De-hazing, Sealing, and Caulking Our Penny Tile Backsplash
You might have thought our grout post was the last word on installing our tile, but there were a few remaining steps after the grout cured. Several readers asked for a clear explanation of the de-hazing, sealing, and caulking process, so here’s a concise walkthrough of what we did and why.
After grouting, tile often develops a hazy film that dulls the surface. We saw this on our penny tile — the same issue we encountered with subway tile and marble floors in a previous bathroom. In many cases, a bit of elbow grease does the trick: we used a clean white rag to buff the tile surface, which removed a lot of the haze and restored shine. Cheesecloth is frequently recommended, but a plain rag worked well for us.
Buffing made a visible difference immediately. You can usually tell by comparing the cleaned area to the uncleaned portion: the cleaned side appears smooth and shiny, while the other side retains a cloudy finish. Sherry followed behind me and scraped off excess grout around the perimeter of each penny using her thumbnail to tidy each circle so the tiles read as full rounds instead of half-hazy moons. That method worked, but it was hard on her nails and far too slow to do across the entire backsplash.
In several spots the haze stubbornly remained, especially around the darker outer rings of the pennies. It wasn’t noticeable when the tiles were wet, but once dry those rings looked irregular and dusty. While fingernail scraping was effective in small areas, it wasn’t a practical solution for the whole wall. We called the tile shop we bought the materials from to confirm a safer chemical option and they recommended a grout haze remover suitable for our penny tile.
Initially I hesitated to use a haze remover because I prefer to avoid extra chemicals when possible, and because not all cleaners are safe for every tile type. The tile shop reassured me it was appropriate for our tile, so I picked up a bottle and applied it across the wall. The process is straightforward: apply the product with a sponge, allow it to dwell according to the label instructions, then rinse and dry. The difference was dramatic — much of the remaining haze lifted and the tiles regained a lot of their shine.
There were still a few faint spots where the haze was barely visible, but overall the improvement was huge. I also noticed the haze remover enhanced the tiles’ luster, creating a clearer contrast between the shiny penny tiles and the matte grout — a look we like for a balanced finish.
After de-hazing, the next essential step is sealing the grout. Sealer protects grout from staining and makes it easier to clean, which is particularly important for a kitchen backsplash that will face splashes and food stains. Because our penny tile itself is non-porous, the sealer’s purpose was focused on the grout. Sealing doesn’t visibly change the appearance — grout remains matte if that’s how it looked before — but it provides long-term protection against spills and grime. A key tip: only seal after the tile and grout are thoroughly clean; sealing over oily or dirty surfaces just locks in the grime.
Finally, we caulked every edge where the tile met another surface at an angle — between tile and countertop, tile and wall corners, tile and cabinetry, around the door frame, and so on. Caulking these seams helps prevent cracking and creates a clean, finished transition. We used a color-matched caulk from the tile shop so the seams blend seamlessly with the grout and tile.
The caulking step itself was a two-person job: Sherry and I each started from either side of the counter and worked toward the sink, then finished the higher seal up near the ceiling. It’s one of those tasks that’s quicker than it looks, but awkward to photograph while keeping a baby from waking up — so we didn’t take step-by-step shots. We did remember to photograph the finished areas and the caulk tube next to the completed seam for reference.
In summary: buffing removes most of the haze, grout haze remover handles stubborn spots and restores shine, sealing protects the grout from stains, and caulking seals the transition points to prevent cracks. These finishing steps take a bit of time, but they make a big difference in both the appearance and longevity of the backsplash. With that, our tile installation is truly complete — and we can move on to the next project.