How to Darken Grout on Tile

There are various reasons for wanting to change your grout color. Grout is a porous material, and over time it becomes discolored and stained from everyday use. Also, staining your grout a different color is an inexpensive way to change the look of the room. Grout stain is only used to darken grout and can't be used for lightening. Thus, if you're looking to make your dirty, unsightly grout beautiful once again, grout stain is the way to go. It's far less involved than replacing your existing grout joints. You can purchase grout stain at your local home improvement store.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Oxygen bleach or soap
• Scrub brush
• Water
• Mop
• Grout stain
• Paint tray
• Small paintbrush
• Tape
• Spray bottle
• Light-duty scouring pad
• Bucket
• Soft cloth
• Razor blade
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Clean your floors and grout thoroughly. Sweep the floor, then use oxygen bleach and a scrub brush to whisk away dirt and grime from the grout. For delicate tiles, use soap and warm water instead of the bleach. Mop the floor to remove any remaining traces of dirt. Wait for the floor to dry completely before applying the stain.

2. Pour a small amount of the grout stain into a paint tray. Apply an even coat of the stain to the grout with a small paintbrush. Watch for signs of pooling, as that means you're applying too much stain. You may want to tape off the surrounding tile to avoid staining the tile too. Apply a minimum of two coats of stain, and wait at least 90 minutes between coats. Add additional coats to get a deeper, darker color.

3. Clean the excess stain off of the grout. Use a spray bottle to lightly mist the floor with cool water and scrub the grout with a light-duty scouring pad, using a circular motion. Concentrate on one area at a time, and keep your scouring pad clean by rinsing it in a bucket of cool water every minute or so. Wipe the tiles with a damp, soft cloth as you go along to avoid staining them as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Wait at least 30 days after a new grout application before staining. The grout needs time to cure before being stained.

• Obtain stain samples and compare them to your tile before purchasing the stain. This ensures a good color match.

• Remove dried grout stain from tile with a razor blade.

• Use gloves to protect your hands from the stain.

• Keep the room well ventilated to avoid breathing harmful chemicals.

• Avoid pouring used grout stain back into the container. Discard the leftover stain in the paint tray.

References

• The Natural Handyman: Use Grout Colorant Paint to Easily Restore or Change Your Grout Color