Does Grout Renew Work? Here’s 3 before & after examples, easy DIY steps, and a full review from years of using Grout Renew to paint my grout.
Does Grout Renew Work?
Yes, absolutely. And, I love this stuff! I’ve used Polyblends Grout Renew on 4 rooms in my house.
Once with a dark grey grout and 3 times on a white grout. It’s always easy to use and looks like new grout when I’ve used it.
Grout Renew is an acrylic stain and sealer in ONE. That means you can paint the grout renew color onto the grout and the built in sealer helps to protect it from future stains.
The sealer in Grout Renew also makes it easier to clean spills off of the grout. Just be sure to follow the directions on the bottle of Grout Renew to make sure you get the best results.
Let’s start with some before and after pictures from rooms in my house where I have used Grout Renew.
Table of contents
Grout Renew Review
After trying tons of grout cleaners, grout pens, and grout paints with sealers, I can absolutely say that Grout Renew is my all time favorite way to restore dingy grout.
But, why would you want to use Grout Renew or any grout paint?
Well, after years of use and stain build up, grout can look a lot darker and dingier than it should. We’re always spilling food and drinks on our kitchen grout. Eventually those stains set in and won’t scrub away.
But, luckily, there is an easy way to make your grout look new again.
I shared these before and after pictures of my kitchen grout in a how to whiten grout post a couple of years ago. It’s one of my most popular posts and videos on my YouTube Channel.
The first time I tried Grout Renew was 8 years ago, in our guest bathroom. I spent 2 weeks trying every product I could find, every Pinterest trick to make this dingy grout white again. Nothing worked.
Then I found Grout Renew at Home Depot and decided to give it a try. It was so, so easy! The grout was white again. I wrote this How To Change Grout Color post all about that first room.
I used the Snow White color of Grout Renew to paint that bathroom and kitchen grout. It’s a nice shade of white that matches almost everything.
Available Grout Renew Colors
Polyblend sells Grout Renew in around 40 different colors. So, it’s pretty easy to find a matching color for your tile.
You can find most of Polyblend’s Grout Renew colors on Amazon. Home Depot generally has 10 or so Grout Renew colors available in their store.
You can also find some of the Grout Renew colors in Floor & Décor locations.
How Do You Fix Inconsistent Grout Color?
Luckily, there is a pretty easy way to fix an inconsistent grout color. You can apply a matching Grout Renew color to turn your patchy grout one solid color. And, it’ll only take a few hours.
Want to know how I know that Grout Renew can fix inconsistent grout color??
Well, I used a dark grey Grout Renew color on bathroom grout that I had just installed. See, I accidentally messed up the mix on the grey grout I was using. So the grout color looked a bit blotchy in spots.
Using grout renew on blotchy or uneven grout color can easily make the grout color solid and like new!
Grout Refresh VS Grout Renew
I’ve used Grout Renew on 4 rooms in this house, because it always does an amazing job! I tried Grout Refresh on 1 room, our Master Bathroom, and was not impressed.
When it comes to Grout Refresh VS Grout Renew, I found that Grout Refresh was more of a paint to use, harder to apply, and didn’t work as well as Grout Renew.
When I remodeled our Master Bathroom, I used Mapei grout from my local Lowes. I am a big fan of Mapei premixed grout and their LFT thinset. They both work well.
So, even though I already LOVED Grout Renew, I thought I’d try Mapei’s matching Grout Refresh color when it was time to refresh my white bathroom grout.
BUT, the results with Grout Refresh weren’t great. So, I had to spend the next weekend going over my bathroom grout with Grout Renew instead.
How to Use Grout Renew
BEFORE STARTING
Be sure to read all instructions and warnings on the Grout Renew bottle. There may be something about your type of tile that requires extra steps. So, make sure you don’t miss anything.
How To Use Grout Renew
- Start by cleaning your tile floor. I used my Steam Mop to clean the tile.
- Apply the recommended type of Grout Haze remover for your type of tile. Check the Grout Renew bottle to find out which one you need to use and how to use it properly.
- Once the Grout Haze Remover dries, apply the Polyblend Grout Renew with an artists paint brush or toothbrush.
- Work in small sections so you can wipe the Grout Renew paint off the tile before it dries. Replace the rags you are using with new, dry rags as they get dirty.
- Let the Grout Renew dry. Repeat with a second coat of grout renew, if needed.
How Long Does Grout Renew Last?
This depends on how much traffic and spills the floor gets. In a home with the average number of people and spills, you might need to reapply the Grout Renew every 2 to 3 years.
Just be sure to never clean your grout with a solvent after using grout renew. Mild, safe cleaners work well at cleaning grout.
Also, don’t use stiff bristle brushes or rough scrubbing pads to clean grout. Use a soft bristle brush or rag when you are cleaning your grout after using grout paint.
Grout Renew Instructions Video
If any of the steps for how to use grout renew to paint grout are confusing, I highly recommend watching this short video.
Hopefully seeing exactly how to apply grout renew can help clear up any confusion.
More DIY Posts About Grout & Cleaning Floors
- How to Clean Marble Shower Tile And Grout (Easy & Safe Steps & Video)
- How To Whiten Grout & Make It Look New: Easy Steps & Video
- 8 Popular Tile Cleaners People Use That Damage Your Grout (and Sealer)
- How to Clean Grout Without Damaging Grout Sealer or Grout Paint
- 4 Super Easy Steps To Fill The Gap Between Cabinet and Floor
- Is A Steam Mop Good For Tile Floors? With Tips For Cleaner Floors!
- What To Use In A Bissell Spot Cleaner: 5 Best Alternatives
You might also like this DIY for how to safely clean shower glass door with marble and stone tile.
This tutorial for how to clean car seats at home is one of my most popular.
Here’s how to Caulk a Kitchen Counter. With easy steps and a video to help you do it!
And, if it is time to Stain your Front Door, check out these steps for how I restain a front door without stripping it or removing it. 🙂
Feeling inspired? Now that you’ve read these tips for how Grout Renew works, you can do it too. Let me know if you have questions. Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.
How to Use Grout Renew to Paint Grout
Does Grout Renew Work? Here's a before and after review from years of using Grout Renew to paint my grout. With easy DIY tips for beginners!
Materials
- Polyblend Grout Renew
Instructions
How to Use Grout Renew to Paint Grout
BEFORE STARTING, be sure to read all instructions and warnings on the Grout Renew bottle. There may be something about your type of tile that requires extra steps. So, make sure you don’t miss anything.
- Start by cleaning your tile floor. I used my Steam Mop to clean the tile.
- Apply the recommended type of Grout Haze remover for your type of tile. Check the Grout Renew bottle to find out which one you need to use.
- Once the Grout Haze Remover dries, apply the Polyblend Grout Renew with an artists paint brush or toothbrush.
- Work in small sections so you can wipe the Grout Renew paint off the tile before it dries. Replace the rags you are using with new, dry rags as they get dirty.
- Let the Grout Renew dry. Repeat with a second coat of grout renew, if needed.
Notes
How Long Does Grout Renew Last?
This depends on how much traffic and spills the floor gets. In a home with the average number of people and spills, you might need to reapply the Grout Renew every 2 to 3 years.
Just be sure to follow your normal cleaning routine. Like, I said earlier, I use a steam mop on my tile weekly to keep it clean.
And, I gently spot scrub stains off the grout with a soft toothbrush or another soft bristle brush, as needed. The sealer included in the Grout Renew paint makes it easier to quickly clean stains off the grout.
What Does Grout Renew Feel Like
After applying Grout Renew to your grout, it feels and looks exactly like newly installed cement, or sanded grout.
Sometimes people ask me questions about whether or not it peels off or looks shiny. I think they must be imagining it's like apply nail polish to grout. Or maybe they think it's like a paint on latex wall paint with sort of a plastic-y feel.
Cement grout is porous. The Grout Renew Acrylic stain soaks into the pours and bonds with it. Grout Renew permanently changes the color of your grout. But, it will still feel and look like grout.
How Long Does Grout Renew Take to Dry
The Grout Renew bottle says that the floor will be ready for light traffic after 4 hours. You should avoid getting water on the grout lines for 72 hours after applying Grout Renew. But, it feels dry within an hour.
I usually do this at the end of the day or right after I drop my kids off at school so that I can be sure no one walks on it for a while.
Does Grout Renew Need to Be Sealed
Nope, not at all. The sealer is built into the Grout Renew paint. So, once you finish applying the paint to the grout lines, you're done!
Stephanie Abbott has been remodeling homes, updating & building furniture, and working on DIY home maintenance and cleaning tips for over 20 years. Her remodeling has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. And, her DIY YouTube channel has had more than 8 million views.
Most of the DIY tutorials and videos on this site focus on beginner to intermediate level DIY Projects that can be done in an affordable way without high-end, expensive tools. All of the cleaning tips on this website have been tested in her home.