Clean & Seal Grout

Tools needed

Materials needed

Time required

  • 2 hours

Cost

  • 5$ - 20$

Priority

  • Medium

Difficulty

  • Easy

Frequency

  • Annually

Primary location

  • Inside

Safety notes

  • Be sure to use rubber gloves and eye protection.

    Make sure the space is well ventilated prior to applying the sealant.

Introduction

Tile is beautiful and durable, but grout lines can quickly become an unsightly mess if not properly maintained. Tile grout is fairly porous, meaning it absorbs water and stains easily. The best method to avoid these stains is a regular cleaning and resealing. It’s pretty easy and should be done for any of your tile areas, including floors, bathrooms, and countertops.

Step by step

  1. Clean the Grout
    Using straight white vinegar in a spray bottle, apply to all grout lines. Allow the vinegar to set for 10-15 minutes and then scrub clean with a grout brush until the old sealer is gone and all stains and mold have been removed. If you have areas that are really tough, try using a bleach pen. Rinse with water once clean.

    If you’d prefer to use baking soda, use a 75/25 mix, as a paste. If using bleach, use about 1 cup bleach per 1 gallon of water.

  2.  Let it Dry
    Dry excess water with a rag or towel and then allow to air dry for 24 hours or until completely dry.

  3. Apply Sealant
    Using a good quality grout sealer, such as the one recommended in our materials list, apply the sealant to the grout lines with a narrow paintbrush or just use a spray sealer. Typically these sealers vaporize rather quickly so wipe up any excess residue that gets on your tile with a rag but let the rest dry naturally on the grout. Make sure you have the space well ventilated by opening a window and/or turning on an exhaust fan.

  4. Mark Complete
    Nice Job! Go ahead and mark this one good to go for another year.
Download

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