Refreshing And Restoring Old, Stained White Grout
Posted on: 21 May 2015
Lovely, white grout is the perfect addition to any bathroom or kitchen -- making it automatically look cleaner and more modern. But white grout can also be a pain to keep clean, especially if it isn't sealed properly. Whether you're trying to restore an old bathroom or reclaim a messy one, the first thing you're going to need to do is fix the grout.
Getting Out the Dirt
Many people swear by a mixture of baking soda and water to really get floor grout clean. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive, so it will get out any dirt that has worked its way into your grout. The reason grout stains so easily, after all, is because it's porous.
For white grout, bleach can also be used -- make sure to dilute it so that it's not too harsh, and wear gloves so that your hands aren't adversely affected. With white grout, you have the benefit of not having to worry about keeping the color from fading.
Painting Over the Stains
White grout paint is sold that will saturate the grout and cover any stains. This grout paint can either be brushed on or applied in the form of a marker-like applicator. Either way, it's a simple process; you don't need to apply any painter's tape or masking, because it will peel off the tile before it dries.
There are many brands of paint available, so test it out in a small corner of your grout before you commit, to make sure that it's exactly the same shade of white as your existing grout. The grout should always be thoroughly cleaned and dried before being painted, or the paint will not properly adhere.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Once you've gotten your grout the way you want it, you need to make sure it stays that way. Cleaning dirty grout is by far more difficult than just making sure that it doesn't get dirty again. Invest in a sealer that will go over your grout and prevent staining. The sealer is not permanent -- it should be reapplied on a semi-annual basis, or sooner depending on how much traffic the area gets.
Sometimes it's just not worth restoring. There are ways that you can replace your grout entirely, though the process is a bit labor intensive. Contact a tile and grout cleaning service for professional help and advice, to get your tile looking good as new. If you have other questions or concerns, contact a company such as Power-Kleen for help.
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