Where to Dump Dirty Grout Water (Best Method)
Grout is generally a mixture of water, cement, and sand. It is best known for sealing joints such as those between tiles. Whether you are applying or removing it, here is the best place to dump dirty grout water:
Pour dirty grout waste water or wet grout out into the yard. Do not dump dirty grout water down the drain. Allow the grout water to air dry on the soil. Scoop up the hardened grout, bag it, or throw it away.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about where to dump dirty grout water, including how to dispose of dirty grout water the correct way. Let’s get started.
Where to dump dirty grout water
I don't care if it's mostly clear or not-- NO grout water goes down the drain. Your best bet is to throw it outside somewhere that's not landscaped. Wooded areas, gravel, or unimproved ground-- any of those will work.
If you break up your concrete sidewalk and dump it in your drain, the chunks may clog it but the water in the drain will not reactivate the concrete into a solid plug. Grout is no different. It can't reconstitute itself inside a drain after having been activated in a wall or floor and rinsed off. This is silly.
Do you pour fresh leftover grout down a drain or toilet? Of course not, it will harden under water. Worst, you will clog your drain and you may need a plumber to clear it out. You wouldn’t want that now, would you?
How to dispose of dirty grout water
Whether you are applying or removing it, grout is messy stuff. Wet grout sticks to tools and buckets. Dry grout crumbles into chunks and powder that get everywhere. To avoid having to discard grout-caked tools or scratching your tile with abrasive dust, dispose of the grout as soon as possible.
If you are working with grout during a big project, take the time to dispose of grout waste whenever you take a work break. Then, make one final disposal run when the entire job is completed.
1. Dispose wet grout from your tools immediately
Whether you are applying or removing it, grout is messy stuff. You should dispose of wet grout on your tools immediately. Do this by dipping them repeatedly in a plastic bucket filled with water.
Wipe off the grout with your fingers. Rinse wet grout covered rags in the same way. Never use running water in the sink. If you dump wet grout or dirty grout water down the drain, the grout will harden and clog the drain.
Grout remnants in a drain are just asking for trouble. If you dump grout water down the drain, the chunks may clog it but the water in the drain will not reactivate the grout into a solid plug.
2. Dump grout water in the yard
Pour grout waste water or wet grout out into the yard. Allow it to air dry on the soil. The grout water will harden. Scoop up the hardened grout, bag it, or throw it away. You can dispose of the bag in a disposal center.
3. Another method: use a bucket
Another method you can do is to let the grout water settle in a 5 gallon bucket then pour off the top, leaving the solids in the bucket. Most contractors do this when working in high rises.
4. Clean up after the grout dust
Lift the grout dust with a broom or HEPA-filter vacuum. Empty the filter or dustpan into a garbage bag, knot it, and throw it away. Mop residual waste grout up with clean water and a well-wrung sponge mop. Dispose of the waste water in the yard and wait for it to harden before throwing it away.
Bottom line
Now you know where to dump dirty grout water. Disposing of wet grout is not difficult, you just need a bucket, water, and several garbage bags. Never dump grout water down the drain, otherwise you will clog it.
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