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How To Update Your Bathroom Economically!

What if the mildew is deep or under the caulking?

Follow above after you take a utility knife and laying it flat on top of the tub or shower just slide or cut the caulking. Then do the same with it against the wall. Those cuts will take the edge off the caulking. Now you need to cut into the caulking towards the wall as if you are cut out a "V" shaped piece. If there is still some left you can take a small screw driver to get the rest out. Now proceed with the above cleaning and rinsing!

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Where to Start Bath Update

Take a note pad with you and walk up to the door of the bathroom and see what you notice first.

Do you see an overall mess or a few things you don't like or are out dated? Write down those things and why you need to change them. If it is just black mildew around the tub see the solution down the line for that. Grout can be cleaned the same way. 

Lots of Little Things

There are lots of little things you can do to change a look of the bathroom and you can do them economically! Paint it a new color. Remember it is only paint and it can be changed if you don't like the color. Wallpaper is another option. Shelves if you have the room. A few different tiles to replace a few old ones really give it a change of how that old shower with the fish tiles looks.

How do I caulk the edge of my Tub & Shower?

Get some Tub & Tile caulk in the color of your fixtures and follow the instructions on the tube. Put some blue tape even with the face of the tile on the top tub surface where the caulking will be placed. A good trick is when you have some caulking on in a nice small bead just large enough to fill the groove take a wet finger and press in as you slide it along to make a smooth bead. when it has set a few minutes pull the tape up carefully and you should have a nice even line. Wipe off any excess that might come out past the tape. Let it dry for 24 hours before you get it wet again!

If you have that mildew look around your tub or shower. Get out that old tooth brush, bleach and same amount of water, rubber gloves and your eye protection. Don't need that much of the solution. Mix them together. Dip the tooth brush in the solution and brush it on the mildew until it is gone. That will do the surface type. Rinse well with clean cold water and sponge.

Easy Step, Grouting Below

Sealing the grout in your bath to keep the water out!

Then you need to seal it, check that out here!

Tools you will need

You will need to get a GROUT GETTER (tool for scraping out grout) a small cell sponge, two clean buckets one 2 gallon and a small one or pan to mix grout in, shop Vac, Grout float, mixing trowel or a stick will work, screw driver about as wide as your grout joints, utility knife, roll of paper towels, drop cloth or plastic to cover the cabinet and floor, painter's tape.

Re- Grouting or Filling In

If your grout is looking old, there are companies that will re-grout or even stain your grout another color. If you want to do it yourself then try these steps to change the look! If tile is in good condition, new grout can make it look new again.

Start by using the Grout Getter and scraping with it back and forth without scratching the tiles. Use it slowly until you get a feel for it. slowly. You will need to get the old grout down an 1/8 inch or more. Any still left on the tile, you can take off with a utility knife. Vacuum up as needed and completely when you are satisfied it is ready to grout. If you are good with power tools you can use a grout cutting tool or bit with your dermal tool but takes a lot of practice. Once you are ready to grout rinse off the counter or surface with a sponge and cold water. Dry it with a paper towel thoroughly. Less water eh?

Keep in mind that once you mix the grout it will start setting up quickly so you need to practice a little with a couple of tile. You can make a practice board with four tiles and a grout line. Glue them with silicon or caulking to a piece of wood. Do your time test there not on your counter or you might be grinding it off the next day. Only mix a little at a time. A cup will work to start with and then you can decide from there how much to mix for the next round. Mix it to a consistency of tooth paste and let it sit for 5 minutes and re mix the grout. Mix it slowly and for a short time. This is called grout tempering.

Then take your float with your rubber gloves on and scoop some out. Work with your float at about a 20 degree angle diagonally across your tile both ways, forcing the grout into the joints and packing it in. Look for air bubble that might pop and leave a hole. The top of the joint should look fairly smooth without gouges or streaks in them. When you have used up the grout in your grout pan,  use the float at a 45 degree angle and scoop off any grout that is still on the surface of the tile. If you leave it it will harden on the surface and you will be pulling up tiles to get it off. Now you are ready for first cleaning of this area when the grout is firm.

Now that the grout has started setting you need to take your sponge and wet it, then squeeze it out so that it is just damp and wipe lightly in a circular motion. Rinse the sponge frequently and squeeze it out again. If your water get slimy feeling empty it and clean the bucket, then fill it with fresh cold water. The idea is to clean the surface of the tiles off without adding to much water to the grout. This will make your grout weak and can fail later. Once you feel they are clean let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour. Press your finger nail into the grout and it should just go in a little way but with some pressure.

When it is ready to clean use the clean cold water again with the damp sponge and work the joints lightly wiping them to make them even smoother and more uniform. When the grout dries again the tile will have a dusty look to them, you can take a paper towel and wipe the tiles off trying not to disturb the grout. You can also get a white scrubby pad with a holder that keeps it flat and wipe across the tile without hitting the grout. The grout should be just a little lower than the top surface of the tile. When all done let it dry for three days without getting any water or liquids in general on the grout. Then polish and seal.