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Chris V
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| Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 11:59am | IP Logged
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So, we've been in our house (that we built) less than a year now, and it is all to clear (painfully clear) that our decision for the kitchen floor is regretable.
We went with a very nice, high-quality special order tile. We really did want wood, however, with the cabinet choice and countertop selection, the wood would have made the kitchen a confusing array of color and texture - so the tile material itself isn't what we regret, it's the specific tile we chose and the corresponding grout selection.
The tile is slightly textured - which can be translated to - it traps all the dirt. And the grout we chose is a light color (called "bone") and shows *everything*. Cleaning the tile and grout has quickly become a full time job. A horrible full time job.
There isn't anything we can do about the tile itself, other than just keep up with frequent maintenance to try and minimize dirt and grime accumulation, but the grout is (really) becoming a bigger problem than that of the tile - mostly because it doesn't stain or wear evenly. We've already developed a traffic pattern in the kitchen (and we don't even wear shoes in the house!).
The reason we went with the lighter "bone" colored grout is because I was concerned that if we selected a darker color (darker than the tile iself) then our kitchen floor would appear in a checker-board pattern (though the tile pieces themselves are 18" square). We were trying to match the grout to the tile color itself, as best we could.
What a predicament.
I spilled some red wine on the floor a couple of weeks ago and have yet to get the purple out of the grout.
....
So, I'm looking for some helpful suggestions on grout maintenance, or perhaps if you have any experience coloring grout. I'm not going to use a bleach-pen to get the purple out because the grout isn't white and I don't want to make a blunder in discoloration to the lighter side (just as the stains in the grout pose a discoloration to the darker side). But I would be open to coloring the grout a darker "oatmeally-type color" to try and make the stains a little less obvious, and to make our normal wear patterns less worrisome.
Any help out there?
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 12:11pm | IP Logged
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No clue on stain removal.. but you can seal the grout so that you have a protective layer over it and don't have as much of a problem in the future.
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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 1:05pm | IP Logged
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Chris, a quick online search reveals several sites/ideas for painting and sealing grout ~ might be worth the effort in the long run.
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 1:21pm | IP Logged
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Well, in our old kitchen, over time, the grout eventually turned an oatmeal color on its own  I do think we sealed it after we first put it down, but never di the maintenance thing.
I did find a steam cleaner made it easier to get it clean, but it wasn't something I could do regularly. I never found a method of effectively cleaning that floor that kept me off my hands and knees.
We went with black grout in our bathroom since it was an old fashioned pattern, and the old tile at dh's office building looked to have black grout anyway except around the perimeter, so we figured it would be easier to just startr out with black. It was, though it was still a pain ithe shower because instead of getting a colored build up, it got white, so we s till had to scrub.
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Barb.b
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I think if you check home depot - there is a grout colorant. I have never used one so I don't know a thing about them. I do know that once you get the grout cleaned up - seal it and that will help. Also re-seal how ever often recommended.
Barb
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10 Bright Stars
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Can totally relate. We have a rather large tile floor that is quite a lovely tile. We originally chose an "oyster shell" color for the grout, which sounds a lot like "bone". It was horrible. Even after mopping the floor, the grout would look dingy and dirty. It got so bad, that the year I had twins, and could no longer keep up with the scrubbing of such a large area (16x25!!! of tile and grout!) I had him install a cheap pergo knockoff over the tile. I think he didn't like me very much during this time, but I could not stand it! So, a few years later, when that floor started to fall apart in front of the sink areas, we discussed what our options were. He had, in the past, started chipping out the old grout in the hopes of putting in new grout. That proved MOST difficult. So, what we eventually did, which was still a pain, but if your floor is smallish, it might work, is to get one of those scrapers that you file back and forth and take off half of the grout. Then, we got a dark color...i.e.the color of dirt, and put that OVER the other grout. Definately not "perfect", but I NEVER EVER complain about the grout anymore, since it is not so ugly looking. So, something to think about if you hate it that much. A pain, but we got it done in a weekend, as I recall. Sealing helps a but, but you have to get it super, duper clean. It you CAN get it super clean, sealing MAY work. We have the oyster shell in our upstairs bathroom, and as it doesn't get as abused as our kitchen floor, it can still be cleaned up fairly well, and I have only sealed it twice. The kitchen...ours gets really dirty on the floor. (10 kids and two messy cooks! LOL!) Good luck. I feel your pain/annoyance. It really CAN ruin the best of floors!
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 5:50pm | IP Logged
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And, IF your floor is smallish, you could probably get the scraping tool, it removes grout...it looks like a screwdriver, and there is a metal tool attached to the end, sort of in an arrowhead shape, and you rub it back and forth over the grout and it removes it. IF your floor is not as large as ours...ours is ridiculously large, you could probably just take it ALL out, thereby eliminating the change of the darker grout not sticking. We have only had the grout fall out in one or two little spots from our "resurfacing" of it. Good luck! Hopefully, you understand what I am saying???
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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10 Bright Stars
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Oh, and re-grouting yourself isn't really that difficult.
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
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ctrivette
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| Posted: Jan 07 2013 at 11:49pm | IP Logged
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We have the same problem. I have sealed it pretty regularly but it still doesn't clean up well. We tried a magic eraser, bleach pen, oxiclean, all sorts of stuff. My best results are from the steam cleaner (the hand help one, not the mop...although the steam mop has helped keep it cleaner), a grout brush, and an energetic teen/preteen who wants something. In fact, I recruited a volunteer to do a large section today when he wanted to go to the basketball game;).
We are probably going to stain the grout a more dirt like color as well. Our Lowes had several colors and I saw more on line. I figure it can't be much harder than scrubbing, and we only do it once.
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Chris V
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| Posted: Jan 08 2013 at 12:23am | IP Logged
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The thing is, we *DID* seal it. ... we could re-seal it, but I really doubt that we can get it back to it's pristine condition and I fear we'll just end up sealing-in the stains and dirt that is alreay there now.
Re the steamer - I actually use one on the kitchen floor. It works really well for daily dirt build-up and superficial wear, however, since the tile is textured, the steamer has a difficult time getting the dirt that is down in the groves of the tile, this requires being on your hands and knees scrubbing. Honestly, I just don't see a way around this. I think if you want the tile to continue looking nice, you're going to have to expect to be hand scrubbing it.
We tiled the entire kitchen prior to cabinets (versus installing the cabinetry then tiling up to the edge), so the cabinets sit on tile. We did this primarily because we were concerned about any irregular tile cuts and not-so-straight edges. It worked out well. And the look of the kitchen (as a whole) is really quite lovely (with nice floor molding as trim). But this also cancels out any future removal of the tile flooring (unless we're updating cabinetry too).
Interesting to note, I've read never to use vinegar as a cleaning agent on tile/grout because it is so acidic and will eat through grout (and some types of tile). A mild dish soap is all that is recommended. Also, not to get it too wet, else the stains will actually penetrate further into the grout (just as the water seeps in). So lightly scrub with brissles and dish soap, and wipe away with damp sponge.
The problem I see with coloring the grout is getting it all even and looking natural (like that is the original grout color).
... I see lots of time scrubbing in my future ... (((sigh)))
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JodieLyn
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well on the scrubbing note.. what about one of those floor scrub brushes on a long handle?
eta - and/or get some good knee pads.. tile will be HARD on the knees
note to self: white grout in showers so you can scrub and bleach, dark on the floor so you don't have to scrub and bleach
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Chris V
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| Posted: Jan 08 2013 at 12:43am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| note to self: white grout in showers so you can scrub and bleach, dark on the floor so you don't have to scrub and bleach |
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Long handle scrubber / knee pads ? Yes. Most certainly, yes.
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Chris
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Chris V
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10 Bright Stars wrote:
| And, IF your floor is smallish, you could probably get the scraping tool, it removes grout...it looks like a screwdriver, and there is a metal tool attached to the end, sort of in an arrowhead shape, and you rub it back and forth over the grout and it removes it. IF your floor is not as large as ours...ours is ridiculously large, you could probably just take it ALL out, thereby eliminating the change of the darker grout not sticking. We have only had the grout fall out in one or two little spots from our "resurfacing" of it. Good luck! Hopefully, you understand what I am saying??? |
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Yes, I do! And I like the idea of just re-grouting altogether! I think this is actually the idea solution to our woes - it would certainly *look* the best and most natural of all. But, realistically, I think this may be a future-project. My husband (who built our house) is feeling the stress of getting the rest of the details done, and though I think he'd go for this idea, I feel confident speaking for him when I say that *now* is just not the time. Next year perhaps?
In the interim, I really do think I'm just going to have to work really consistently at keeping the kitchen floor clean. And thankfully (and this is miraculous), I don't feel anxiety with my kids and their mishaps. They're children. Children are born mess-makers. It just wouldn't be a normal day around here if something didn't get spilled or thrown on the floor.  It is what it is.
... just a question ... anyone ever use the foaming OxyClean on grout?
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Aagot
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You could try getting the stained area wet and pouring a pile of baking soda on top. Let it sit there until dry or you get tired of trying to avoid stepping on it. The baking soda wicks the water and stain up. This may not work if the stain has been there a long time but it won't hurt to try.
Eta. This works on carpets too.
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Chris V
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Aagot wrote:
You could try getting the stained area wet and pouring a pile of baking soda on top. Let it sit there until dry or you get tired of trying to avoid stepping on it. The baking soda wicks the water and stain up. This may not work if the stain has been there a long time but it won't hurt to try.
Eta. This works on carpets too. |
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This is a great idea, and really - I've nothing to lose, the stain(s) are already there, and it just can't get worse. ... and this would be totally safe to leave on the affected areas with my one-year old twins. Thank you.
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Chris
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Mimip
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Aagot wrote:
You could try getting the stained area wet and pouring a pile of baking soda on top. Let it sit there until dry or you get tired of trying to avoid stepping on it. The baking soda wicks the water and stain up. This may not work if the stain has been there a long time but it won't hurt to try.
Eta. This works on carpets too. |
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This is exactly what I have been trying to come and say forever! This is how I clean our grout.
We have huge 18" square tile through out the whole house and that is how I clean the grout. First I make a paste of baking soda and water and lay it on thick on half the grout. I leave it there a while, maybe an hour and then come back a scrub it clean. Then I do the other half of the area I want cleaned. I only do this once every few months but wow what a difference and imagine doing the whole house!  Its the only way I've found to really get rid of the ugly brown.
Our other house had textured tile floors and thank God it was a dark color because I lived my life cleaning the gunk from the grooves.
Good luck!
Oh and the foaming oxy clean did nothing for me 
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Mimi
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cathhomeschool
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We have light colored grout, don't remember the color but I could see it being called bone. What the installers told us was that if you clean with anything harsh (like pinesol, ammonia, vinegar,...), the cleaner will eat through the sealant on the floor, which makes sense. And I've definitely found this to be true where I spot clean with chemicals or where the puppies have peed. We were told that if we clean with something like Murphy's wood soap, the sealer will last and last. The tile was installed just over 2 years ago and the areas (including kitchen) that haven't been cleaned with chems look like new. So if you regrout or clean your grout, you might try resealing.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Grout
