What causes tile grout to discolor?
The mix of sizes, shapes, and colors of ceramic tile provides an opportunity to easily create designs that express your individual tastes. With thin-set adhesives, special trim pieces, and easy-to-use grouts, you can quickly achieve professional results. However, the biggest downfall with tile is the grout itself, especially in shower areas. The tile and grout in the photo were installed about 12 years ago. The grout itself is dirty and discolored—the result of colored shampoos, hard water (calcium and lime deposits), soap build-up, and a crack in the grout that could allow water to reach the wall surface behind the tile. The haze on the tiles is also soap build-up, another area that needs attention. With a little work, you can clean the tile and grout and then apply a sealer over the grout to protect against discoloration. Depending on the product, sealers provide varying degrees of protection against dirt and stains so be sure to read product labels as you select a sealer and then fo
