Uncovering the Hidden Gems: Restoring Tile Grout to Its Former Glory
As a self-proclaimed cleaning nerd, I’ve spent way too much time on my hands and knees scrubbing grout with a toothbrush, trying to bring my tile floors back to their former luster. Dirty grout lines have a way of making even the most pristine tiles look dull and dingy. And no matter how much elbow grease I put into it, the results never seemed to last.
I’ve tried everything – from bleach pens and steam cleaners to specialty grout cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and vinegar, and even toilet bowl cleaner. While all of these methods managed to clean the grout, it never truly looked clean. The discoloration just seemed to keep creeping back, no matter how hard I scrubbed.
It didn’t matter if I kept my house as sterile as a hospital ward – over time, tile grout will inevitably become some shade of brown. And when we moved into this house, the slate and brick floors were in a state of disarray, with 16 years’ worth of dirt ground into the grout. I honestly couldn’t even remember what the original color was.
The Game-Changing Grout Renew Discovery
I was searching the internet for a solution when I stumbled upon a post with an amazing before-and-after of a slate floor that looked almost exactly like mine. The transformation was truly remarkable, and the secret weapon? A product called Polyblend Grout Renew.
I immediately headed to our local Home Depot to get my hands on some, and I can’t tell you how much of a game-changer this discovery was. This little $14 bottle has single-handedly saved my floors when I thought the only solutions would cost a fortune – whether it was professional cleaning, re-grouting, or just ripping it all out and starting over.
Now, I want to shout from the rooftops about this amazing product! (Pun intended, of course.) It’s a specialized grout colorant, almost like a grout paint, that’s designed to revive the color and include a grout sealer to protect it from future stains.
Since I didn’t get to choose the original grout colors in this house, most of my Grout Renew color choices were focused on lightening up the grout and giving it a fresh, clean look. I’ve now used this magical elixir on the family room floor, kitchen, bathrooms, and even the laundry room – and the results have been nothing short of transformative.
Reviving Tired Tile: A Room-by-Room Breakdown
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how I restored the grout on four different types of tile floors in this house. First up was the kitchen and family room, with their unique slate floors and brick inlays. The slate itself wasn’t just dirty – someone had actually put a shiny varnish on it that had since yellowed, adding an extra layer of ick factor.
To offset the yellow cast and lighten up the brownish grout, I chose to use the Grout Renew in Oyster Gray. I was willing to paint every last grout line in this large open area because I hated the dingy, yellow-tinged look so much. It was a bit of a marathon, as I tackled it in small sections over the course of several days.
But the results were astounding – not only did it lighten the grout, but I also used it as a kind of whitewash on the tiles themselves as I was wiping away the excess. The gray helped fix the tint of the slate tiles from too warm and dark to a more neutral tone. You probably won’t want to do this unless someone has put a yellowed varnish on your floor, but I’m so glad I did.
For a dark floor like this, I wouldn’t recommend using a white or light grout colorant. The Oyster Gray is a perfect midtone that provides enough light and dark contrast without making the floor look painted. Trust me, a lighter color would definitely give it that “freshly painted” vibe, and that’s not the look I was going for.
As I shared in a previous post, I’ve battled with getting my slate floors truly clean over the years. If you’re dealing with the same issue, be sure to check out the tips I’ve learned for cleaning rough slate floors.
Tackling Different Tile Types with Confidence
Next up was the porcelain tile bathroom floor. Out of all the tile grout I’ve used this product on, this was by far the easiest because the non-porous material made it a breeze to clean off the excess product. Plus, it was a smaller area, so I was able to do the entire floor in one session.
When we first moved in, the grout was a bit discolored, but nothing too extreme. After using the Grout Renew in the Snow White color, though, it looked sparkling clean – nothing says “fresh” like bright white grout, am I right?
The travertine floor in our primary bathroom was a similar story. The grout wasn’t awful when we moved in, but over time it had gotten darker from daily use. It’s one of those things you really don’t notice until it’s restored to its original color again. After the success on my other tile floors, I touched up the grout in here with the Grout Renew in Linen, and the difference was night and day.
Brick Floors: A Unique Challenge
I’ve always wanted brick floors somewhere in our home, and I was thrilled when we finally got them in the laundry room. But when we moved in, they were looking dark, dirty, and yellowed. Not exactly the rustic, charming look I was going for.
I’ll admit that the Grout Renew isn’t the perfect product for this floor type, as there is so much grout and the lines are thick. I didn’t want to full-on paint the grout, but I did want to lighten it up a bit more than the original color.
So, I mixed the Grout Renew in Oyster Gray with some water to create more of a whitewash effect. This allowed me to avoid the painted look while still getting the lighter, fresher vibe I was after. It did mean I had to go back and do a second coat in some areas to get it just right, but I’m really happy with the end result.
The downside is that it’s not as uniform as the floors with smaller grout lines. But hey, this is the laundry room – no one but me spends much time in here, and most people don’t scrutinize floors as closely as we homeowners do. And the rustic, textured look of brick lends itself well to a bit of non-uniformity anyway, right?
The Step-by-Step Process for Grout Restoration
Before you even think about applying the Grout Renew, the first crucial step is to make sure your grout lines are clean and dry. Start by giving them a good cleaning with a solution of water and your preferred cleaning product. For any stubborn stains, you might need to break out an old toothbrush or grout brush and do a little extra scrubbing.
Once the grout is clean and fully dried, it’s time to break out the Grout Renew. Shake the bottle well, then use a small artist’s brush to apply the colorant onto the clean grout lines, starting with a small area of tiles. Take your time and do your best to keep it only on the grout, not the tiles themselves.
Immediately after applying the Grout Renew, use a damp cloth or paper towels to wipe off any excess from the tile surfaces. You want the colorant to stay put in the grout lines, not get splotched all over the tiles. This was relatively easy for me on the smooth tile, but I’ll admit it was much harder on the more rustic, natural stone floors like the slate.
Allow the Grout Renew to dry for 24 hours, making sure you have adequate ventilation during this time. It doesn’t have a super strong smell, but it’s definitely not pleasant either. Once it’s fully dried, take a look at your work. If you see any areas where the color isn’t as uniform as you’d like, you can simply apply a second coat in those spots.
Maintaining the Magic
After I did the floors originally, I was curious to see how the Grout Renew would hold up to regular mopping. I’m happy to report that it has mostly stayed in place, with only the need to touch up the high-traffic areas that tend to get dirty again over time. But for the most part, the transformation has lasted!
I’m so grateful to have stumbled upon this game-changing discovery. Cleaners are great for, well, cleaning – but they just don’t cut it when it comes to hiding those ugly grout stains. Grout Renew, on the other hand, has been the solution I wish I’d known about years ago.
If you’re dealing with dingy, discolored grout on your tile floors, I can’t recommend this product enough. It’s a total life-saver – and at just $14 a bottle, it’s an absolute steal compared to the cost of professional cleaning or re-grouting. Trust me, your floors will thank you.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to check on the laundry room. It’s been a while since I gave those brick floors a little touch-up. Southern Roofing Company may specialize in roofs, but we homeowners know that every inch of our domain deserves a little TLC.