Asked on Oct 13, 2020

How to prevent grout from changing to darker color when wet?

Tcab
by Tcab

I have new bathroom floor tiles. I noticed that the grout changed to darker color when wet. My tiles and grout are light gray but the grout change to dark gray when wet so my floor looks so dirty. What can I do to prevent this? I know I should have sealed the grout before using the bathroom. Any help is appreciated.


  21 answers
  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Oct 14, 2020

    Probably should have sealed it, I have used on my older tiles bleach pen which took away the darker color. https://amzn.to/34Qv50A

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Oct 14, 2020

    Yes, you should have sealed it, yet it may not be too late. Let the grout thoroughly dry (maybe use fans) and the seal when dry. They have the product you need at diy stores.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 14, 2020

    Hello,

    Should have used a waterproof Grout originally, but go to DIY and buy a Sealer as soon as you can, and keep the area dry as there is no point sealing in the wet!

  • That's an easy fix. Clean the grout well and let it dry. Use a good sealer on it and you'll be all set. Keep in mind, it will need resealing occasionally.

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Oct 14, 2020

    Yes, you need to seal the grout and let the sealer dry for 24 hours.

  • Janice Janice on Oct 14, 2020

    A clear sealer will remedy your problem.

  • Em Em on Oct 14, 2020

    Home Depot sells a grout sealer in the tile department. Use two coats.

  • William William on Oct 14, 2020

    Yep you need to seal the grout. It will look darker when wet cuz water absorbs into unsealed grout.

  • Yes, grout sealer will prevent this a protect your grout moving forward. Too much water in the grout might lead to mold gathering or the grout itself breaking down and loosening in the space.

  • Catherine Ballard Catherine Ballard on Oct 14, 2020

    You'll need to seal the grout - once you do that, it won't change color anymore!

  • Mogie Mogie on Oct 14, 2020

    The only way is to seal the grout.

    A sealer acts like a barrier in between the grout and the outside world, effectively stopping any water, dirt and other contaminants to enter.

    High traffic areas or wet areas like showers that see a lot of water would definitely benefit from an annual application of a quality sealant.

    That is why using the a quality grout sealant for shower tile floors is a very popular task for modern home owners as it saves time cleaning in the long run.


  • Dee Dee on Oct 14, 2020

    Buy a product called Mapei Grout Refresh. It is easy to use, just tedious to do if the room is large. It has a built in sealer.


  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Oct 15, 2020

    Make sure you don't use for a while in order for the grout to completely dry. Once it is clean and dry, you can seal it. It is normally recommended to re-seal every few years so it doesn't have to be done immediately after the job is finished.

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Oct 15, 2020

    Do they lighten back when dry? If so, no problem. You can always seal the grout at any time. The grout can be removed and re-grout floor. We have grout that never needed sealer. Still look good after 3 years.

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Jul 11, 2021

    Let the grout dry thoroughly and then seal it.

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 10, 2022

    Hello, the only way to avoid this is to seal the grout, that way it won't darken when wet, hope this video helps you out,

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkmErGLH1DY

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Nov 28, 2023

    Did you end up sealing it?

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Dec 11, 2023

    It sounds like it wasn’t properly sealed because you test for when to re seal by checking color change and if it still bubbles. You need to get it sealed as soon as you can.

  • Dee Dee on Dec 11, 2023

    Get Grout refresh. It has a sealer in it. You can buy it on Amazon and get the color closest to your grout. No sealing necessary because it is included in the product. I used it on both my bathroom floors when we installed them. To clean your grout, combine one-part 3% hydrogen peroxide and one-part water into a spray bottle. Spray your grout generously and let the solution sit for about 1 hour, to allow time to work. Rinse the area with water and wipe clean with a microfibre cloth.

  • Ultimately you probably won't be able to unless you use a very very water-repellent sealer. Try cleaning the grout well, let it dry completely, and use a sealer. It's a common thing for grout to darken when wet.