How to Re-Grout Tile on a Countertop

At times, everyone who has tile countertops will need to re-grout them to freshen their appearance. Rather than paying an expert, this is a job the average do-it-yourself home-improver can handle. By following a few grouting tips, you'll have a beautiful kitchen and a sense of pride.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Household cleaner
• Putty knife
• Bleach
• Toothbrush
• Grout
• Sponge
• Sealer

1. Empty and clean the countertops thoroughly. Use a household cleaner to remove all grease, dirt and dust.

2. Inspect the existing grout for cracks and stains. Use a putty knife to remove any damaged grout.

3. Remove any mildew stains from the grout by washing them with a toothbrush. Use a mix of bleach and water to kill the mildew. Rinse the area thoroughly when you're done.

4. Mix the grout you've chosen according to the directions on the package.

5. Damp your countertops and apply generous amounts of grout with a large sponge. Press firmly to work the grout in to all the gaps between the tiles. You may need to apply more grout, depending upon the amount you removed in Step 2.

6. Let the grout dry for a minimum of 12 hours.

7. Use a clean, slightly damp sponge and wipe your countertops to remove excess grout from the counters. You may need to apply some pressure to remove larger clumps. A firm and steady hand is best. Repeat this step several times, using clean water until all the grout has been removed from the tiles themselves.

8. Seal your re-grouted tile using a sealer that's appropriate for your countertops.

Tips & Warnings

• When removing dried grout, be careful not to put too much pressure on the grout between the tiles. If it hasn't had enough time to set in place properly, you might be undoing all your hard work.