Spring is here, and that means it's time to take a close look at the tile in your tub or shower. If it looks like the image above, it's time to call your landlord...
Bathroom Month: The Grout Chore, Part I
Grout is what turns tile into a relatively waterproof surface for the walls of your bathroom or shower. Note that we said relatively: most grout is actually designed to be slightly water permeable. That's so that any water that gets behind the tile through a small or large crack can get back out instead of contributing to mold and mildew in your wall. That also means that it needs periodic maintenance, or you can end up with a mushy wall.
It's a good idea to look at your shower or tub walls about once a year and honestly assess their condition. If the grout is intact, good news: all you need to do a deep cleaning. Green tip: try scrubbing on a paste of 3 cups of baking soda moistened with water before advancing to toxic bleach-based cleaners. If there are a few spots of grout missing here and there, it's time for a deep cleaning, as many days of drying out as you can manage (start to befriend your neighbors now!), and a bit of repair. And back away from that tube of caulk you just picked up! We'll cover why the only place caulk belongs is in the corners.
If you're the unfortunate soul who happens to own the tile above, we pity you. We hope you're the masochistic sort who likes mind-numbing, back pain-inducing DIY projects. If not, you'll want to call a good tile installer... or stock up on your painkiller of choice.
Comments (8)
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I am currently debating what to do with the tiles in my new rental. My landlords seemed to think a fresh coat of white paint would have solved tile grout troubles. Now my shower is going through its own dandruff problems!
view Hollie's profile
we have a really grody shower/tub tile situation in our rental, too :(
view mrs's profile
My bathroom tiles look exactly like that, except with disgusting black mold staining every crevice. My landlord doesn't see this as a problem. I plan on caulking the darn things and hoping they don't fall out before I can afford to buy a place that I can actually renovate.
view nycflatcats's profile
My husband and I own a tile business and see many showers just like this one. Looks like someone has cleaned with acidic cleaners or bleach until the grout came out. If all tiles are intact, you can: 1) regrout using epoxy grout or, 2) regrout, then seal with a good penetrating grout sealer, or stain with epoxy grout colorant.
A few tips for existing showers: Use liquid soap (bar soap has additives and emollients that cling to the grout and cause mildew). A good ventilation system really helps air to circulate, so the shower dries quickly. Seal grout with a good quality, penetrating grout sealer. Clean with a phBalanced cleaner (to prevent stripping the sealer off).
Tips for new showers: Be sure it is actually waterproofed, using a special waterproofing membrane or waterproofing system (many to choose from). It is rare to see anyone actually waterproof showers, seems they don't think it's important until really nasty things occur. Waterproofing is key to less maintainence.
Hope this helps.
view marshamarsha's profile
Hi marshamarsha,
By a waterproofing system, do you mean plastic sheeting and cement backerboard?
view figs's profile
Hi figs,
Schluter Systems makes a wonderful waterproofing membrane, KERDI, that you can use directly over the sheetrock. They also make a drain system that makes floating the pan easier. There are other waterproofers that can be painted or rolled on (Redguard). Whatever you use, just follow the directions completely.
view marshamarsha's profile
I had tried everything green & not to clean my shower stall. I live in the country & had yrs of hard water build up with soap scum. Yucky, I know. I had such terrific luck with Lysol "power"toilet bowl cleaner in the goose-necked bottle cleaning 30 yrs of rust buildup from the toilet bowl, that I thought I'd try it on the shower. It is amazing! The tiles & grout are like new, no exaggeration. I donned heavy rubber gloves & safety glasses & squirted it all over & spread it with one of those scotch brite telescoping scrubber things. I let it sit for a couple of hrs, scrubbed it again & that was it. It even did the glass of the door. Now I use it every few mos. for maintenance.
view passsy's profile
Mine has looked like this forever and finally the tiles have begun to fall out. Behind it is essentially black powder - I'm guessing the wall itself is being held up by mold. I love New York landlords! I will have to re-grout and retile on my own if I want to protect my health.
view HFG's profile