Thursday, January 1, 2015

Paint Within The Lines

I am not talking Paint-By-Numbers...I am talking Kitchen Floor Grout.  I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with the tile floor in the kitchen.

LOVE the look of the tile
LOVE how easy it is to mop clean
HATE how difficult it is to clean the grout
HATE the uneven grout color

I know the dark grout is from DIRT.  I won't mind the dirtier darker color, but it discolors unevenly and stands out like BIG RED CORRECTIONS on a school paper.


When my daughter and son-in-law put tile in their kitchen, they went the extra mile and used an Epoxy grout that is stain resistant and easy to clean.  I needed a solution that didn't involve removing the grout (i.e., hard labor).  So I went with a grout paint from Lowe's called Grout Refresh.


The product comes in 30 colors, but in-store, Lowe's only carries about 6.  I was fortunate that I found a color that worked with my tile.  I used 2 bottles for a small bathroom (my testing area) and a large kitchen (26' x 11').

First I mopped the floor and let it dry.  Then I put a line of Grout Refresh on the grout and used a toothbrush to fill in.  It is more important to work the paint into the grout than it is to keep the paint off the tile.  Then I let the paint dry for about an hour.


After it was dry, I sprayed the area lightly with water and scrubbed the paint off the tile with a scrub pad, rags...whatever worked.  This was the longest part of the process.  The paint came off the tile, but it took patience and a little work.  I wiped off the completed area with clean water and let dry.  Once completely dry, I mopped the floor with water and vinegar to clear off the light film.  The whole process took a couple hours.

I broke the project into small areas and did one or two areas a day.  It took me 3 days for the kitchen.  Keep in mind I am not a home repair expert (nor do I play one on TV).  I am a REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA.

I am very happy with the outcome.  I just wish there was a product that kept the floors permanently clean!













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