Sika SikaCeram-951 Tile Cleaner
A concentrated reddish-pink acidic cleaner (pH about 2) that dissolves cement grout haze, mineral scale and stubborn stains from ceramic, porcelain and vitrified tiles without dulling their finish.
What is it?
An acidic-medium liquid tile cleaner from Sika (pH approximately 2, density 1.0 kg/L) that chemically dissolves cementitious grout haze, laitance and mineral deposits left after tiling.
Where is it used?
Freshly grouted ceramic, glazed, porcelain, vitrified and glass-mosaic tile work, plus sanitaryware and routine cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens and general tiled areas.
Why use it?
It removes the cement film and stains that ordinary detergents cannot lift, restoring the true colour and gloss of tiles while being gentle enough not to attack the glaze.
How is it applied?
Dilute 1:1 with water for regular stains or use neat for tough deposits, wet the surface, let it act, then scrub and rinse thoroughly with water after about 5 minutes.
About Sika SikaCeram-951 Tile Cleaner
After any tiling job, a thin veil of cement paste, grout residue and mineral bloom settles across the tile face. It looks like a dull grey or white film that no amount of ordinary mopping will shift, because the deposit is cementitious and effectively insoluble in water. SikaCeram-951 Tile Cleaner is Sika India’s answer to exactly this problem: a concentrated acidic-medium liquid, reddish-pink in colour, that reacts with the calcium compounds in the haze and lifts them off so the finished surface reads the way the specifier intended. On site in Delhi NCR, this is the difference between a handover that looks new and one that looks tired before the client has even moved in.
Beyond the post-grouting clean-down, the same chemistry handles day-to-day grime, hard-water scale and stubborn marks across ceramic, porcelain, vitrified and glass-mosaic tiles, and it doubles up for descaling buckets, sanitaryware and similar surfaces. Because it is supplied concentrated and dilutes 1:1 with water for routine work, one litre covers a lot of ground, and contractors can dial the strength up to neat for the worst spots. It is a maintenance-grade cleaner, not a coating or a sealer, so it belongs in the finishing and handover phase of a project rather than in the structure itself.
The technical insight
The cleaner works by acid-base reaction. Grout haze, laitance and efflorescence are largely calcium carbonate and other alkaline cement hydration products; at a pH of roughly 2 the acidic medium in SikaCeram-951 protonates and breaks down these carbonates, converting the insoluble bloom into soluble salts and carbon dioxide that rinse away with water. That is why a five-minute dwell followed by a thorough water rinse is central to the method: the acid needs contact time to convert the deposit, and the rinse then carries the reacted salts off the surface before they can redeposit or continue etching. The glaze on ceramic and porcelain tiles is a fired, vitreous, acid-resistant layer, so the same reaction that eats the cement film leaves the tile body untouched. The catch is that many natural stones (marble, limestone, travertine) are themselves calcium carbonate, so an acid that dissolves lime scale will just as readily etch and dull those stones. This is the single most important reason to confirm the substrate and always test an inconspicuous area first.
Where it is used
- Removing cement grout haze and laitance from newly laid ceramic, glazed and porcelain tiles
- Cleaning vitrified and glass-mosaic tile surfaces after grouting
- Lifting hard-water scale, mineral bloom and efflorescence from tiled floors and walls
- Routine cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens, garages and general tiling areas
- Removing stubborn stains and grime from sanitaryware
- Descaling buckets, tools and similar surfaces where lime scale has built up
- Cleaning tile joints and grout lines during and after grouting
- Refreshing older tiled surfaces before resealing or handover
Key advantages
- Dissolves cementitious grout haze that ordinary detergents cannot remove
- Gentle on glazed tiles – does not attack the colour or surface shine
- Supplied concentrated and dilutes 1:1 with water, so a single litre goes a long way
- Versatile across ceramic, porcelain, vitrified, glass-mosaic and terrazzo surfaces
- Fast-acting, with an effective dwell of only a few minutes before rinsing
- Reddish-pink colour makes it easy to see where the product has been applied
- Handles both light routine cleaning and heavy post-construction residue
- Factory-produced by Sika with consistent, batch-controlled quality
Limitations & considerations
- Acidic (pH around 2), so it will etch and dull marble, limestone, travertine and other acid-sensitive natural stones
- Not a sealer or coating – it cleans but offers no ongoing surface protection
- Requires thorough water rinsing after about 5 minutes or acidic residue can remain
- Demands PPE and ventilation; contact with skin, eyes and metal fixtures must be managed
- An inconspicuous test area is essential before full application on any sensitive or unfamiliar surface
- Effectiveness on very old, deeply ingrained cement film may need repeat neat application
Selection & best practice
Always identify the substrate before you start – if the tile is glazed ceramic, porcelain or vitrified, the acidic cleaner is safe; if it is marble, limestone, travertine or any acid-sensitive stone, do not use it. Test a small hidden area and wait to confirm no discolouration. Pre-wet grout joints so the acid does not draw into and weaken fresh grout. For routine stains dilute 1:1 with water, soak a sponge or cloth and scrub; for stubborn haze apply neat to the spot. Do not let the product dry on the tile – keep it wet during the roughly 5-minute dwell, then scrub and rinse the whole area thoroughly with clean water to remove all reacted salts and acidic residue. Work in ventilated conditions with gloves and eye protection, keep the product off metal trims and fittings, and store sealed between +5 C and +35 C. Read the current Safety Data Sheet before handling.
Specifications
| Chemical base | Acidic medium |
| Colour | Reddish pink |
| Density | 1.0 plus or minus 0.04 kg/L at +27 C |
| pH value | Approximately 2 |
| Dilution (regular stains) | 1:1 with water |
| Dilution (tough stains) | Use undiluted |
| Contact / rinse time | Rinse with water after about 5 minutes |
| Packaging | 1 litre containers (12 per case) |
| Shelf life / storage | 12 months, sealed, dry, +5 C to +35 C |
Industry use cases
Residential fit-out
Post-grouting clean-down of bathroom and kitchen wall and floor tiles so the finish is handed over free of cement haze and streaks.
Commercial and retail
Removing construction residue and mineral bloom from large vitrified tile floors in showrooms, offices and shopfronts before opening.
Hospitality
Refreshing glazed and mosaic tile work in hotel washrooms, spas and pool surrounds during routine deep-cleaning cycles.
Facility maintenance
Ongoing descaling of hard-water marks and grime on sanitaryware and tiled service areas in institutions and plants.
Contractor handover
A final restorative clean across mixed ceramic and porcelain surfaces to lift stubborn stains before project sign-off.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use SikaCeram-951 on marble or natural stone?
How do I dilute it?
How long should I leave it on before rinsing?
Will it remove cement grout haze after tiling?
Will it damage the shine or colour of my tiles?
What pack size does it come in and how should it be stored?
How we position Sika SikaCeram-951 Tile Cleaner
SikaCeram-951 is the finishing-phase cleaner within Sika’s tile-fixing family, so it pairs naturally with the products used earlier in the same job. Tiles set with SikaCeram-50 Tilofix adhesive and pointed with a Sika tile grout are exactly the surfaces this cleaner is meant to de-haze afterwards; specifiers often buy all three together as a single tiling package. For acid-sensitive natural stone where SikaCeram-951 is unsuitable, the correct route is a neutral or stone-safe cleaner rather than this acidic product – we can advise on the right alternative from our wider portfolio. Across our other brands, where the requirement is a genuine construction-grade acidic etching and cleaning agent for concrete or masonry (removing mortar droppings and laitance) rather than tile de-hazing, a dedicated Fosroc surface cleaner from the Reebaklens range is the more appropriate specification, and our technical team can match the exact product to the substrate. Talk to Space Arc Engineering in Delhi NCR for the right cleaner-adhesive-grout combination for your tiling scope.
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