Seal Grout to Keep it Clean

Learn how to seal grout to keep it clean. Find out how applying multiple coats of sealant to white grout will prevent it from getting dirty.

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Katrina in Virginia finds The Money Pit on WJFK and we’ve got a tile question. How can we help?

KATRINA: The tile men are in and are laying it down and I’m a big retro fan when it comes to tile; black and white tile in the bathroom.

LESLIE: OK.

KATRINA: But I hate white grout. So, give me some pros and cons of sealing it. They say I can do it. They were going to do it and now they’re just leaving the product with me to do it. Is it worthwhile taking the time and expense of sealing the tile?

TOM: Well, first of all, did you ask them about using epoxy grout, which is a lot more stain-resistant?

KATRINA: No, I didn’t.

TOM: Well, that’s one thing to bring up. Now, in terms of actually sealing it, it’s a pretty easy job so you certainly could do it yourself.

LESLIE: Yeah, and is the reason why you hate the white grout is because you don’t like the white in contrast with your tile colors or it gets dirty?

KATRINA: It gets dirty. I love white grout and I love black and while tile.

LESLIE: Then you definitely, definitely want to seal it because if you don’t seal it it’s just going to suck up all that dirt almost immediately. If you do seal it you’re putting that barrier on there.

TOM: And it’s never going to be easier to seal it than it is right now. I would be doing like multiple coats of sealant because it’s never going to be cleaner than it is when it first goes down.

KATRINA: Oh, so multiple coats of sealant and epoxy grout.

LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Mm-hmm.

TOM: (overlapping voices) Yes.

KATRINA: OK. Good …

TOM: Well, you know, if you do epoxy grout then you don’t need to use sealant. Sealant’s only for the sand grout.

KATRINA: OK.

TOM: OK? But if you’re using traditional sand grout then you’re going to use multiple coats of sealant and do it right away and that’s going to give you the best leg up on keeping the grout clean.

KATRINA: Excellent. Good. OK, great advice. Thank you.

TOM: Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.