Making Old Discolored Grout Look Like New
Picture me giving one of these (*strikes a talk-to-the-hand pose*) to the dirty grout in our foyer and half bathroom. We FINALLY got it looking clean and new again!
Now that we’re done, the view just got a heckova lot better around here.
We gave nearly every method under the sun a shot to make that grout look clean. After repeatedly scrubbing the heck out of it, I knew that it was very (very, very) clean… it just was so discolored and stained in certain areas, that no amount of blood, sweat, or tears could make it look that way. It was making Old Discolored Grout Look Like New.
Some of my attempts to clean grout included (but weren’t limited to):
various baking soda concoctions
different vinegar solutions
copious magic erasers
specialty grout cleaning floor sprays/potions/scrubs
Bleach pens…
oxygenating cleaners
Mrs. Meyers powdered cleanser + a wire brush
Barkeeper’s Friend + a wire brush
a borrowed steam mop
lots and lots of muttered cursing
So I did what most people would do, and I gave up and ignored it for another few days (what’s a few days after six months of no-dice results?). And then I finally faced facts. The grout either needed to be scraped out and regrouted entirely (which makes for a pretty messy job, especially in the main hallway of our house which connects the entire upstairs to each room downstairs) or it needed to be refinished. Check out this website for the best cleaning services.
Thankfully I did enough research and found the products, as a vinyl decking membrane noted, that thoroughly cleaned the grout and recolors are permanently. Let me skip to the punchline: this process worked, and I wish I had tried it before spending six months scrubbing my mind out.
The cost? It’s not cheap, and it is very labor-intensive. You can call Stanley Steemer and other grout renewal companies and pay them approximately $1.25 per square foot of tile space, or you can call one of those franchised operations and pa them even more. Finally, you can call Ted at Plano Texas Handyman 214-507-3415 for a workable and affordable solution. Can I get what? Note: this might sound like an ad for the stuff, but Grout Refinishing doesn’t know us from Adam – I’m just beyond grateful that I have a process that works. Our job is making Old Discolored Grout Look Like New.
It takes anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to apply and finish
There were several colors to pick from, 40 to be exact, and 12 right off the shelf. With https://ellenbrookfloorrepairs.com.au, they can actually bring home a darker option too, but it was so close to the stone color – and some of the dark stains in the grout – that we worried it would be a lot of work for grout that still looked kind of muddled and dingy.
Oh, and the Grout Refinishing was low odor and low-VOC, so even a pregnant lady could get down with it.
Anyway, the first step was to clean the floors thoroughly. I use a acid based cleaner that lifts all the dirt, grime, oils and cleaning solutions permanently embedded in the grout pores. I then use a steam mop to lift the cleaning solution and leave the grout joints sparkling clean. The we apply a waterborne epoxy stain and sealer for renewing or changing the color of cement grout joints. Formulated with fade-resistant pigments, this product seals the grout against stains while it colors. Available in all 40 colors to complement any tile or stone installation. Making Old Discolored Grout Look Like New.
Finally, it should be noted that the process requires 24 hour drying period and make sure nothing got wet for 72 hours and it seems to be stuck like glue.
This process has really good five-star ratings everywhere we read about it and nothing on the market compares, no matter where you go! Making Old Discolored Grout Look Like New.