HOW TO RESEAL BATHROOM GROUT

How often should my bathroom grout be resealed? Grout, the lines between the tiles in your bathroom, wears out over time because of exposure to dirt, grime and water. The grout will usually have been covered with a sealer when it was installed. On a dry floor the sealer should probably be replaced every two or three years, but in places where it is subject to water immersion, like in a shower, it should be done at least once a year. Why should I reseal it? Does it really matter? Sealing the grout keeps it in a nice clean state by preventing grime and dirt from penetrating the grout. If the grout consists of white lines, the lines remain white. Sealing also wards off mildew stains. The sealer helps preserve the grout itself, preventing water leaks between the tiles. Should I clean the grout cleaned before it is sealed? Grout should be cleaned before it is sealed. You can clean grout with vinegar, baking soda or bleach. If cleaning with vinegar put the vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the grout well. Let the vinegar sit for 15 minutes or more. Then, scrub the grout lines with a tooth brush, frequently rinsing the grime off the brush with water. Then, rinse the grout area off with water, wipe it off and allow it to thoroughly air dry.If you want to use baking soda instead, make a paste by mixing three parts baking soda with one part water in a cup or bowl. Put paste on a tooth brush and scrub the individual grout lines. Rinse off with water and dry the surface.If you are using bleach, put 3/4 of a cup of bleach in a bucket with a gallon of water. Apply the bleach to the grout lines with an old tooth brush and allow the bleach to sit for five minutes. Then, scrub the grout lines, rinse off with water and dry with an old towel. Resealing the Grout Yourself First, get into some old clothes. Then, get some knee pads such as those used by gardeners and make sure the area in which you’ll be working is well-ventilated. There are three methods for applying grout sealer.

Applicator or “Brush On” Grout Sealer: This sealer looks milky and is applied directly from the container with the attached roller ball or brush tip.
Spray-On Grout Sealer: With this type you just spray over the area of the grout lines, and will therefore get the sealer on the tiles, too. The point is that you don’t have to tediously follow the grout lines, but you do have to clean up the tiles later.

Sponge on Sealer: Pour the sealer onto a sponge from the bottle and then apply it. Don’t ever get grout sealer on non-glazed tile. You’ll never get it out. Remove everything within reach that you don’t want to get sealer on. In a shower, for example, remove any shower curtains or mats. Apply the sealer to one section at a time. Five to ten minutes after you apply it, you need to wipe the area off with a clean dry rag. You need to let the sealed surface set undisturbed for 48 hours.