Grout: Paint it, or keep trying to clean?

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

My grout is dirty. I know it's dirty because it looks white in some places and gray in others. Nice. I optimistically bought a good bottle of grout sealer, thinking I would just give it a good scrub and then seal it.

Here's what I've tried:

1. Vinegar
2. Baking soda
3. Baking soda and straight bleach
4. Oxyclean
5. Clorox clean-up with bleach

No results. It is still dirty.

Is it time to try just painting it, or should I try some other cleaning mechanism? The only other thing I can really think of to try is renting a steam cleaner. We are talking grout both in the shower area and on the floor (I have actually not tried to clean the floor grout. I've just been doing a test patch in the shower area.)

There are 2 affected bathrooms, but I have only tried cleaning one. I guess I'm assuming it will be the same kind of dirt in each!

[kendallf]

You might just want to scrape it with a small grout remover and regrout.  You can buy a grout remover that looks like a toothbrush with a carbide or diamond grit covered blade.  Scrape all of the grout lines, buy some new grout, and re-grout.  That's often easier and will give a better result than trying increasingly invasive cleaning methods (i.e., steam).  You can then seal your fresh grout.

[BlueHouse]

I've painted grout before and it's the best solution.  There are special paints made for grout, but really the important part of that is the applicator.  It's a shoe polish sponge.  So use any paint, sponge it on, then wipe the excess off the tiles.  Don't forget to seal it very thoroughly.  It will stay nice and clean forever. 

[Weedy Acres]

Look into Grout 66.

[Bob W]

Light sandpaper works great.  Then you can stain with grout stain and seal or seal twice.   Talk to the pros at home depot as they have all the stuff there and free popcorn on Saturday.