Need Advice on Color Sealing Tile Floors? Here's My Story, I'm Not Too Happy.

I've done my own colorant and sealing on my grout. I tried to stay with the white color that was my original grout color, but in time it just got dirty. It is really hard to mop and get in the grout. It seems the dirty water just gets caught in the grout unless you hand scrub the grout. I gave up on the white and just finished restaining it in a darker color. The portion that I finished a few months ago still looks good. I am hoping that this color will stay cleaner looking for much longer.

Hope that helps! I will never go with white or light grout again.

M.

We had the same experience, but not with Stanley Steemer. Tile and grout cleaned and sealed. Promised that it would last. The high traffic areas started to look dirty again very quickly. So I don't know what to tell you, although I do empathize! If they told you it would stay clean looking for several years, however, and it isn't, then I would ask for at least some of the money back.

Hi R.,

You're right in that sealing should prevent the grout from discoloring. You might try to call them again and have them come out, but I would seriously doubt they'd really fix it up to your standards. If it were me, I'd probably hire a contractor who specifically works on floors to come and do it. Because, it can be done the right way.

Good luck!
C.

I worked as a new home inspector years ago for a custom builder and I always told people who wanted to seal the grout that is is only as good as the next scratch or chip....by that I mean when it is scratched or chipped the dirt can go under the sealant and be almost impossible to clean........tile floors are maintenance intensive and there is no shortcut to it really....good luck!

I use to have all white tile with the white grout in my bathrooms. I bought Sanivac cleanser. You mix it with water but with bad grout around toilet and walk areas, I used it full strength. It is a purple liquid and I used a brush to do it and you do have to rinse, but it will be white when it dries. I would have to do this three or four times a year to keep it spotless for I was a fanatic about it but it does work.
I use to buy it in the supermarkets but being I don't have white tile anymore I haven't bought it recently. It does have other helpful cleaning uses too.

R.,
My husband is a contractor, I asked him and he said there is really no way to keep grout clean and fresh- other than scrubbing it all of the time. When he does floors for families he always recommends a darker tile/grout combo.
Sorry :(

D.