If there’s one thing that makes your kitchen look old and tired, it’s stained or damaged grout between floor tiles. Floor tiles have to do a lot of work. They will be under constant pressure from being walked on. They will have heavy items dropped on them, damaging both the grout and tiles and will suffer from countless spillages. On top of that they will be exposed to harsh chemicals and detergents. This can all take its toll on the grout and leave it looking far from new.
Before you contemplate removing the grout, see if it can be revived. There are many products on the market that remove mould and dirt from grout and this may save you from a time consuming job.
If the grout is cracked or damaged, or is seriously stained, simply removing it and replacing it with new is a sure fire way to giving your kitchen a brand new feel. Here’s how to do it.
1. Remove the old grout
Purchase a grout rake from your local DIY store. This is the best tool for the job and is much quicker than spending hours trying to do the same job with a nail or old screw driver, which many people will try and use. A grout rake is well worth the money!
Start in one corner of the floor and work towards the opposite corner making sure not to miss any grout lines across the way. Place the grout rake into the tile joint and using strong pressure, move the rake up and down. The grout will start to powder and may even crumble depending on how old it is. Rake out 2mm to 3mm of grout, you will need this depth to ensure the new grout stays in the joints.
Take care when raking out the joints. The blades are sharp and if you slip, they can easily scratch or chip your lovely floor tiles.
*Important – Wear protective clothing including safety glasses, a dust mask and gloves to ensure you can complete the job safely and in comfort.
2. Give the joints a thorough clean
Once you have scraped out the grout across all your tile joints, each grout line needs to be completely clean before you can start adding new grout. Start by sweeping the floor to remove the worst of the loose grout. Move on to brushing out each joint with a stiff brush to get rid of debris. Finally, hoover each grout line thoroughly to remove any remaining dust.
3. Mix your grout
Choose a grout colour that accentuates the colour of your floor tiles. A light grout colour with light tiles will blend in while a dark grout will really make your light tiles stand out. Choosing a dark colour for kitchens is a good way to help alleviate staining from spillages in the future.
Mix the grout according to the instructions on the package. Mix just enough as you can apply in half an hour as the dry will tend to dry our within that time and become unworkable. So it’s best to mix your grout, little and often to get the best consistency for spreading.
4. Apply the grout
Use a trowel to apply some grout to the floor tile. Start in the furthest corner so when you have finished you will end up near the doorway. Spread the grout over the joint using a grout float held at a 45-degree angle and really press the grout into the joint.
5. Remove excess
After leaving the grout to dry for half an hour, fill two buckets with warm water. Taking a grout sponge, moisten in the first bucket and wring out so that it is damp but not soaked. Wipe off the excess grout in a circular motion then rinse the sponge in the second bucket. After a few hours repeat the process again, and continue to do so until your floor is clean.
6. Remove the haze
No matter how hard you wash the grout off you will always end up with dusty residue on your tiles, known as a grout haze. Scrub this off using a dry towel or old rag. It will take a little bit of elbow grease but is by far the best way to get the job done.
*Wait a few days, or (however long it says on the grout packet) for the grout to cure. Then get yourself a good quality grout sealant and apply it to the grout. This will help strengthen it and keep it looking sharp. Re-seal the grout every six months for best results.
Written by Mike Pye
