Grout Refresh Review: 6 Months Later (Before & After Pics!)
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- RENEW YOUR GROUT: If you want to make your grout look like new again, Mapei Grout Refresh is a cheap and easy fix. For about $10 a bottle, you can restore old tile grout without having to hire a professional. In this video, I share before and after pictures that were taken six months apart. I also share my "secret weapon" that can save you a lot of time completing the project. Mapei Grout Refresh is similar to Polyblend Grout Renew from Custom Building Products. You'll see my results using both of these products in different areas of the home.
See my follow-up video for 2024 here: • I Put Grout Refresh to...
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
1:20 What You Need
2:13 Applying Grout Refresh
3:13 Dry Method for Cleanup
4:28 Wet Method for Cleanup
5:08 My Secret Weapon
6:25 Before and After Photos
7:15 Grout Renew Pics
8:05 Colors I Used
Affiliate links help support my channel at no cost to you!
GROUT REFRESH: amzn.to/2V1hdPH
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the sealer that Mapei recommended to me on the phone: UltraCare Low-Sheen Sealer & Finish. However, I used a different brand. Remember, there is sealant in the Grout Refresh. I just decided to add this additional step to see if it works. Over time, I'll update you to let you know if adding the sealer was worth the extra effort!
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See my follow-up Grout Refresh review here: ua-cam.com/video/3qeFJaVjYeE/v-deo.html
73 years old, hip problem, could not stand my floor anymore. Bought Grout Renew yesterday, watched your video today, and your help is making this easier. Wet method is the way to go, have my dustbuster with me and use it as I clean up. Thank you so much.
You are a life saver !! I have never been so thrilled about a grout cleaner agent !!! Can’t wait to do this project
5:13 Have been doing tile and remodels for years and this TIP is AWESOME. Never would have thought to use my caulking tool for removing the grout stain.
Tried it and it saves us SO MUCH TIME, thx🙏🏼✌🏻
Thanks for the video, this is my weekend project. I think your presentation style is excellent.
Great video! I bought the Mapei brand and am going to use it in two bathrooms. You made it look so easy! Thank you!
Man your method with the wet sponge works awesome! Thank you!
Finally, some damn good instructions. I bought grout renew and that wipe as you go method is incredibly tedious, especially since it takes the colorant out of the grout. Honestly felt like giving up on this project. Thanks again.
Great video Michael Saves. You answered all my questions. Thank you thank you
Hello Michael,
So glad we found your video! We just had tile laid and was unable to match existing grout. Decided to us the Mapei product for old and new grout. First attempt with wet process (product instructions) was very labor intensive. Watched your video with using the silicone squeegee to remove excess and it worked perfectly!
One thing we found that made things go a little better is using a scraper with plastic razor blades. About $6 for 100 blades and 3 scrapers on Amazon.
Thanks again!
I just completed my bathoom and kitchen. I used the suggestion below is using the makeup brush and so happy I did. I'm going to let mine sit longs as I tried to clean up and the paint pulled up a little.
I just started researching how to paint my shower grout. This is very helpful.
Thank you for this timely video!
Glad I found your channel. I just used the grout pen on my kitchen tile and I think the methods and products your talking about are much better. I’m going to give those a try in another room. Thanks!
These products are much better than the pen. I hope it works for you!
I’ve had quotes from $500 to $800 dollars to clean and seal my grout. I’m looking forward to trying this out in a small area.
Did you ever end up trying it??
thank you so much!!! stay blessed !
I did it yesterday fabulous thanks for the tip
After trying several chemicals to clean floor grout, I discovered that Dawn dish soap in hot water works as well as any magic concoction. Apply, scrub in, let sit 5 minutes, scrub again, rinse and remove. I use an angled grout brush with a hinged long handle to scrub. Works as well as acid cleaner, vinegar and baking soda etc.
Great and easy instructions. Thank you. I need to refresh the color of my grout in the master bedroom shower.
I used it in the shower. Just give it plenty of time to dry
@@MichaelSaves Thanks Michael, your video was very helpful and the tips were great! I applied it to the grout in between the rock pebbles on the shower floor. The sealant had faded and the grout was appeared very porous. I was worried about water damage over time. It looks awesome now and I am going to apply another coat of clear sealant over it. Hopefully, I won't have to do this process again for a very long time. It was a lot of work! LOL
@@rosarioroseanderson2922 congrats on getting it done. I know it's a project. I hope the results last for a long time.
Thank you. This is such a helpful video
What an awesome video!! TY so much!
Great informative info!!
Great information, thank you!
I have used Grout Renew twice in 10 years in my Kitchen and Foyer. Works great and applied with an angled makeup brush the width of the grout line with little waste. It is definitely thicker than Grout Refresh which I applied to a friends floor yesterday. A major difference tho is cleanup. With Grout Renew, I used a rag and water to wipe up the excess as I went along. If you leave it to dry too long on the tile surface it is very difficult to remove. However, with Grout Refresh, I used a single edged razor blade after allowing it to dry at least 30 minutes and it easily removed the excess on the tile surface.
Thank you for your review
My grout refresh isreally wet and bit dry why is this?
Which one you would pick if you had to do it again?
@@ucanthavemysn Good question, I would like to know the same.
Thank you! I have the same caulk tool, so will use it. I just regrouted my shower and wanted to do some of the other tile that's on the wall outside the shower. I was glad to get a matching color to the mapei grout I used in my shower. I'm stuck on how to pre clean and am going with vinegar and water, hope this works. Lowe's is an hour drive, each way.
I may try an acid brush (often used for glue with a metal handle) instead of a toothbrush, since it has stiff bristles.
I think that’s a good idea. I’m about to use it in a new area and I’m pre cleaning with a steamer mop
Thank you! Your video was just the kick in the pants I needed to finish my own grout painting project. Very helpful tips, although I ended up finding the wet towel and two fingers method worked better for us than the silicon scraper (YMMV). If anyone reading this is interested, it took me about a total of two hours to do the grout on a bathtub surround (3 walls) and about an hour to do the bathroom floor (maybe 4'x13'-ish?) which included time for pouting, whining, and saying how much I hated doing it. :) It turned out FANTASTIC, however.
One question - Michael, I notice you said you saved the extra for touch-ups. Did it harden in the bottle? I still have at least half a bottle left and think it could be passed on to a friend for their own project if it's not going to be useful a year from now after being opened.
Mine did not harden in the bottle!
About to dive in to this project. Thanks for the tips. Will save me a ton of time.
Good luck!
Very helpful! Thanks
Thanks for the detailed video!
You may like this quick update I did: ua-cam.com/video/3qeFJaVjYeE/v-deo.html
Thanks for the info.
Excellent!!
Great video
Poly looks so much better
Thanks for watching! Have you used Grout Refresh or Grout Renew? Let me know about your results. If you have any other questions, leave them here and I'll try to answer!
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
1:20 What You Need
2:13 Applying Grout Refresh
3:13 Dry Method for Cleanup
4:28 Wet Method for Cleanup
5:08 My Secret Weapon
6:25 Before and After Photos
7:15 Grout Renew Pics
8:05 Colors I Used
Did you end up putting a sealer over it? If so, how'd it go?
@@sorolauterbach I did for the hallway but not sure it mattered. The grout solution held up and in some spots I used it for touch ups.
I used the wet method and it worked great. I used an old credit card to scrape the excess grout off & it worked great also. Dust buster to pick up the excess was good idea.
L
Excellent
Gave this a try as an alternative to resurfacing our entire tiled foyer. While it worked "ok", it definitely looked like a temporary solution. It was worth the effort, and the little money, to convince us to totally replace this high traffic area for the long term with brand new flooring.
Ok yeah -- high traffic areas are tough. I hope you enjoy the new floors. I'm jealous
Can I use that on the raw edge of the tile in the shower? Basically to cover the terra-cotta edge to match the tile color
Thank you
Wish this product would come with a narrow nozzle tip for wall tiles re-grout jobs.
I just used the grout refresh today. I really like the results. My question is..I have a lot left in my bottle, does it get dried up in the bottle? I will probably have to retouch it in time. Thank u for posting.
Zep grout cleaner is amazing
Agree. Ive used the baking soda, toilet bowl cleaner, bleach etc and nothing worked like zep
Thanks
Hi! Comprehensive video. Which grout cleaner did you use?
Hi Michael thanks for sharing. I wanted to get the exact products you are using. I was hoping to get the name of the grout cleaner but you did not give the name of the product. Your video led me to believe the cleaner was professional grade quality. Hoping you show the actual name of the product as well as the manufacturer like you did for the MAPEI. thanks 🙏
Mapei Grout Refresh (hallway) and Polyblend Grout Renew (bathroom). These are separate brands. They both recommend different cleaners on the back of the containers. The one I used has been discontinued, but this is similar: www.custombuildingproducts.com/products/aqua-mix/cleaners/aqua-mix-aquashield-cleaner-resealer.aspx. It works great to maintain *after* you've used either the Grout Refresh/Grout Renew. If you're just trying to clean the title before the process, I would suggest Goo Gone.
❤ thank you
I have a question. it works on any color or we have to buy according to the color we would match on the area we went to work with.
ty
Not so good to be messy when re-grouting tumbled travertine tile. Thank goodness I decided to try the technique out behind our shoe/sitting bench. Trying to clean it up some with GooGone Latex paint remover.
Acetone is very effective for a deep clean of this product. It will not hurt your Stone either.
@@michaelgreen2775 Thank you.
No offense, but DUH! Travertine is a natural, POROUS material which means it absorbs!
How would you use it on the small shower wall tiles? Pour into a container and brush on?
Can the 1st product be used to tiles that don't have a shiny finish?
Great video Michael! How long will the Grout Refresh on grout last? It's because our dog will sometimes pee on the tiles and I'm sure some will land on the grout.
Excellent video. Why did you use grout refresh in one area and grout Renew in the other? I need to do my bathrooms floors and shower and kitchen floors.
Only used different brands because of the colors. I prefer the result from the Polyblend brand, but the color of the other one was better for the living area.
Hi Michael...I have done my 2 bathrooms using a paint brush....need to tackle the larger Kitchen space. Why does the toothbrush work better....I found the paint brush a bit annoying. Trying to paint in the lines to make it perfect....thinking of using a toothbrush.
The toothbrush gets in the grout better and I don’t try to be perfect applying it - I wipe off the excess. If you try to apply it perfectly and paint in the lines it takes too long.
Thanks for this video. Can the Grout Refresh be used on Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA (it's a power grout). Will it take? I put the grout in and it looks too light and want to darken it up.
Did it work? Our situation is exactly the same as yours.
Do you think the sealant helped you at all???
Good video, I have the same tile, which grout renew color did you use for yours?
Thanks. The bathroom was Linen from Polyblend... and the hallway was Bone from Mapei.
Can I use any of those in my bathtub grout tiles??
I’ve been looking at what I can use to clean my grout for a while.
Let me know how it goes
I just bought Grouteez from Amazon. It comes with the solution and a scrubber that attaches to a broom handle. It works well. I also use oxyclean and it works just as well. A good scrubber is needed.
Hi and thanks for the video! Any ideas for how to apply Grout Refresh on a pebble shower floor where the grout isn't in straight lines?
From my experience it really doesn't matter if the grout isn't in a straight line because you are going to have to use some elbow grease to get it off anyway. It's not supposed to stick to the pebbles. You could try to go slowly and more carefully and see how it goes.
Let's see an update on how the sealer performed!!!!!!
It held up really well. I just used that cleaner on it when it got dirty. I am selling that property, so I can't give you another video.
Can you leave to “set” with the wet method for longer? Wondering what would happen?
Sure
Will... Well I already taped off all my tile with painters tape. Plan to use the nozzle bottle and small brush.. Will it just remove the tape being wet? Can you meticulously apply, like with a paint marker?
When I tried to be meticulous (used painter's brushes) it still made a mess and was hard to get good coverage. That's what led me to the method in the video. I know at one point I tried with painter's tape. It wasn't bad -- just took a long time to put down the tape.
when do you know you have to do this ? I am having a hard time figuring out if i need to do this to my grout or just do a deep clean
Try a deep clean first. The product I used to deep clean is called Goo Gone. It worked great on my tile. I knew it was time because the cleaning didn't work in *all* places.
Any product preferences. I'm trying to figure out which product will last longer. Any thoughts or is it too soon to know? Thank you for the helpful tips!
It's a toss up but I might try polyblend (second one) first. My bathroom looks great
I used Poly for my kitchen, it lasted 3 years with 3 kids. Awesome product
Can u used the grout refesh (the one u can seal also in the shower area? That’s where I have the stained grout from 1950s style that I can never keep clean
yes I used in shower
What if you are using a pebble mosaic? Is there a penetrating stain that will soak into the sanded grout joints?
This would probably be a mess on pebble. Sorry I don't have any idea what you should try
Michael, did you take any extra precautions to avoid scratching the tile when you were removing the dry excess and second question, did you try applying the grout renew in such a fashion that you were able to avoid much "spill over" onto the tile? Or perhaps that would make the procedure too slow. Thank you
In the past, I tried the precise method and found it to take forever and still required some cleanup. That's why I use a sloppier method now.
Where do I get the little piece of rubber to rub the product off of the tiles?
Mine was from a hardware store in a tile caulking kit, but any piece of rubber will do or even a plastic credit card.
Hey Michael, do either of these products actually stain the grout or is it more like paint? During the clean-up process it looks like paint.
More like paint
I was just looking for this kind of video. How does the bathroom tile look after a few months of applying the Poly blend Grout Renew? I'm trying to see if one does better than the other. Thank you!
I think the PolyBlend brand may be slightly better. It also cleaned up very nice with the solution every week.
@@MichaelSaves Thank you do much for taking the time to reply!
Does the product soak into the grout or does it look rubbery, like what you scraped off?
It soaks in. It is designed to stick to the grout, not the tile.
You think grout renew would work on shower floor? I have tried deep cleaning grout, Just can't seem to get grout all the same color to reseal. Shower is only 2 yrs old. I Fud sealing grout or doing shit job. Afraid renew might peel or flake off and look worse in few months
It has worked on my shower floor and also my mother’s. Let it dry 72 hours in a shower
I’ve used grout refresh twice since November 2021 and it’s time for a third application in high traffic areas. Do you suggest I stick with the grout refresh and add thre sealer or should I try the grout renew?
I found the Grout Renew lasted a bit longer. I used Grout Refresh in a lot of places and did touch-ups as well. I sold that condo, so I can't give you more recent pictures.
Thank you for your video! Can this fill in a few missing grout spots or is this strictly for re-coloring? Thanks in advance.
I used some tile grout from Amazon to do repairs before the paint.
Do we need a grout sealer to do the shower?
No there's sealer in these products already. For the shower, directions say let it dry 72 hours.
I bought the biscuit but the color is white. Was yours accurate with the color you wanted? Thank you.
Yeah. Biscuit was definitely not white
For the toothbrush in the wet method, did you use soft, medium or hard-bristle?
It was either soft or medium.
Can you use Mapei Grout Refresh to fill in any small grout cracks or small crumbling grout?
I have used Red Devil Tile Grout on Amazon for missing grout and then apply the Grout Refresh after. It works well. I did this last week in another area.
I did something similar but instead of the silicon tool I used a safety razor.
Great video, thank you for sharing. Are these refresh & renew products thick like grout? Do they not add height/bulk/product to the grout? Meaning, if you keep applying it over the years, there will no longer be a lower grout line, it will level off with the tile? It just looked thick to me but maybe it's just more like a thinner stain and not like a thicker grout? Thx
They are thin like paint
@MichaelSaves I appreciate your reply, great video(s), very helpful to me! 🍻
Can you use this on shiny, slick tile? We just laid the tile a year ago and now it’s all red looking even after many cleanings with a toothbrush. It’s not sealed bc we were told it would make the tile hazy (it’s a white and gray faux marble with white grout).
This is only for the grout, not the tile. Have you used Goo Gone on the tile to clean it? I'm not sure if it works with your material, but that product is great for tile.
@@MichaelSaves I’m sorry, I should have said the grout is all red but we were told that certain cleaners for the grout could cause the tile to haze since the cleaner gets on the tile itself.
@@andreatackett9207 this will not make the tile hazy or stick to it. It only sticks to the grout. It comes right off the tile with water or even just a paper towel
My home is 2 years old. In some areas the grout is really low. Can I just add pre mixed grout on top after I clean it really well, do you know?
Good question. There were some places where my grout was MISSING. I used this product from Amazon (Red Devil 0425 Pre-Mixed Tile Grout Squeeze Tube) and then let it dry. After that, I applied the colorant that I mentioned in the video. Easy fix.
@@MichaelSaves thank you!
Do you need to stay off the tiles for 24 hours after it is finished?
They say that and for wet areas (like a shower) 72 hours. But for the dry areas, I didn't wait -- I was just careful not to step on the lines or put a rug down.
cant I just use paint tape around the lines so the grout stuff is only going in the line
I have tried that before. Took me a long time, but it worked
I wonder if it works for shower grout stained from years of hard water
It does
Can you use in a shower tile floor? Will daily showers remove it? Thank you. Great video.
Yes I used it in the shower. I had to let it sit for a longer time. (I want to say 48 to 72 hours.)
Thank you for the info. Again great video.
Do not use sealer on top of poly blend! It’s bad news. I’ve used both products grout refresh and grout renew. I’m currently using the grout refresh and you can tell the difference right off the bat. Poly blend goes down less patchy than grout refresh, however the color is very inconsistent. My linen color turned pink and it was a nightmare but if you get the right color it’s fine. Poly blend only lasted 6 months for me and it did not seal right. Acrylic on high traffic area just seems wrong to me. I used the dry method for grout refresh for 75% of the flooring. I’m going to use the wet method for the last 25% because for large areas the dry method is just too much.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Yes, I did mention at the end of the video that customer service told me no sealer for Polyblend. I also noticed the products are quite different, but the results have been great for both. I kept the bottles and just did some touch ups as needed.
Would a plastic putty knife work as well as the grout tool that you show in the video?
Yes I think so. I did a short update video here and changed my method ua-cam.com/video/3qeFJaVjYeE/v-deo.htmlsi=rVXp3v5hPIuR0JnB
What spray did you use for cleaning the tile beforehand?
It's been discontinued, but they make another kind now: www.custombuildingproducts.com/products/aqua-mix-aquakleen
I am doing 2 smaller bathrooms. How many bottles of Grout Refresh do i need to complete the job in the bathrooms?
Probably just one
Does either product add to the grout? Our contractor overwashed so the grout is very thin in some areas (in additional to discoloring).
No. In your case, you could try to get some grout filler on Amazon. I did this in some places. Then, after it dries according to the instructions, apply either of the products shown in the video. This is the product I bought: Red Devil 0425 Pre-Mixed Tile Grout Squeeze Tube, 5.5 oz., White. Of course, if it's in a big area -- you could hire someone to re-do it and make it look amazing.
@@MichaelSaves Thank you. All the contractors I talked to are too busy to want to come and dig grout out. Haha.
Did you apply this in the shower? Wonder if it works on the shower tile floor?
Yes -- and waited 3 days before using the shower
Can I use this in a shower stall? Thx
Yes let it dry 3 days
How good is the new grout if it will come off with a mopping?
It doesn't come off with mopping
Which do you prefer between the two products for durability?
The Polyblend one
Hi Michael! Can I use Mapei Grout Refresh on epoxy grout lines?
Yes! I believe so. Just check the product description before you buy it.
@@MichaelSaves thank you!
What about cleaning the dirt from your grout lines?
You do that before using the product. After applying, clean as normal
Oxyclean in a spray bottle, clean water spray bottle, towels, and a toothbrush. Did 1200sq ft in about 4 hours
I used my steam cleaner it comes with several small brushes..i use a bath towel to dry any water left behind by the steam..
Hi. Can it be used in a shower grout?
Yes I used it in the shower. I waited 3 full days for it to dry.
Ok I just say this thx. Do you need to put a sealer on top of it?
@@ccbest21 no there is sealer in it
IS THERE ANYWAY TO MAKE IT LAST I DID A SAMPLE SPOT LET IT DRY FOR 3 DAYS TOOK MY FINGER RUBBED IT BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES AND THE PRODUCT RUBS OFF LIKE A PAINT
The product does not rub off for me. Maybe call the manufacturer and explain your specific situation, including the type of tile and grout.