fixing moldy grout

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Mold can be cured with bleach but forget about removing stains that permeate grout with dingy blotches. You can't get rid of them without replacing the grout or sanding it.

The solution offered by tile makers is sealant. Applied when the grout is cleaned or newly installed, sealant makes it impermeable to water and dirt. What's the catch? It has to be reapplied annually. Stick that on your to-do list, somewhere between changing the batteries in your smoke alarms. Unfortunately, the most obvious reminder to reapply the sealer is when the tile starts getting dirty. By that time, it's too late. Another method of damage control is to keep the grout lines as narrow as possible during installation. The width of the joint should be no wider than 1/8 inch. The wider the joint, the bigger the target for dirt. And the smaller the tile, the more lines to be cleaned. Think twice about using light colored grout on those tiny, designer mosaic tiles, especially on the floor.

Naturally, prevention is not an option if you're already looking at dingy grout. Can it be cleaned? Manufacturers would say yes, and offer several products available at your local home improvement center, tile shop or plumbing supply house. Barring that, your next option is to paint it. Grout paints and stains can cover a world of gunk. A semi-transparent stain will also act as a sealer. Of course, the most practical color will be dark. If you can't stand the idea of covering up the grunge and want to remove it, you can try sanding or chiseling the upper layer of grout off. That requires a round, cold chisel or sandpaper. Apply sealant or stain to prevent further problems.