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Does anyone have tiled counter tops in their kitchen ? Do you like them...or are you like me...wish you didn't.
I never dreamed how much I would hate the grout ! Not practical at all for kitchen counter tops, (my opinion). My house is only 2 years old, they are very pretty, but I get so tired of worrying if I have them clean enough (sanitary). I use a diluted bleach and water solution on them each day and I'm sure they are fine. But it sure takes more effort than just wiping down the counter tops and being done.
The older I get, the more I look for simpler kitchen care. Maybe I'm becoming more of a minimalist these days. lol This seems to be the same complaint I've had about my ceramic stove top. I just want to simply wipe it down and be done.
We live 10 miles out from town and there are no fast food places around. So naturally I cook and prepare food every single day. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Do any of you have tiled counter tops, and how do you like them ?
If anyone is considering it... here's a good opportunity to think it over. Wish I had. Now I'm trying to figure out how to convince DH that we need to RE-Do them already. lol
I have tile and I hate it--but it's more because of the look than the cleaning. Mine are ugly white tiles with really wide brown grout lines, I think they're the ugliest thing ever! Needless to say they were inherited from the previous owner, not installed by me. It is a little hard to clean because the grout lines are very wide, I think if the grout lines were narrower it would be much easier to clean and I wouldn't have a problem with it (except for the look).
I just hate it when I go to wipe it off and I have to keep wiping to make sure the crumbs are all out from the grout lines. Unlike formica or granite, which can be wiped clean with one motion, without worrying anything is left behind.
I think I'd be happier with a plain ole formica than this stuff. I know I can't justify re-doing the counters so soon with something expensive like a granite etc... but I don't mind. Formica would suit me just fine. There are lots of nice colors and patterns. I wish I had just gotten that to begin with.
Hindsight is always 20/20. LOL.
I hate tiled countertops. One hting you might try every week or so is the Tide? Bleach Pen, run it along the grout, let it set a minute or tow, then take your diluted bleach mixture and wipe the whole thing down, and rinse with clean water.
Au contraire... there is a technique to doing the grout so it doesn't absorb, nor crumble. Takes a LOT of elbow grease, but it works.
Grout a small section, then take dry grout and a rag ball. Rub the dry grout into the wet grout... soon you'll have just a residue. Wipe it off, and apply more, until the grout lines won't absorb any more. You will end up with almost an epoxy finish. Lasts for years.
MissTxKitty--I think you mean the Clorox bleach pen, Tide has a pen too but I don't think that one has bleach in it, fine for removing stains on clothes but don't think it'll do the job on the grout.
darius--any way your technique can be done after the fact without removing all the existing grout and starting over? Most of us I think inherited our tile countertops already finished so we're stuck with the grout job we have, or a ton of work to redo it completely.
PeggieK. Sounds to me like you have scrubbed away the sealer on your grout. Sealer really does need to be renewed every few years. If you can get the grout clean enough to your satisfaction you can renew the surface by adding a new sealer. You can get it at building supply stores such as Home Depot. Or Lowes, or anyplace that sells tile.
Other wise, you can regrout using the tile saw to remove the old grout. You will still have to seal the new grout, every few years or so, if you are a chlorine bleach and grout scrubber. These practices will corrode the grout, make it more porous, and remove the finish.
If you do have the re-grout the technique Darius describes will give you a better surface so you can enjoy your tile. Tile has been used as a work surface for 1000s of years. But it does require appropriate care.
