Grout

The best method for keeping your grout clean depends on the level of staining or discoloration. For light cleaning, use warm water and a stiff brush (specifically made for cleaning grout). 

Tougher jobs call for a one-to-one solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the area down, wait 5 to 10 minutes, then scrub with your brush. For even more cleaning power, add water to baking soda until it creates a paste and apply it before the vinegar. If the mess is too much, you can call a local tile and grout cleaner.

You can use sanded or unsanded grout for a shower pan, but sanded grout isn’t the best option for shower walls. For those areas, you’ll want to use unsanded grout, which works well on vertical surfaces and is less likely to slump than sanded grout. Alternatively, you can use epoxy grout for shower walls.

It’s very likely that your new grout won’t match your old grout perfectly. But if the difference is very noticeable, you can fix it with a grout colorant. All you have to do is match the colorant to the old grout and then paint it onto the new grout, making sure to wipe any excess off of the tiles quickly.

Sanded grout contains particles of sand, making the grout more resistant to cracking. This durability makes sanded grout well suited for tile floors. It is also less prone to thinning out and forming bubbles when it cures, so you can spread it into larger joints.

Unsanded grout is much smoother, so you will want to use it when working with tile made from glass or polished stone. Any sand could leave scratches on the tile’s surface. The lack of sand also makes unsanded grout thinner, making it best for tile joints that are less than one-eighth-inch thick.