7 Steps to Bathroom Tile Grout Repair

If the spaces in between the tiles in your bathroom and shower are dirty or unsightly, you can do a quick grout repair job on the seams to make them look new again. Cleaning up and repairing grouted seams in tiles is an easy DIY job, and you can usually complete the job in a couple of hours. Better still, this easy to follow how-to guide will walk you through the entire process.

Step 1 - Buying the Grout

When you are at your local home improvement center to purchase new tile grout, try to purchase a type that matches the color of the grout currently used in your bathroom. Unless you're planning on re-grouting the entire floor surface, you want to make sure that the new grout color matches as closely as possible.

Step 2 - Remove Loose and Damaged Grout

To remove the loose or damaged grout in between the tiles on the floor, you should use a grout saw. Gently run the grout saw back and forth along the loose and damaged grout seams to remove it. Be careful when doing this, or you could damage the tiles on the floor.

Step 3 - Clean the Seams

Use a spray bottle and some cold water to wet the areas where you removed the loose or damaged grout. Then, take an old toothbrush and gently scrub the seams. This will help to remove additional loose grout that you may not have been able to remove with the grout saw. Finally, wipe away excess water or grout with an old towel or rag.

Step 4 - Mix the Tile Grout

Refer to the instructions on the bag or box of tile grout that you purchased. Follow the directions precisely when mixing the grout. You can mix the grout in an old plastic container or something that you can dispose of later.

Step 5 - Spreading Grout in Tile Seams

After you mix the grout, use the grout float to fill the seams where the loose or damaged grout was. When filling the seams, try to fill them completely while making sure the grout is as level as straight as possible. Use small edge of the grout float to match the beveled grout surface used on the other tiles.

Step 6 - Clean the Tiles

Working in small sections, clean the tiles with a sponge to remove any excess grout as you go. If you wait too long to clean the tiles, the grout will dry and be harder to remove. However, if that grout does dry and become hard, you can use a putty knife or plastic scraper to scrape the grout away. Then, use a damp rag to wipe the loose grout and residue way for the tiles and seams. You should allow the tiles to dry before continuing,

Step 7 - Polish Tiles

Once the tiles have dried, you can take a soft towel or an old T-shirt to buff out the tiles where the grout was applied. Sometimes, the grout will cause the tiles to lose their luster or shine. However, if you buff the area for a few seconds with a dry cloth, the shine on the tiles should return.