This article was co-authored by Dario Ragnolo. Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.
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Grout can easily become discolored and dingy over time - something that is displeasing to many people. Rather than suffering through dealing with unattractive dark lines between your tiles, you can take action to change the color of your grout. Although neither is especially timely, you can choose to stain your grout or to give it a deep-cleaning.
Steps
Staining Grout
Choose a grout stain. Most often, people resort to dying their grout because it’s lost its previous luster and now appears brown and dingy. Rather than going back to the original hue, find a new color to cover up the wear and tear. Although it may sound strange, grout stains that are close in color to dirt are typically the most successful, because you won’t have to worry about the grout becoming discolored again over time.[1]- Light hued grouts blend in and hide the shape of your tiles, while dark grout makes your tiles stand out and is very bold.
- When possible, look for grout stains that are also a sealant, so that you can skip the final step of sealing the grout.
Clean the tile and grout.[2] Get out your cleaning supplies and grab a little elbow grease, because before you can begin staining your grout you need to give it a thorough cleaning. Use a bleach-water scrub to kill any mold or mildew that might cause problems. Although it might be uncomfortable, use a damp sponge/scrubbing brush to clean your grout and tile, even if it is on the floor. The grout stain cannot be applied to damp grout, so wait 30 minutes or longer after cleaning to begin the application process.
Apply the grout stain.[3] Some grout staining kits come with a small applicator brush, but if yours didn’t, simply use a very small stiff-bristled brush for application.[4] Dip the brush in the grout stain, and carefully paint it onto only the grout. The stain is permanent and cannot be removed from your tile after it dries, so be careful to paint in the lines and wipe off any stain from the tile.
Add additional coats. Depending on the look you’re going for, you may need to add more than one coat of grout stain. If so, wait at least 24 hours for the first layer to dry, and then carefully paint on the second coat of stain. Again, be careful not to accidentally get any stain on the tiles as it is very difficult to remove.
Seal the grout. Some grouts are a combination of grout/sealant, but typically you’ll have to apply a special oil-based sealant to finish up your grout. This is especially important for areas that come into frequent contact with water (such as in a bathroom or near a kitchen sink). Follow the directions that accompany your sealant of choice as you paint over the grout.[5]Advertisement
Cleaning Your Grout
Choose a scrubbing solution. Grout, especially between floor tiles, gets especially dingy and dirty over time.[6] Depending on the severity of your grout discoloration, you will need to use a different cleaning solution. For mild discoloration, use a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste.[7] For more severe discoloration, use an oxygen bleach to whiten your grout.
Apply your cleaner. Working in small sections of tile/grout (try 1sq. ft. at a time), apply your cleaner to the grout. Leave it to set for 3-5 minutes, as this will make the scrubbing much easier.
Start scrubbing the grout.[10] Use a brand new toothbrush (electric is preferable) to scrub away the dirt and discoloration on the grout. This can be relatively time consuming, so don’t give up if at first you don’t succeed. Use fresh water and a rag to wipe off the cleaning residue, and apply another coat of your cleaner if necessary.
Continue cleaning your grout. Work your way outwards from your starting point, using the aforementioned process. Add cleaner to small sections, let it set, and scrub away until bright, clean, and shiny grout can be seen underneath.[11]
Finish up. When you’re happy with your newly cleaned (and colored!) grout, you can do a final wipe down to remove any leftover cleaner. It is good to apply a sealant to your grout once a year, so when applicable apply an oil-based sealant to protect your grout.[12]Advertisement
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat's the easiest way to clean bathroom tile grout?
Dario RagnoloDario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.
House Cleaning ProfessionalCleaning products, like Goo Gone, are generally pretty good for this. Just spritz the tile, wait about 1 minute, and then scrub the tiles with a brush. Aluminum bristles are probably the best for grout. - QuestionWhat's the best homemade tile cleaner for grout?Dario RagnoloDario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.
House Cleaning ProfessionalI'm fond of combining 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water. - QuestionCan I clean grout with white vinegar?Dario RagnoloDario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.
House Cleaning ProfessionalI wouldn't recommend using white vinegar on grout. Vinegar is acidic, and that's going to damage the shine of your flooring.
Tips
- If your grout hasn't been properly sealed, you may have an inspector come check to see if the discoloration/flaking isn't a sign of more serious damage.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://www.johnbridge.com/articles/re-coloring-grout/
- ↑ https://brendid.com/ultimate-guide-to-cleaning-grout-and-tile/
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-stain-grout/
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/staining-grout-lines-in-tile-floors/
- ↑ https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-stain-grout-a-different-color#b
- ↑ Dario Ragnolo. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-grout/
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-grout-138432
- ↑ Dario Ragnolo. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-grout/
- ↑ Dario Ragnolo. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-seal-grout/
About this article
The most popular way to change the color of your grout is to stain it. But before you do so, scrub it with a bleach-water mixture to kill any mold or mildew that could be growing on it. Then, consider using a stain that has a color similar to dirt so it will not become visibly stained over time. Apply that stain very carefully with a small brush, and if it needs a second coat, wait at least 24 hours before applying it so the stain has time to dry. To learn how to change your grout’s color by deeply cleaning it, read more!
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