Both silicone and mineral grouts have in common that after some time they stop decorating and begin to disfigure the surfaces they are applied to. First, they start to get dirty, then they crack, and gradually crumble. A wall or floor tiled with visible, damaged grout looks unsightly. Fortunately, this is a problem that can be solved in a relatively simple way. Check our ideas for replacing old grout with new ones.
What's the deal with these grouts?
Sometimes there comes a moment when looking at a wall or floor of ceramic tiles, you conclude that they no longer look as good as they once did. If it's not that you've grown tired of the color of the tiles or their decorative pattern, then the problem is probably the grout. Even if you try to take care of it, over time it may start to crumble and fall out, leaving behind unsightly gaps. You can try to fill them, but sooner or later you will need to replace the grout in the kitchen or bathroom.
The comforting thing is that if you have a little time, you can do it yourself; removing grout does not require calling a professional. You just need to remove the old grout and put in a new one. If you have had enough ineffective grout cleaning, replace the dirty grout with new ones. Its replacement won't take too much of your time, and you don't need to have any specialized tools or chemical preparations.
How to start removing the grout?
Removing silicone joints is not as difficult as some might expect. It takes a little patience and precision, but it is doable. It's best to equip yourself with a grout removal knife and systematically "dig out" the pieces of silicone found between the tiles. You can use chemical preparations that soften old grout, but this is just an auxiliary method, as no agent can dissolve silicone grout. The products available on the market are completely safe for tiles and will not cause discoloration.
As for removing mineral grout, you can use mechanical devices to facilitate this task or do it manually with a scraper. This task is quite tedious, but if you have to remove grout from a small area, you will definitely manage this way.
Check to make sure you really need to replace the grout
Before you start removing the joints, check whether it is really necessary. Sometimes it may turn out that the silicone grout darkened with dirt can be effectively cleaned. Try scrubbing the old grout with a sponge and dish soap, and you may find that the cleaned grout looks quite decent? Check this especially if you own grout in a light color.
If the grout is covered with mold stains, it is worth treating them with a suitable mold remover. Most of them have whitening properties, so it may turn out after cleaning the grout that the joints are not damaged and you don't actually need new grout yet. Special markers for repainting grout and grout paints applied with a small brush are also interesting solutions.
Removing grout, step by step
If the main problem is crumbled mortar, there is no other way; you have to remove the damaged grout and replace it with completely new mortar. If you decide on the manual method of removing grout, it is worth equipping yourself with a special scraper, which will definitely facilitate the work. Protective gloves will also be essential. When cleaning wall tiles, you should start by removing the old grout located at the highest point, otherwise, falling dust will settle in already cleaned grouts.
When getting rid of old grout from the floor, start from the farthest point of the room and systematically move towards the edge. It is worth remembering not to scrape too deep, after all, it's only about replacing grout, so a gap of one centimeter deep should be sufficient.
Time for new grout!
After removing the old joints, you should thoroughly clean the entire surface and wash it with a sponge soaked in warm water, and then you need to dry the tiles and the gaps between them. The next step is to apply the grout, and when placing fresh mortar, it is good to pay special attention to the tiles laid on the corners of the room and joints with kitchen countertops. A rubber trowel will come in handy for this task, which is used to apply the mortar and then removes the excess material from the joints and tiles.
Next, we wipe each joint with a damp sponge, which will allow for the final smoothing and leveling of the joints. Once dry, you can thoroughly clean the entire floor or wall, and you can enjoy your new grouts. So you see that to replace the grouts, you do not actually need any special skills or complicated equipment. You do not need to call a professional for the grout renewal; simply devote a little time to it and you will manage on your own.