Photo: whatishomeimprovement.com
Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story.
Because of its (typically) light coloring and porous composition, grout is prone to staining. In a tiled entry or mudroom, dirt and grime are the usual culprits, while in the kitchen, spills are more likely to blame. Soap, mold, and mildew meanwhile make it difficult to maintain clean grout in bathrooms. Fortunately, cleaning grout effectively is possible using only common household products and a bit of elbow grease.
With any cleaning project, it’s always best to start off with the mildest cleaning solution. When in doubt about a cleanser, test it in a hidden spot—behind or under an appliance, for example.
The following suggestions for cleaning grout are ranked from the mildest to the strongest:
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Brazilian Black Slate Fireplace Surround. Photo: Mistones
I have a slate fireplace surround that makes my living room feel really warm and earthy, even if the fire is not lit.
Slate is a popular material in homebuilding, used not only in fireplace surrounds, but also in flooring, countertops, and backsplashes, not to mention exterior walkways and walls.
It is popular for its natural beauty and durability. But it only stays beautiful if it is properly cared for.
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Photo: Armstrong Hardwood Flooring
Special problems need special solutions—and that’s particularly true of wood flooring. When accidents happen, first aid is essential. Here are some tips from the American Hardwood Information Center that will help you maintain hardwood floors.
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Old Wood Flooring: Replace or Refinish?
Original flooring. Photo: Joe Provey
Recently my wife and I moved into a co-op. It’s kind of like a condo but with a few additional restrictions about what you can and can’t do without approval from the co-op board. One thing we didn’t need permission to do was replace the wood flooring in the living room/dining area.
The 280 square feet of narrow oak strips was 95 years old and pretty beat, with scratches, stains, and even a few missing boards. Nevertheless we thought long and hard about whether to install a new floor or simply refinish the old one. We’d seen worse floors look good upon being sanded, stained to a medium tone to hide blemishes, and finished with polyurethane.
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