Q: I want to clean the grout lines between the tiles in my house. I have a lot of tile with half-inch grout lines that look very dirty. I’ve gotten down on my hands and knees and tried to use a toothbrush and vinegar to clean it. But that did very little. Can I stain the grout? And how do I do that?
A: Staining grout can be a difficult and messy job, but it can greatly improve the appearance of your flooring. To start, equip yourself with protective gear: safety goggles for your eyes, heavy gloves, kneepads and old clothes. Then you buy sulfamic acid powder, a colorless compound that is safer than most other cleaning agents. Mix the powder with water, according to directions. Apply a heavy layer on the grout. Let it set 30 minutes; then remove it, and you’ll find you’ve got up all the dirt that stained the grout. After wiping up the mixture, let the grout dry for 24 hours. Then you’re ready to apply colored grout stain to the floor.
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Generally, this process is an excellent repair for a home. As you apply the stain, you’re actually sealing all the pores in the grout so that any time you spill something in future, the spilled liquid will sit right on top of the grout and be easy to wipe up.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and from 9-11 a.m. on KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
