Should backsplash grout be sealed?

3 years ago

Contractor is finishing up our kitchen reno. Now that we can finally cook in our kitchen again, I was disappointed to find cooking grease stains in our backsplash grout that I haven’t been able to remove. When I questioned our contractor, his response was that ”we never seal backsplash grout anymore because homeowners aren’t happy with the way it turns out.” Supposedly, using sealer can result in inconsistent grout color. So a few questions…. Should the grout have been sealed? Should we attempt to seal it ourselves, since the contractor is unwilling? Is there a way to remove the grease stains? I tried a highly rated cleaner ( Granite Gold Grout Cleaner), but the grease stains remain. Pictures show tile and grout, with a close-up of the stained area. Any advice is appreciated - thanks!

Featured Answer

Susie .

3 years ago

This usually always works for me: mix a little Dawn soap (maybe a tsp) with some baking soda and just enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. It needs to be just thick enough sit on the vertical surface for a few minutes before scrubbing. Use a toothbrush or small cleaning brush to scrub, then wipe with a clean microfiber cloth and water. If that doesn’t work, custom makes a grout cleaner (at Home Depot) that works well, but you probably have the soap, baking soda and peroxide at home already. I have never sealed my backsplash (it’s white on white) and don’t have any stains. I seal showers and floors though, because they’re more difficult to clean.

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Comments (6)

Sherry Brighton
3 years ago
We had to seal our grout in both bathrooms and kitchen when renovated. If sealing is in the contract then yes, they need to seal it, if not sealing grout is not a horrible task and worth the effort
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Tallulah B
3 years ago
My contractor also told me they don’t seal grout. It isn’t a hard task, just repetitive manual labor that requires being attentive for spills. I would look up recommendations for what sealer to use, and rub it in yourself. You’ll likely need to do it again every year or two to maintain the seal.
dhkcpa thanked Tallulah B
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krissie55
3 years ago
Try rubbing dry baking soda into the grease spots, leave on for a while and brush off. Repeat if necessary. The grease will be absorbed into the baking soda.
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DeWayne
3 years ago
Just poultice it, and allow to dry. https://stonetooling.com/miracle-sealants-poultice-plus-powder-1-lb/ Then seal. https://stonetooling.com/miracle-sealants-511-porous-plus-pint/
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porkchop_z5b_MI
3 years ago
Depends on the grout. TEC Power Grout does not need to be sealed; other types do. IME Power Grout isn't impervious to grease, though -- I did get a small amount of grease splash that did take some effort to get out, but I've had no other staining.
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