How to Seal Grout in 11 Easy Steps

Sealing your grout is an important step in home maintenance. Grout is a porous substance so it absorbs water and is prone to staining, cracking and bacteria growth if it isn’t sealed. The good news? Learning how to seal grout is an easy DIY project that offers long-term protection for your floors and walls. You don’t need to hire a professional or own specialized power tools; if you can wield a paintbrush, you can seal your grout like a pro.

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11 Easy Steps For Sealing Your Grout:

Every product is different, so read your instructions carefully to be sure we aren’t steering you wrong based on your product. But the basic steps are usually similar:

1. Clean thoroughly.  We have detailed instructions on how to clean grout in this article. Use hot water (1 gallon), bleach (⅓ cup) and powdered Tide® (1 tsp) to scrub your grout. You can go heavier on the bleach and Tide® if you have tough staining. If your tile is marble, use a mix of dish soap (blue Dawn®) and water. No bleach!
2. Allow the grout to dry completely. Any moisture still in the grout will be sealed in when you apply the sealant so this step is super important. 
3. Ventilate the room while you apply the sealer. Open a window and run your exhaust fan. 
4. Apply grout sealer to grout. We used this one (USA) (Canada) and are very happy with the results! You can buy a special applicator bottle (USA) (Canada) which has a roller brush on the top to make it easier to apply by simply rolling along the grout lines. But you can easily use a foam brush or paint brush to paint it onto your grout.
5. Wipe away excess product, especially from the surrounding tile. You do not want sealant drying onto your tile.
6. Wait 1 hour to allow the product to set properly. Check the instructions on your product for specific times. 
7. Apply a second coat (again, check your instructions for recoat times).
8. Wipe off excess from tile.
9. Allow your product to dry once again.
10. Test the seal by dripping some water on the grout, and see if water beads up or soaks in.
11. Repeat if the water does not bead.

Watch Sarah in action sealing her shower grout in this video:

That’s it! Now your grout is sealed and you can shower or cook without worry of staining or water leaks through the grout.

Starting a home reno or new home build and want to know the best products to choose for your home? We have a Home Renovation Guide for that. We’ve taken our years of experience cleaning all kinds of homes and surfaces; and we’ve seen what stands up to years of torture, and what’s easiest to clean. Trust us, that matters in the long run. 

Becky @GoCleanCo