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The discolored and dirt-stained grout within the tile flooring of our lobby seemed tremendous previous and gross, however after making an attempt practically a dozen cleaners and cleansing methods we practically gave up. Then we lastly discover THE SOLUTION to creating the grout look white and clear once more!
Now that we’re finished, you may see how the view simply acquired a heckova lot higher round right here. The crisp white grout traces play off the white trim and make the entire house really feel newer and cleaner.
The humorous factor is, it wasn’t truly cleansing that did the trick. So should you’ve acquired an identical concern with discolored or stain grout, right here’s our official intervention: cease scrubbing! Effectively, perhaps give scrubbing a good shot, however don’t be discouraged if it will get you nowhere. There’s one other means!
Cleansing Methods That DIDN’T Work
As you would possibly recall, for the previous six months that we’ve lived right here, it has seemed like this.
I gave practically each technique below the solar a shot to make that grout look clear. After repeatedly scrubbing the heck out of it, I knew that it was truly very (very, very) clear… it simply was so discolored and stained in sure areas, that no quantity of blood, sweat, tears, or elbow grease may make it look that means.
A few of my makes an attempt to wash grout included (however weren’t restricted to):
- varied baking soda paste mixtures
- varied white vinegar options
- copious magic erasers
- specialty grout cleansing flooring sprays/potions/scrubs
- bleach pens
- oxygenating cleaners like Oxiclean
- Mrs. Meyers powdered cleanser + a wire brush
- Barkeeper’s Good friend + a wire brush
- a borrowed steam mop
- scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush
- heaps and plenty of muttered cursing
The Resolution To Getting White Grout Once more
By this level I did what most individuals would do. I gave up and ignored it for one more few days (what’s just a few days after six months of no-dice outcomes?). After which I lastly confronted information. The grout both wanted to be scraped out and regrouted fully (which makes for a reasonably messy job, particularly in the primary hallway of our home which connects the whole upstairs to every room downstairs) or it wanted to be refinished.
Fortunately just a few of you tipped me off to a product you’ve used with success referred to as Polyblend Grout Renew. Let me simply skip to the punchline: it labored, and I want I had tried it earlier than spending six months scrubbing my thoughts out.
The price? A cool $12 from House Depot. (Replace: it’s nearer to $20 now, however there are extra reasonably priced grout pen alternate options accessible.) Can I get a what what? Be aware: this would possibly sound like an advert for the stuff, however Grout Renew doesn’t know us from Adam – I’m simply past grateful that it labored.
Select Your Grout Paint Shade
GroutRenew is available in a number of colours now – over 3 dozen, in truth, together with a number of shades of white and off-white. So you might be tempted to go for the brightest white to get the cleanest, freshest look (that’s “Artic White” pictured under). Nonetheless, similar to paint colours, the brightest, whitest model might not be greatest for you.
Make sure you take a while to take a look at your room, your tile, and your lighting to be sure to’re selecting one thing that blends nicely along with your house. You possibly can all the time take a look at out just a few colours too earlier than committing to 1. John and I truly thought-about two colours – Pure Grey and Oyster Grey, which each look fairly darkish in comparison with the brighter whites. We had seen a neighbor with darker grout in her slate flooring, so we thought it was value contemplating.
In the long run we selected Oyster Grey (proven under) which continues to be a mid-tone Ivory colour – undoubtedly not a shiny white. Nevertheless it seemed essentially the most pure and nonetheless appeared very shiny in distinction to the darkish slate tile, with out wanting artificiall white. Any brighter and we nervous it will appear like somebody in a Crest Whitstrips advert! , virtually too blinding.
Oh and the Grout Renew was low odor and low-VOC, so this pregnant woman may get down with it. I did put on a respirator, together with opening home windows, simply because I’m into added air flow and dangerous Bane impersonations.
GroutRenew Options
That is the one product we’ve used, however there are some others in the marketplace if this specific one just isn’t accessible. Lowe’s sells a comparable product by MAPEI that is available in a squeeze bottle. Amazon additionally has a well-reviewed Grout Pen product that is available in a white or beige possibility. Once more, we haven’t personally tried these, however they could be some alternate options to contemplate if the PolyBlend just isn’t accessible to you.
How To Apply Grout Paint
The draw back to this resolution is that it may be time intensive (and persistence testing) relying on the dimensions of your floor. For this flooring, it took practically eight hours to use. However since I had simply spent 25 hours making an attempt varied stain lifting strategies earlier than resorting to this, nicely, eight hours with a bottle of Grout Renew was a small worth to pay for VICTORY.
Step 1: Clear Your Tile & Grout
I do know I stated scrubbing wasn’t the answer, nevertheless it a part of the method. I’ll pause whilst you snigger since I had already finished that TEN MILLION TIMES. However like every floor you’ll be portray, you wish to be certain it’s clear of mud and particles. So a minimum of we’re not speaking a heavy-duty scrubbing, simply your common washing to take away floor grime ought to do.
Step 2: Decide Your Brush Or Software Instrument
The directions advised utilizing an previous toothbrush to use the GroutRenew it into the grout traces after which let it dry for twenty-four hours. I went with a skinny craft brush as an alternative as a result of I had far more management (learn: means much less mess on the tile floor). The skinny paint brush was additionally straightforward to dip straight into the bottle after I wanted to load up with paint.
Step 3: Plan Your Beginning Level & Exit Route
In case you’re portray a flooring, like we have been, you’ll wish to certain you don’t paint your self right into a nook (or a minimum of should you do, you may rigorously tiptoe throughout your tile with out stepping on the cracks). I began within the half-bathroom as a result of I figured I may work my means out of the room and shut the door behind me so it may dry.
It was the alternative of quick. Nevertheless it labored. Slowly I eked my means out from round the bathroom and proper out the door, which took about an hour and 45 minutes.
Step 4: Be Prepared For Errors
Even with a small craft brush there have been nonetheless occasions when it acquired on the floor of the tile, and there was a really brief window for wiping it off earlier than it set (after which needed to be scrubbed with a fingernail, which was an enormous ache) so I actually would do one or two cracks at a time after which shortly comply with as much as easy either side of the seam out with a small piece of bathroom paper (this might take away any from the floor of the tile in addition to make the perimeters of every seam good and straight wanting). A paper towel or clear fabric would work as nicely. That’s, if rest room paper isn’t fancy sufficient for yo?u.
Step 5: Be Affected person & Tempo Your self
Being pregnant, the toilet was all I had vitality for on Day 1. Day 2 concerned three extra hours of line portray and wiping, and I opted to do 50% of the lobby in a strategic means so we may all nonetheless stroll on the opposite half of it. Right here’s a shot to point out you the way hilarious John is. I stated: okay, get artistic with this image so my big respirator doesn’t look bizarre. I like his model of getting artistic – simply lop off the entire head space.
The second day was the toughest day by far, simply because I used to be nonetheless form of sore from contorting my pregnant physique round within the small half toilet the day earlier than, and the little knobby elements of every of my ankles have been dragging on the tile as I scooted round like a canine with fleas, nevertheless it was all value it. Value it after which some!
Day 3 was one other three hour course of, nevertheless it was essentially the most thrilling day as a result of I may see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. The tip of the longest-running home battle that I had ever waged was close to. I simply labored my means across the lobby doing the opposite half of these pathways that I had finished the day earlier than, and I ducked into that final closet whereas pausing often to fist pump and work on my clear grout acceptance speech (“I’d wish to thank the academy, and the grout gods who invented this low-cost bottle of miracles and unicorns”).
Step 6: Let It Dry
After every software course of, we gave that part a full 24 hour drying interval and made certain nothing acquired moist for 72 hours (since that was one other warning on the bottle). It’s an excellent deal lighter than the previous grout was, which nonetheless makes us say “whoa now” after we stroll by means of the hallway, however we predict it’s simply our eyes adjusting. Perhaps after 6 months our brains simply can’t recover from the truth that it lastly seems to be clear!
We additionally had about 1/4 of a bottle left all of this, which was nice in case we’d like some touch-ups down the road. I’ll undoubtedly replace you guys if something funky occurs, however thus far it has been nice. I imply, simply take a look at how far it’s come from the earlier than:
Replace: After practically two years of use, even with semi-frequent moppings, muddy footwear/paws, and a complete lot of foot visitors, our grout nonetheless seems to be equivalent to after I utilized these things (you may see an up to date image that we shared after six months of use right here). For the oldsters who can’t discover it in shops, right here’s an affiliate hyperlink to it on House Depot.com. There are additionally alternate options like grout pens on Amazon.
Initially Printed in 2014
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