# How to remove stains from unsealed sanded grout? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463 "2018-04-15T20:29:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/1 "2018-04-15T20:29:40Z")
How to remove stains from unsealed sanded grout? Our counter has sanded, unsealed grout which is stained and discolored. We need to get it all one color again so we can have it sealed. We have tried white vinegar, SoftScrub, and oxygenated foaming bathroom cleaner but nothing seems to work. Home Depost suggested that we use an acid wash but said it could damage the tile and we really don’t want to take that risk. A quick Google search seems to indicate using an oxygen bleach cleanser in powder form. We need some solid advice from anyone who has actually had to deal with this situation? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/2 "2018-04-15T21:30:09Z")
They make sort of White Out pens for brightening grout at Home Depot etc. > **[Rejuvenate White Grout Restorer Marker Pens RJ2GMW - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rejuvenate-White-Grout-Restorer-Marker-Pens-RJ2GMW/203221031)** > > Make all your bathroom and kitchen surfaces look new again with the Rejuvenate White Grout Restorer Marker Pen. It's designed to instantly color and cover stained, dirty or old grout. It restores grout If your tile or surface isn’t white, you may want to mask it first or quickly wipe any excess after. As for cleaning, OxyClean or bleach (might want to water it down first) may work. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/3 "2018-04-15T23:33:35Z")
I think those white out pens are actually a latex or similar compound and it’s fairly difficult to do a professional looking job with them. Are you going to have a professional seal your tiles and grout? If so, why not ask them about the stains? ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/4 "2018-04-16T00:44:58Z")
I have unsealed sanded grout that I personally put down, and decided not to seal it. You pays yer money and you takes yer chances. I have been laying down some pretty heavy duty acid cleaners with no results whatsoever. The solution can only be a [Grout Saw](https://www.amazon.com/Kraft-Tool-ST147-Grout-Saw/dp/B00BUCNNJW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523839165&sr=8-3&keywords=grout+saw&dpID=21QmvJIt4CL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch). Big nasty project. Replace the grout. Then seal it. Or pay somebody else to do it. Seriously, I hope someone comes along and says I’m wrong. Please. Other than that, no. Can’t be done. ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/5 "2018-04-16T04:54:09Z")
Use this stuff. I’ve had good results with it. Buy some grout brushes and towels also. It comes in different colors. > **[Custom Building Products Polyblend #333 Alabaster 8 fl. oz. Grout Renew...](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Building-Products-Polyblend-333-Alabaster-8-fl-oz-Grout-Renew-Colorant-GCL333HPT/205299499?MERCH=REC-_-NavPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-205299499-_-N)** > > Polyblend Grout Renew is a waterborne acrylic stain and sealer for renewing or changing the color of cement grout joints. Formulated with fade-resistant pigments, Grout Renew seals the grout against stains You will be painting over stains in essence. If you can, I would clean it and extract the dirty water from the grout canals with a wet/dry vacuum. Allow it to dry thoroughly and then color the grout lines. ---
**Author:** ![VictoryLap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9d8465/32.png) [@VictoryLap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VictoryLap)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/6 "2018-04-16T09:25:50Z")
I’m assuming you are talking about the grout between the tiles (not sure but I can’t really picture a benchtop made entirely of grout so I’m going with it…) If so I used to clean houses for bond cleans, use straight bleach. Use it again. if two hits doesn’t improve it remove all grout and regrout it you have no other option I am aware of cheers 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/7 "2018-04-16T12:02:35Z")
I’ve had good luck with using oxyclean and water mixture. Also did a test of like five different cleansers for soap scum, and “bar keepers friend soft cleanser” (not powder) was clear winner I know that wasn’t your purpose, but might be worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/8 "2018-04-16T17:45:33Z")
I think the answers are coming down to “Don’t have unsealed grout in a place like this, unless you’re OK with the inevitable staining”. Don’t forget that deciding to live with the current stains may relieve a lot of headaches and expense. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/9 "2018-04-16T17:58:12Z")
Dremel tool and one of their grout removal tools. You can go for the full blown kit, the bit that does a little bit at a time, or the grout blade for the multi-max if you have a steady hand and a lot to do. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/10 "2018-04-16T18:55:00Z")
I’ve cleaned my sanded grout with bleach water and a toothbrush. It was fine, except the edges of my tiles got extra clean so I had to give them more love when I was done. My parents had their grout painted/stained professionally, using probably what \*\*LAZombie \*\*linked to. That was several years ago and it still looks very good, so I would recommend that too. Cleaning or staining - six of one half dozen of the other! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/11 "2018-04-16T21:56:46Z")
I used some of that toilet bowl cleaning gel that has bleach in it - the kind that comes in an angle-necked bottle. Wet the grout lines and the gently squeeze a thin bead of the bleach-y gel along each line. Scrub along the lines with a grout brush and let it sit for fifteen minutes or so. Then come along with a thoroughly wet mop and mop up all the gel. This may take several moppings to get it all. It works well, but if the grout’s not sealed, it’ll just get dirty again. Next time I think I’ll get a concrete floor. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-stains-from-unsealed-sanded-grout/812463/12 "2018-04-16T22:19:25Z")
I regrouted a kitchen counter, by digging out the old grout with a Dremel with a grout remover blade. It was a very tough tedious job. It took at least 10 hours to clean out a 10 foot by 4 foot counter top. I wouldn’t recommend this except as a last resort, unless there’s some other reason to replace the grout.