Best Grout Cleaner and Grout Sealer: Out Top Picks

It's common for the average homeowner to overlooking sealing his or her grout. It's also a common belief that cleaning a tile floor on a consistent basis will minimize the need to seal and protect the grout.

This is a huge misconception, for the fact of the matter is, cleaning grout can actual promote stains, discoloration, and weaknesses in grout.

Grout that has not been sealed is highly susceptible to staining. In fact, the common cause of staining is often the result of cleaning the tile floor with a mop and bucket of water. During the floor cleaning process, the mop water becomes dirtier and dirtier after each rinse. When dirty water meets unsealed grout, it penetrates the material and causes discoloration and weaknesses between the tile.

So whether you've used grout for many years, or are installing tile floor for the first time, sealing your grout is paramount to protect against stains, discoloration, and weakening.

Here at Granite n' Grout Gurus, we came across two do-it-yourself grout care products that clean, restore, and seal grout for optimal protection. We have found these products to be the best for grout cleaning and grout sealing.

Our Pick for the Best Grout Cleaner and Restorer

If you're looking to restore existing grout that has some staining or discoloration, you'll want to clean the grout first. One of the best products to clean your grout is Grout Guard Restorer. What makes this the best grout cleaner is how the product works wonders in lifting stains and restoring severely discolored grout, with minimal effort.

Additionally, Grout Guard Restorer is safe to use on all types of tile flooring, including ceramic, porcelain, quarry, terra cotta, and brick. The price of this grout cleaner is about $30 for the 8oz container. Given the amount of coverage this option offers (100 square feet per 4 oz) and the professional-quality results, the $30 is a very economical price.

Our Pick for the Best Grout Sealer and Protector

After using the Grout Guard Restorer mentioned above, seal and protect your grout with the Grout Guard Protector. The D.I.Y grout sealer is a clear, water-based sealant is colorless, odorless, and completely safe to use on almost any kind of grout. After using this grout sealant, we've found that it is very reliable in warding-off stains from water, dirt, and oils.

The Grout Guard Restorer is one of the best grout sealers we could find, and it's comes highly acclaimed by many trusted sources (namely Martha Stewart Living magazine.) What makes this the best grout sealer compared to other grout sealants is that it releases vapor transmission when applied, which allows the grout to breath. This help to protect the the grout from shrinking or cracking, as well as ensuring that the grout sustains its original texture and appearance.

The Grout Guard Protector is $28 for the 8oz option. According to the supply, this should cover 200 square feet of grout. The supply also has 16oz and 40oz options for about $48 and $78 each. Click to see this grout sealer.

The Takeaway

So for a modest sized floor, you can get the 8oz sizes of the Grout Guard Restorer and the Grout Guard Protector for about $60 together. You may also need some basic tools to clean the grout and apply the sealer. All-in-all, you can manage to restore and seal your grout for under $100 with these two amazing products.

8 Tips to Get the Most of Your Granite Countertops

Most homeowners will agree that granite countertops are some of the best that you can get. Not only are they durable, but they are quite aesthetically appealing - making them both functional as well as beautiful. 

Investing in durable granite countertops does not mean that you can neglect to clean and maintain them. For this reason, below we offer some great tips to get the most out of your granite countertops:

 

1.   Avoid droping heavy items the granite countertops. Although this material is quite hard and sturdy, it is prone to chips and can even break if you are not careful. This is especially true if the countertops take a hit on one of their fissure lines. You should be careful when putting down heavy object on the countertops as well as when you are lifting them.

2.   Never stand or sit on granite countertops. Just as heavy object can break or chip them, placing too much weight on them at a time could also cause the countertops to break.

3.   Use cutting boards when cutting vegetable, fruits, met and so on. Most people are quite tempted to simply cut these items directly on the countertops. Remember that the countertops come with a sealer so as to protect the granite. Cutting directly on the granite will damage the sealer and possible crack the granite. In addition to this you will also ruin your kitchen knives.

4.   Never place hot pot or pans on top of granite. Although it is quite difficult to melt or burn the granite, the heat from the pots and pans will definitely ruin the sealer that the granite has been treated with. Place the hot pots and plans on a hot pad.

5.   Clean granite countertops on a daily basis. When using a granite countertop cleaner, use a soft cloth and some warm water or a mild granite cleaner. This will ensure that dirt and dust are kept at bay without interfering with the shine of the granite. If a spill occurs, ensure that it is cleaned up immediately so as to avoid any staining. If extreme staining does occur, you may need to invest in granite cleaning services.

6.   Buff granite countertops from time to time. It is good to take the time and buff granite countertops once in a while so as to get rid of any streaking that may have occurred over time. This can be easily done with an old terry cloth towel that is no longer in use.

7.   Polish the granite, there are stone polishes specifically for granite to ensure that they remain looking shiny and new plus help prevent any staining from occurring. This can also help to restore granite to look like new.

8.   Seal the granite occasionally. When you have the granite installed in your home, it will be sealed at the time of installation however, this granite sealer will disintegrate over time and would be as useful to the granite anymore. As such, you should seal the granite after every few years so as to increase its shelf life.

Due to how beautiful they are as well as durable, granite countertops are considered to be one of the best options one could make for their home. Using the best practices of granite countertops care and maintenance goes a long way to best ensure lasting allure and functionality.