The Answer To Your Question Is…YES!!

Well, that is, if your question was, “Can grout be painted?” Okay, so maybe that wasn’t so much your question as it was my question. And it’s a question that’s been on my mind for about three weeks now.

I know, I know…I can hear you now. “But Kristi, isn’t your grout brand new?”

Yes. Yes it is. And I’ve been unhappy with it from day 1. I used a pre-mixed grout from Home Depot. I checked and double checked to be certain that I was purchasing Bright White, and I know for sure that I used it according to the directions. But for some reason, it turned out looking dingy and dirty. There was certainly nothing “bright” about it.

So yesterday, I decided to go for it and see if I could remedy the situation.

I grabbed my paint–not pure white, but the same white I’m using on all of my trim.

And I used the best tool I had for the job.

After applying paint to a few lines of grout, I used my handy sponge (don’t worry, this isn’t the one I use on dishes) to wipe away the excess paint. The green scrubby side of the sponge came in handy on those spots where the paint had started to dry on the tile.

Here’s a comparison of the painted grout and unpainted grout. Ummm…I’m hoping I don’t have to specify which side is painted and which side is unpainted. 🙂

Can you tell a difference? The difference is even more noticeable in person.

It’s probably seems like a pretty tedious project, but it actually goes quite fast. I learned that it’s much easier to do just a three or four lines of grout, and then sponge off the excess, rather than doing a larger section of grout before sponging it off. That way the wet paint wipes right off, and there’s less (or no) scrubbing necessary.

I also want to point out that I used this process on glazed tiles and unsealed grout. I have no idea if this process would work on sealed grout, and I would certainly never…EVER…try this on an unsealed/unglazed tile, like an unsealed slate. I would also be hesitant to use it on a floor (especially in high-traffic areas) and wet areas, like bathrooms. I do think it’s perfect for a backsplash, though. So if you happen to have unsealed grout, and your not happy with the color, this is a great solution!!