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How To Restore Grout…The Easy Way

ByAnn Drake

I am going to show you how to restore grout the easy way, but first I have a confession. 

I hate grout. Actually, hate really isn’t a strong enough word. I detest grout. Even the nasty word itself is hard to say. If I could rid my home of all tile and the necessary grout that goes with it…I would. My dream is to have a grout-less house. So…where am I going with all this?

How to Restore Grout...the Easy Way! | Super easy DIY method to restore old and nasty tile grout. Anyone can do this!

Right here. I’m going to show you how to restore grout…the easy way. I found this little bottle of Tile Guard at a local home improvement store. Since the price was right, under $5.00, I picked it up. It’s been sitting in the cupboard under my sink for months. If I had known how easy it would be I would have tackled this job a lot sooner. So here’s where I started.

Not pretty. My tile is rather old and the grout seems to grab on to every crumb there is. I wipe and wipe but the grout sucks the dirt right in.

You might also like: How to Caulk a Bathtub

Click HERE to read an update on this post.
How To Restore Grout: An Update

After a good clean with Clorox Clean-Up, I started dabbing the tile guard on the grout. Very quickly I could see that this method was not going to work. The liquid wasn’t coming out fast enough. So I cut the dabber top off and just poured the liquid on the grout lines. I took cotton balls and spread it out. Here’s what it looked like when I was finished.

The directions said for best results to let it sit overnight. I think this was key in getting the liquid to set up and dry. When I wiped it down the next morning the tiles came out very shiny and the grout was bright white.

All in all the process was completely painless. There was very little mess and it was fast.

How long will it last? I have no idea…but for now my grout is clean and that’s good enough for me. I’m not sure I would try this on a high-traffic area like an entry or kitchen floor. It would be tedious for sure. I do think though that if you have older tile it’s a great way to freshen things up without the expense and effort of re-grouting.

So…how do you feel about grout? How do you keep it clean?

Disclaimer: As usual, I am not being paid millions by the Tile Guard people to plug their product. I honestly came across it by accident and was pleased with the results.  If, by chance, you happen to run into any of the Tile Guard people please make sure and tell them what a great job I’m doing.

Click to buy: Tile Guard

Click HERE to read an update on this post.
How To Restore Grout: An Update

How to Restore Grout | On Sutton Place

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39 Comments

  1. We will be selling our home in a few years. I have tile in my kitchen. I like it, but my daughter if trying to convince me to replace it with granite. I don’t want to pay for it, but she says I might lose buyers because of the tile. What do you all think?

    Reply
    1. Arthur Mayo says:

      Hi Cathy, I’m a potential home buyer and it’s sooo frustrating seeing kitchen after kitchen that looks exactly the same after being remodeled or having countertops replaced in a style I don’t like and knowing I’m paying extra for something I’d just want to replace as soon as I’d have the funds to do so. I’d keep the tile, just clean it up as much as you can, which based on this post shouldn’t be more than 10 bucks and a night of take-out.

      Reply

  2. Holy cow – that looks fabulous! Wonderfully clean looking and I can’t wait to do mine, too. :D.

    Reply
  3. Henry Killingsworth says:

    You made an interesting point when you explained that the key to getting good grout results is by letting it sit overnight. A couple of the tiles in my kitchen are starting to come loose, and I am worried that these will lead to moisture getting in and causing mold growth. I’m not a very handy person, so I think I will hire a professional for this grouting project.

    Reply

  4. I have a similar countertop, and absolutely hate when my grout is stained! I keep a spray bottle nearby, with a diluted bleach in it. Spray it on the tiles, wait a while, a little scrub with a brush, and you have clean grout!

    Reply

  6. But is this basically a grout “paint”? I’d rather remove stains than cover them. I scrub the floor with bleach, and then seal. I have two homes and my bleach method works better in one of the kitchens than the other, for some reason.

    Reply

    1. i bought some grout tile cleaner “as seen on TV ” sounds like what u bought ,it was nothing more than shoe polish , i didnt even finish my tiles . it says grout cleaner but in reality it was just a cover up

      Reply
    2. Ann Drake says:

      Yes. I never said it was a cleaner. I cleaned my grout the best I could before I applied it. This product just covered the nasty grout that I couldn’t get clean anymore.

      Reply
    3. Ann Drake says:

      Yes this is a product that paints the grout. I cleaned my grout the best I could before I applied it. It accomplished what I wanted and that was to give my grout a refresh.

      Reply
  7. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says:

    Wow! That stuff works great! Thanks for the tip.

    Reply
  8. Liz @ Infuse With Liz says:

    That’s good to know about this product!
    I have an aunt who’s bathroom always had this perfectly white looking grout looked so white and fresh and my Mom finally asked her what her secret was and she said she uses the white liquid baby shoe polish (people used to use that for kids shoes a lot) – Same procedure….put it on and let it dry then wipe the excess off. It will be interesting to know how long your Tile Guard holds up!

    Reply

  9. WHOA, WOMAN…..this is amazing.
    GROUT….I hate it’s guts.
    I DID learn, before we put tile in our dining and kitchen, to choose the darker grout (mine is almost a milk chocolate color) and it sure is easier to keep than the really LIGHT grout I used in the baths, before I had a clue about grout.
    Thanks so much for the tip….
    O, and been meaning to tell you how much I am enjoying the two little black and white chairs I bought online from Target after finding out that’s where you purchased your gold and white ones. Thanks for that tip, too. :) The chairs are built very good and holding up nicely. I love them, actually. :)
    xo bj

    Reply
  10. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says:

    Definitely need to get me some of this stuff!! That’s amazing!

    Reply

    1. Our master sweohr is STILL not tiled. The tile is sitting in the garage, where it’s been, for almost four years. Sad, I know. Your project makes me want to finally get it done even more.

      Reply

  11. Does it only work on horizontal surfaces or will it work on tile walls in a shower?

    Reply

    1. I think it would work on vertical surfaces. The liquid was easy to spread but thick enough that it would stay put on a wall. It’s sure worth a try…

      Reply

  12. i did a painful job of cleaning my house floor tile grout in a home we had bought last year with bleach and a tooth brush to make it look nice never again now i will try this product for the next time . But however when i finished cleaning it i found in home depot a grout sealer it helps spills clean up easy and stay cleaner,now they might have one for the counter tile not sure .. hope this helps as well

    Reply
  13. Leigh Powell Hines @Hinessightblog says:

    That looks great.

    The tote I won is mentioned on the blog now. Just put it up. Of course, the photo does not do it justice.

    Leigh

    Reply

  14. I was wondering if the bottle mentions anything about additonal ingredients that would seal the grout after cleaning.
    I am not sure if it is advisable with countertops but grout sealer does help to keep the clean look for a while.
    Good job ..

    Reply
  15. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says:

    Ann, I think you have made a wonderful discovery. Your “after” looks amazing.

    Reply

  16. Wow…It looks great and brand new!! The only grout we have is in the bathroom around our tub. Will have to look for this product to see if it can make my tub pretty again. Thanks for sharing.
    Cindy

    Reply
  17. Ricki Jill Treleaven says:

    Wow, Ann!!! It looks like you had the tile re-grouted. It looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I need some for our bathroom!

    Reply
  18. Nana Diana says:

    It looks great, Ann. You could apply a sealer to it now and it will stay that way indefinitely . SOOOO much better- I hate grout, too…especially around a toilet- xo Diana

    Reply

  19. Looks like new. My grout is all either dark brown or grey, but love how clean your tile looks with the freshened up grout!

    Reply

  20. Ann it is always great to find a new product that does what it says. My home was built in the late 70’s the era of light tile and dark grout(what was I thinking?) Anyhow, we had a grout painted white and we touch it up from time to time and it has worked out great for quite awhile. WE plan on new counters, but until then it is a great alternative too. You can buy it at Home depot, I got anitque white and it works nicely with white tile. I am adding your little product to my arsenal just in case I do white tile again, which I do love!! Thanks for the heads-up!
    Happy Thursday,
    Kathysue

    Reply

  21. What a great product! The tile that gives me the most problems is in our shower. I wish I didn’t have ceramic tile in there because it never feels as clean with the mildew that likes to form in the grout. It has to be recaulked every now and then too. Such a pain! Thanks for sharing this product with us. It did a wonderful job on your counter tops!

    Reply

  22. I think I abhor grout as much as you do, thank you!

    Reply
  23. Linda @ it all started with paint says:

    I have to pin this one. My bathroom grout gives me the heebie jeebies!

    :)

    Linda

    Reply

  24. Wow, that turned out fantastic. I purposely didn’t put any tile in our home just for that reason. The dreaded cleaning of the gout. Looks like you found a great solution:)

    Reply
  25. Robin @ happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com says:

    Amen to not liking grout once it starts aging. How do you feel about caulk? It ranks right up there with grout as an evil necessity for me. I have tons of floor grout that would luv to be as bright and fresh as your countertop (looks so new:) and I might have to give that a try. My biggest problem area is wall tile grout around the tub … do you think this would stay put on a vertical surface until it sinks in? Thanks so much for sharing your discovery.

    Robin @ happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com

    Reply
  26. Elzabeth@ Blue Clear Sky says:

    Your grout looks great now. I used a different product on our entry and bathroom floor tile and it is still holding up well. I promised to update my post after a month but it is looking good so far (and that is with two boys who show cattle and a dog.)

    Reply

  27. Oh my goodness!!! I am with you, Ann, I also DETEST grout. Every time I clean the tub area I complain to high heavens, I hate it so much. I am going to try to find this product, because I am sick of looking at the grout in my tub surround and feeling like it is dirty, I hate that dirty look. I clean it with a bleach product every week, but it still looks yucky.
    Thanks for the info!
    Have a great week.
    Hugs, Cindy

    Reply

  28. Well that sounds easy enough. It looks amazing right now!

    Reply
  29. Michele @ Finch Rest says:

    WOW- y our aft er is amazing.

    How I keep mine clean? My steam carpet cleaner also steam cleans grout, but this grout cleaner sure is worth trying.

    My daughter has a grout counter in her bathrooms and will love this. Thanks, Ann.

    Reply

  30. Wow, that really looks great, Ann! You would think you regrouted it.

    Reply
  31. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    Looks great. When we tiled our kitchen walls, we also had the man tile the counter around the sink. He advised against it. Would I listen? No. Now I have to deal with grout lines, too. Coffee spills — aaahhh! I’ll have to look for this product.

    Reply

  32. Wow! That stuff works! It looks marvelous! I’m with you – I hate grout too. Got 8 x 8 tiles on my kitchen floor, kinda light gray and the grout is almost black! I hate it! Can’t afford to replace the floor so I’ve thought about painting the grout. Well, that might take me 5 years! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

    Reply

  33. Ha! Maybe these people will do a Google search and find your blog today!!! lol

    In the area of the country that I live (South Florida) most all the houses have solid surface counter tops now. Started back in the late 80s with Corian, then progressed to granite. It’s rare that I see grout top counters anymore. The few times that I installed tile on floors (not myself, I leave that to a professional) I have requested tile that sets super close (there is a term for that and it escapes me right now) so that I don’t have to deal with grout. Why?? Because I have had MUCH WORSE grout issues than you and at the time didn’t have YOU to set me straight with this miracle stuff!!! lol

    The counters look amazing. In all honesty…I think tile counter tops are charming and lend themselves more to my style of decorating. But I live in an area that doesn’t support the idea and my hubby wouldn’t go for it for re-sale purposes. Hope you enjoy your fresh new counters!

    Reply