Christy B Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 So, say that a friend of yours installed lovely ceramic tile in her master bathroom. And say, hypothetically speaking, of course, your friend meant to seal the grout, but kind of . . . didn't. And, if, by some strange quirk, an entire YEAR passed, how would you advise this completely fictional friend (not intended to bear a resemblance to any living friend you might have) to CLEAN the unsealed grout, which hypothetically would be kind of grungy by this point? Pretend that the tile is a grayish white, and the grout is a very very pale gray. Or at least, pretend that the grout is supposed to be a very pale gray, but imagine that instead it is kind of . . . muddy looking. In places. Hypothetically. Oh, and if your friend did get the grout clean, and wanted to seal it afterward, what would you suggest? Hypothetically speaking, of course. Because we all no that NO homeschooling mom would ever . . . forget . . . to seal grout. For a year. So all of this is strictly hypothetical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimnactmom Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Can't help, but this is funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 OK, that was not helpful, but I can SOOOO relate! Not to the flooring, but to these things you'd *think* I'd notice, but then don't until it's so late it's embarrassing. Feeling your hypothetical pain - or your friend's hypothetical pain ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I'm sure that "I" would NEVER have done that before (cough, cough...). BUT, if "I" would ever have done such a horrible thing I would have used Softscrub with Bleach and an OLD toothbrush (fingernail brushes work great too)...and the grout would eventually come clean--and then I 'might' forget to seal it for a few weeks--thus repeating the Softscrub event.... They also make an 'acid' cleaner (you can get at Home Depot) for stubborn stains...it is located very close to the GROUT SEALER! If your tiles/grout is very light you may want to seal it every 6 months 'just to be sure'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIY-DY Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 So, say that a friend of yours installed lovely ceramic tile in her master bathroom. And say, hypothetically speaking, of course, your friend meant to seal the grout, but kind of . . . didn't. And, if, by some strange quirk, an entire YEAR passed, how would you advise this completely fictional friend (not intended to bear a resemblance to any living friend you might have) to CLEAN the unsealed grout, which hypothetically would be kind of grungy by this point? Pretend that the tile is a grayish white, and the grout is a very very pale gray. Or at least, pretend that the grout is supposed to be a very pale gray, but imagine that instead it is kind of . . . muddy looking. In places. Hypothetically. Oh, and if your friend did get the grout clean, and wanted to seal it afterward, what would you suggest? Hypothetically speaking, of course. Because we all no that NO homeschooling mom would ever . . . forget . . . to seal grout. For a year. So all of this is strictly hypothetical. Fortunately, he says he didn't marry her for her planning skills. :p So what *she* would recommend is using either ammonia or vinegar and an old toothbrush or nail brush, on hands and knees (think penance *chuckle*) to scour it VERY THOROUGHLY. Blot dry. Air dry. Get a drink. Forbid anyone from entering said bathroom for the next 12 hours. Laugh about it. THEN go back and seal it. Very. Very Well. Yup, that's what my husband's wacky wife would recommend. I think it'll work for your friend, too. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 What if my friend was wondering how bad it would be to just never bother sealing the grout? It's a matter of aesthetics, right, not really a matter of structural need??? Also, what if my friend DID seal grout in one room and has been terribly saddened by the result? The grout of this hypothetical friend got just as filthy and cannot come clean without a toothbrush. Uhh, hypothetically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I'm sure that "I" would NEVER have done that before (cough, cough...). BUT, if "I" would ever have done such a horrible thing I would have used Softscrub with Bleach and an OLD toothbrush (fingernail brushes work great too)...and the grout would eventually come clean--and then I 'might' forget to seal it for a few weeks--thus repeating the Softscrub event.... They also make an 'acid' cleaner (you can get at Home Depot) for stubborn stains...it is located very close to the GROUT SEALER! If your tiles/grout is very light you may want to seal it every 6 months 'just to be sure'. Ummmm ... not that I would know about such things, but this sounds reasonable. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 What if my friend was wondering how bad it would be to just never bother sealing the grout? It's a matter of aesthetics, right, not really a matter of structural need??? Also, what if my friend DID seal grout in one room and has been terribly saddened by the result? The grout of this hypothetical friend got just as filthy and cannot come clean without a toothbrush. Uhh, hypothetically. Did your friend, perhaps, like a close personal friend of mine use white (gasp) or light colored grout? My close personal friend did this with her tiled kitchen counters - you should hear her curse and mutter over that sad mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Well, let's say the friend just moved into a house where the previous owner had done this... Said friend *might* use softscrub, and a toothbrush, and a Clorox bleach pen, and still with the toothbrush, and every other cleaner available... And if that didn't work, the friend might give up and very carefully put another very thin layer of fresh grout over the old grout. Voila! Pretty grout... And the friend would know better this time and seal the grout within a couple of days... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAR120C Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 And if that didn't work, the friend might give up and very carefully put another very thin layer of fresh grout over the old grout. Voila! Pretty grout... And she might, just hypothetically, be in good company. Not that I would know... Or bear any grudge against the aforementioned previous owners and their ridiculous choice of unglazed white tile and 1/2" grout lines in the bathroom. :mad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdeno Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 and the grout is ugly. I cleaned it with the home depot acid but it almost looked worse. Should I try again and then seal it? Is sealing it the secret? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 and the grout is ugly. I cleaned it with the home depot acid but it almost looked worse. Should I try again and then seal it? Is sealing it the secret? Really, dig out the old grout a bit (doesn't have to be all out) and re-grout, then seal. It will look like new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdeno Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I am so glad you are back, and not just for the grouting tips :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I once knew someone who moved into a house with wide, white grout between the white, glossy tile in her previously owned house (common in So. Cal). The tile *had* been sealed, but it was the kind of sealer that coats (doesn't penetrate) the grout. Over time, this grout sealer had turned black, and had rubbed off the area around the sink. It looked disgusting (though I never would have said so to my friend). Well, I was validated in my thinking when my friend decided that she must do something about the disgusting grout. I wasn't there (of course) but my friend told me that she used a Shark steamer and Oxycleen. She said it was loud, and messy, and steamy, but I'll tell you the result was fabulous! Oxyclean works well with hot water. It works amazingly well with steam. So, if nothing else works, get yourself a Shark steamer (they cost about $50), and some Oxyclean. Sprinkle the grout with Oxyclean. Use the brush tool on the steamer wand, and go at it. Oh, and make sure you get a *penetrating* sealer. I like the kind at Home Depot that has a brush applicator on the tip of the bottle. You just paint it on, all in one step. Then, a few minutes later, you wipe the excess off the tile. Easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in IL Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 My SIL has a steam cleaner come once a year and steam her white grout that is in her living room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 They have a grout stain that you can get at Home Depot that comes in different shades. I believe it is supposed to seal it at the same time as coloring it. So, my friend cleaned the floor well, without getting on hands and knees and really scrubbing at the grout. Then she applied this stain according to the directions. It looked great when she was done with it and she almost contemplated doing it to her family room and kitchen until she realized how long it would take to do it to such a big area. But hey, the bathroom looks great and didn't take that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Did your friend, perhaps, like a close personal friend of mine use white (gasp) or light colored grout? My close personal friend did this with her tiled kitchen counters - you should hear her curse and mutter over that sad mistake. The fictitious grout in question happened to be a very light gray in a highly-trafficked and highly-spill-prone room (the kitchen). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy B Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 If, of course, something like this ever does actually happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 My very smart contractor husband recommended that your friend use some bleach product. Maybe buy you friend some soft scrub with bleach and a toothbrush ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieAir Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 we chose a dark colored grout. Dh and I knew a)how hard grout is to clean, b)that light colored grout doesn't stay so clean looking even after sealing, and c)that we would put off sealing for a ridiculous amount of time. It will be three years in August. None of the tile or grout in the house has been sealed. My husband does construction for a living. At least we know our shortcomings. For your lighter grout, I can't suggest anything other than elbow grease. But hey! Think of all the exercise you'll be getting. Multi-tasking, baby!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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