How to make dirty grout clean

ARTICLE Mike Syddall

This literally is the most asked question in the tile industry.
Historically grouts didn’t quite perform the way modern grout does; so for years dirty, hard to clean grout has spoiled many a beautiful tiled home.
Modern cemetitious grouts are mostly mould and stain resistant. We have a range called Kemgrout, which is also ‘hydrophobic’, or contains water repelling properties.
We always recommend sealing your grout after installation, something that wasn’t always done ‘back in the day’.
Regular cleaning and maintenance with a product like Aquamix Concentrated Tile Cleaner should keep most tile and grout in tip top shape.
So, back to the question – if your grout is currently giving you grief you really only have three options:
1. Elbow grease with a specialty product such as Aquamix Heavy Duty Grout cleaner.
2. Aquamix grout colourant – effectively repaints existing grout and seals as it goes.
3. Remove and re-grout. This is surprisingly easy to do under the tutelage of a helpful Tile Depot staff member.
We always ask customers to check if their tiler sealed their grout. If not, they need a trip to The Tile Depot, a $40 bottle of penetrating sealer and a paint brush. It is important to do this immediately or it can be counterproductive by sealing fresh dirt and grime into the grout.
The latest technology in grout is a product called Fusion Pro® which uses paint technology to provide a virtually unstainable solution for not much more than a standard cementitious grout. Fusion Pro® does not require further sealing – it is every homeowner's dream solution to this age-old problem.

You might be interested in reading: Tile grouting guide.

This article by Mike Syddall featured on page 36 in Issue 017 of Renovate Magazine. Renovate Magazine is an easy to use resource providing fresh inspiration and motivation at every turn of the page.

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