How can you spruce up the look of your kitchen or bath without spending a fortune?
Freshen up your countertops!
Here’s how to change the color of your tile grout.
People have spent thousands of dollars installing tile floors and their popularity has lasted for centuries. Most, however, have invested little or nothing to insure the proper protection and maintenance of their tiled surfaces. Until now, the only solution for dirty, ugly, or discolored grout was to remove and replace it, an expensive and time consuming process. Some companies carry color seal products can stain most grout to give it all an even color, or completely change the color of the grout. Typically this can be done for a fraction of the cost of replacing! To go from a very dark to a very light grout color or vice versa can prove difficult (but not impossible), but to change colors within similar color ranges is no problem.
First, let me share a few words of caution. Color seal should only be used where sealed ceramic tile has been installed. Tiles that have not been sealed, such as satillo, absorb the color seal as well as the grout does. Also, color seal only works on sanded grout; non-sanded grout doesn’t have enough grit to hold color seal. This color seal is not recommended for use in showers; there is too much moisture. A leak in the wall behind the tiles could actually push the seal off. Clear seals are best for shower areas and non-sanded grout. The difference between clear seal and grout color seal is that even though clear seal bonds to grout particles, it also leaves open pours. Once dirt and oils enter the pores, they can migrate under the clear seal and cannot be removed. Color grout sealers penetrate the grout and seal off the pores. Color seal is an excellent solution for protecting grout and giving it the ability to be easily cleaned. If your grout has already been clear sealed, it must be stripped before applying new color seal. To remove water based seal, scrub the grout with phosphoric acid diluted 10:1 with water. However, to remove solvent based seal, you need to use paint thinner and a lot of elbow grease (not a fun job). For grout that has never been sealed, it is possible to restore or change the color once it has been acid washed to clean and etch the surface. Use phosphoric acid diluted 10:1 with water (never use muratic acid). If you are uncomfortable using phosphoric acid, use vinegar and water and lots of elbow grease. After scrubbing the grout joints and wet vaccing the area, neutralize the surface with a solution of ammonia, diluted 20:1 with water. Wet vac again and let the floor dry.
Now you are ready to color seal your grout. Using a sponge tip applicator, carefully apply the color seal to the grout lines of your countertop. Carefully cover all of the grout, right up to the edges of the tiles. Use a large sponge to wipe up any color seal that gets on the tile. If you take your time and clean up carefully, you will end up with a nicely restored countertop.
To maintain grout that has been color sealed, clean the surface with a neutral pH cleaner only; soap leaves a film behind that can attract dirt. Do not use heavy-duty cleaners on your grout; they all contain some type of stripper and over time will strip the sealer off the grout.
Heavy traffic areas on your floor and work areas on your countertops (especially near the sink) may need to be touched up periodically, but typically, the color wears very well.
