Grout must be applied consistently so all the joints are filled to the same height and all areas outside the joints are kept clean of grout. To accomplish this, you will need to keep moving at a consistent pace.

After you have pressed grout into the joints with a grout float and squeegeed away most of the excess (see “Tiling: Applying Grout for Floor Tiles”), fill a large bucket or two with clean water and be prepared to change the water when it starts to get murky.

1) Towel method. On a small floor, you may want to skip the towel method, but it does remove a good deal of excess grout quickly. Wet the towel and squeeze out about half its water. Spread the towel over the surface and then pull it toward you so that it slides across the surface 4 or 5 feet. Pick up the towel, turn it over, and repeat. Rinse the towel, and repeat again.

2) Sponge method. Using a sponge that is fairly wet but not soaking, gently wipe the surface of the tiles so that the sponge cleans off the tiles but does not disturb the grout in the joints. If grout joints develop puddles, the sponge is too wet. Repeat this process one or two more times, to remove most of the grout from the surface.

3) Tool the joints. Squeeze out most of the water from the sponge. Ball it up a bit, and use it to gently scrape the joints themselves. Aim for joints that are about 1/16 inch below the tile surface. Work to make all the joints smooth and similar-looking. If you encounter a depression or hole, use your finger to press grout in and then smooth the grout.

Some installers prefer to tool joints with, well, a tool. You may find that a masonry jointing tool helps make consistent joints. Or you can try the end of a dowel, or a toothbrush handle, or any tool that is slightly convex.

4) Buff the surface. Wait a day or so for the grout to completely dry. Using a dry sponge or a clean rag, firmly rub the tiles until they shine. This will also remove any grout film.