Comments on: How to clean the grout around my 50s and 60s bathroom floor tiles? Sleeping Bee Alice finds an answer http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/ A place for your postwar 40s 50s 60s and 70s style kitchens, bathrooms and mid century modern home aesthetic. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:35:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sirbunsalot http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-40808 Sirbunsalot Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:16:20 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-40808 I was wondering if there is any way to reglaze the tile ? I'm renovating a bathroom built in 72'. There is salt and pepper tile on the floor and around the tub but the tile on the floor seems a little dull. Thanks I was wondering if there is any way to reglaze the tile ? I’m renovating a bathroom built in 72′. There is salt and pepper tile on the floor and around the tub but the tile on the floor seems a little dull.
Thanks

]]> By: daviskyle001 http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-34545 daviskyle001 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:28:38 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-34545 I am having wonderful luck with the zep. I will upload photos if I can later. I have found that it helps to scratch the grout surface with an exacto blade. My tile is 50 plus years and has never been taken care of. I am sure I can reseal the grout later!! I have also taken off a disastrous shower door. It looks wonderful and makes the bathroom feel so much larger!!! Oh, and by the way, my tile is pink! I am having wonderful luck with the zep. I will upload photos if I can later. I have found that it helps to scratch the grout surface with an exacto blade. My tile is 50 plus years and has never been taken care of. I am sure I can reseal the grout later!! I have also taken off a disastrous shower door. It looks wonderful and makes the bathroom feel so much larger!!! Oh, and by the way, my tile is pink!

]]> By: Dan http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-34338 Dan Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:33:24 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-34338 Zep is great stuff, but you have to be careful. Its active ingredient is oxalic acid. Oxalic acid does the same thing as chlorine bleach, but more strongly. It chemically releases oxygen when you use it. It's really oxygen that does the whitening. But all such treatments, this includes Zud, a similar cleaner, have to be used with care. They can release powerful fumes which can be toxic. Always use them in well ventilated areas. Zep is great stuff, but you have to be careful. Its active ingredient is oxalic acid. Oxalic acid does the same thing as chlorine bleach, but more strongly. It chemically releases oxygen when you use it. It’s really oxygen that does the whitening. But all such treatments, this includes Zud, a similar cleaner, have to be used with care. They can release powerful fumes which can be toxic. Always use them in well ventilated areas.

]]> By: Brownie http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-31384 Brownie Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:13:20 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-31384 I was way excited about the Zep cleaner but got spotty results. I followed the directions on the bottle. Any tips with this cleaner would be appreciated. How long to keep it on, How many applications, ETc... I was way excited about the Zep cleaner but got spotty results. I followed the directions on the bottle. Any tips with this cleaner would be appreciated. How long to keep it on, How many applications, ETc…

]]> By: karmi_woolfe http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-16238 karmi_woolfe Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:18:36 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-16238 Please... if any of you need 4" ceramic tile to finish/repair a project(it generally truly measures 4 3/8"), send me a pic, and I will let you know if I see it at my ReStore. They have a ton of it and are threatening to throw it away. I've vowed to buy it all before I let them do that! I have tons of pink on auction, but there are many other colors available. Email me at karmi_woolfe (at) yahoo dot com and I'll be glad to keep you in mind as I search. Please… if any of you need 4″ ceramic tile to finish/repair a project(it generally truly measures 4 3/8″), send me a pic, and I will let you know if I see it at my ReStore. They have a ton of it and are threatening to throw it away. I’ve vowed to buy it all before I let them do that! I have tons of pink on auction, but there are many other colors available. Email me at karmi_woolfe (at) yahoo dot com and I’ll be glad to keep you in mind as I search.

]]> By: bepsf http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-15865 bepsf Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:11:40 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-15865 I use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser on the tile and grout in my bathrooms - I'm always amazed at how well it works... ...it removes the hard water spots from the glass shower doors and chrome faucet hardware too! I use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser on the tile and grout in my bathrooms – I’m always amazed at how well it works…
…it removes the hard water spots from the glass shower doors and chrome faucet hardware too!

]]> By: laradevil http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-15714 laradevil Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:05:16 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-15714 For those of you who have not discovered the Grout Scrub Brush - it is a must have. It really helped me clean the grout in my bathroom without touching too much of the tile. This might help for those that are concerned about damaging the tile. I think I bought it at Menards - but any home improvement store would have it. I would also like to add - I have a similiar blue tile in one bathroom & pink tile in another. I had a couple areas that I am going to try the zep on that I could never get clean! For those of you who have not discovered the Grout Scrub Brush – it is a must have. It really helped me clean the grout in my bathroom without touching too much of the tile. This might help for those that are concerned about damaging the tile. I think I bought it at Menards – but any home improvement store would have it.

I would also like to add – I have a similiar blue tile in one bathroom & pink tile in another. I had a couple areas that I am going to try the zep on that I could never get clean!

]]> By: sleepingbee http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-15694 sleepingbee Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:49:39 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-15694 here's site that I found that looks like some useful information for terrazo cleaning http://www.aldonchem.com/mt-terrazzo.htm here’s site that I found that looks like some useful information for terrazo cleaning
http://www.aldonchem.com/mt-terrazzo.htm

]]> By: sleepingbee http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-15691 sleepingbee Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:45:37 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-15691 kittymommy, I have not found the solution to vertical cleaning of the grout. I tried a small spot of the Zep on the vertical surfaces and it just didn't penetrate well enough to work (and wastes product). I would reiterate Pam's caution to us: the light glaze on the tile surfaces can easily scratch. Mine were already scratched so I took the risk and it was worth it...and the tile condition did not worsen. Try to be very exact with the application of the product as it is a form of acid, so it could possibly etch your tile as well. kittymommy, I have not found the solution to vertical cleaning of the grout. I tried a small spot of the Zep on the vertical surfaces and it just didn’t penetrate well enough to work (and wastes product).

I would reiterate Pam’s caution to us: the light glaze on the tile surfaces can easily scratch. Mine were already scratched so I took the risk and it was worth it…and the tile condition did not worsen. Try to be very exact with the application of the product as it is a form of acid, so it could possibly etch your tile as well.

]]> By: kittymommy http://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/10/how-to-clean-the-grout-around-my-50s-and-60s-bathroom-floor-tiles-sleeping-bee-alice-finds-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-15396 kittymommy Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:53:05 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=5390#comment-15396 I was excited to try Zep, but the two places I want to use it are on terrazzo floor tile and shower (wall) tile. According to the instructions on the Zep Grout Cleaner, you cannot use it on vertical surfaces or terrazzo tile! Hmmm...any suggestions? Thanks! Susan I was excited to try Zep, but the two places I want to use it are on terrazzo floor tile and shower (wall) tile. According to the instructions on the Zep Grout Cleaner, you cannot use it on vertical surfaces or terrazzo tile! Hmmm…any suggestions?

Thanks!
Susan

]]>