula contains no free hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, phosphoric or sulphamic acids, but is more powerful and effective, yet more pleasant to use. Tile & Grout Restore makes quick work of mineral scale, cement and grout smear, efflorescence, soap scum and embedded stains.

It provides tough action on general grime and is excellent for grout restoration ahead of applying a sealant. Tile & Grout Restore is an advanced, low pH technology grout and stone restoration compound that gives outstanding results while remaining lower in toxicity than the traditional mineral acids it replaces.

This 15 litre pack is the production size for contractors running regular restoration and builders’ clean work. This product is a great replacement for PowerClean Replenish Ultra.

Benefits

Restoration power — Tile & Grout Restore has the muscle to tackle years of efflorescence, mineral scale and alkaline detergent build-up. Speciality penetrating agents ensure quick and effective action, saving you time and effort.
Grout specialist — overcomes stubborn grout stains, embedded soils and cement or grout smear. Always use Tile & Grout Restore to prepare grout ahead of applying grout sealer.
A total solution — unparalleled cleaning punch, and unlikely to mark non-ferrous metals such as aluminium when used as recommended. Always pre-test.

Application Areas and Surface Suitability

Tile & Grout Restore is safe on all man-made tiles. Use with care on sandstone, quarry tiles, terracotta and slate. It can be used on granites and bluestones that have a flamed or sawn finish, but should not be used on acid-sensitive surfaces or polished surfaces, including marble, limestone, polished granite and other natural stone. Although unlikely to mark non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, always pre-test before use.

Ideal for cleaning very dirty tiles. Especially good in restoration applications and washrooms, showers, pool surrounds, grout smear removal, and builders’ cleans.

How to Use

Read and understand the SDS before use.
Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location for substrate sensitivity to chemicals.
Tile & Grout Restore is an acid. Chemical goggles and the correct gloves must be worn — see Safety below.

Dilutions

Mineral scale build-up, efflorescence, cement residues and heavy duty applications — 1:10 to 1:30 (100 to 30 ml per litre)
Grout residues and light duty applications — 1:80 to 1:100 (10 to 12 ml per litre)

Application — heavy duty

Apply with a clean mop and bucket, rotary scrubber or auto-scrubber. Apply only to a limited area at a time. Do not allow the solution to dry.
Scrub thoroughly with an applicable nylon scouring/floor pad or brush.
Allow 10 to 30 minutes dwell time and 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 Actichem Tile & Grout Cleaner LF or Proneutro.

Application — light duty

Apply with a clean mop and bucket, auto-scrubber or pressure washer. 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 recorded the safety profile as non-hazardous. That was wrong, and we have corrected it against the current Safety Data Sheet.

Tile & Grout Restore 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
H335 — may cause respiratory irritation
GHS: Skin Corrosion/Irritation Category 2; Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation Category 2; STOT Single Exposure (Respiratory) Category 3
pH as supplied: less than 1

A note on the published pH. The Safety Data Sheet (version 1.2, 14 July 2025) states pH less than 1. Actichem’s product page states 1 to 1.5, and our own page previously carried that figure. We have published the SDS value because it is the controlled document, and because it is the conservative one. Either way, treat this as a strong acid.

What is actually in it

Per the SDS: urea hydrochloride, greater than 60%; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 10 to less than 30%; phosphonate HEDP, less than 10%; two proprietary surfactants, each less than 10%; and a proprietary corrosion inhibitor, less than 1%.

Urea hydrochloride is hydrochloric acid complexed with urea. The complex greatly reduces fuming and makes the product far more pleasant to handle than straight hydrochloric acid, which is what Actichem’s “contains no hydrochloric acid” positioning refers to. It is still a strong acid. The chemistry is gentler on the operator, not gentler on the chemistry set.

Personal protective equipment

The SDS specifies chemical goggles, elbow-length gloves, overalls, a PVC apron and barrier cream. Note the glove materials the SDS names: butyl, PE, EVAL and PE/Saranex 23. Nitrile is not among them. If your standard glove is a thin nitrile disposable, it is not the specified protection for this product — the glycol ether content is the reason to take that seriously.

First aid

Eyes. Immediately hold the eyelids apart and flush the eye continuously with running water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses only in a clean environment. Seek medical attention.

Skin. Remove contaminated clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Metals, Mixing and Reactivity

These are the two hazards most likely to catch out an experienced operator, because neither is obvious from the product’s mild handling characteristics.

Metals. The SDS lists mild steel and galvanised steel or zinc as incompatible: the acid reacts with them to produce hydrogen gas, which forms a flammable and explosive mixture with air. This matters in practice, because scaffolding, plant room floors, drainage grates, shower frames and builders’ clean sites are full of galvanised steel. Do not leave the solution standing on galvanised surfaces, do not store or decant it in mild steel, galvanised or unlined metal containers, and ventilate confined areas.

Never mix with chlorine. The SDS names oxidising agents including chlorine bleach and pool chlorine, nitrates and oxidising acids as reactive with this product. Mixing an acid with hypochlorite also liberates chlorine gas. 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

If a chlorine step and an acid step are both required on the same job, complete one, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and use separate clearly labelled equipment before starting the other.

Specifications

Product code	AP160.15
Pack size	15 litres
Fragrance	None
pH as supplied	Less than 1 (SDS). Actichem’s product page states 1 to 1.5.
Dilution — heavy duty	1:10 to 1:30
Dilution — light duty	1:80 to 1:100
Dwell time	10 to 30 minutes
Principal acid	Urea hydrochloride, greater than 60%
Solvent	Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 10 to less than 30%
WHS classification	Hazardous chemical
Signal word	WARNING
Hazard statements	H315, H319, H335
Dangerous goods	Non-dangerous goods — not regulated for transport
HAZCHEM code	Not applicable
Poisons schedule	Schedule 5
Incompatible with	Mild steel, galvanised steel and zinc; strong bases; oxidising agents including chlorine bleach and pool chlorine
SDS referenced	Version 1.2, issued 14 July 2025

Related Products

Actichem Tile & Grout Restore 5 Ltr — the same product in the smaller pack
Actichem Tile & Grout Cleaner LF — used at 1:300 as the neutralising rinse after heavy-duty restoration
Actichem Proneutro — alternative neutralising rinse
Actichem Tile & Grout Power — alkaline tile and grout cleaner, for soils that acid will not shift
Actichem Grout Restore 60 — 60% phosphoric acid restorer. Note that it is classified dangerous goods, DANGER and H314, so it is a step up in hazard, not just in strength.

Safety Data Sheet

Actichem Tile & Grout Restore Safety Data Sheet — version 1.2, issued 14 July 2025

SKU: AP160.15

Not sure whether Tile & Grout Restore, Grout Restore 20, Grout Restore 60 or an alkaline cleaner is the right call for the floor in front of you? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before you order. Acid-sensitive stone is not a mistake you can rinse off.