This bathroom and shower enclosure at a home in Central Manchester needed a complete refresh. Over time, the grout had become heavily discoloured, losing its original cream appearance and becoming stained with dirt and mould. In several areas, black mould growth was particularly noticeable, leaving the tiled surfaces looking tired and neglected.
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Unsure what to do the owner contacted Tile Doctor for advice on the best way to restore the installation so I popped over to offer an opinion. The tiles resembled Travertine but were in fact Ceramic or Porcelain which are very low maintenance and an excellent choice for bathrooms. Grout however with its rough cementitious surface does attract dirt which it’s always the grout that lets down a bathroom like this one first.
During the inspection we discussed several restoration options and I recommended that they best way forward would be to apply a grout colourant that would restore the appearance of the grout and protect it going forward making ongoing maintenance much easier. I worked out a detailed quote which was accepted and a date scheduled.
Grout Cleaning and Preparation
To prepare the grout Tile Doctor Grout Colourant Pre-Treater was sprayed onto the grout and tile and then left to soak in. This product is designed to deep clean and condition the grout surface while creating an ideal base for the colourant to bond effectively.
Focusing mainly on the grout lines the treatment was scrubbed in and then thoroughly rinsed with clean water to remove any remaining dirt and product residue. The area was then dried using a heat gun to ensure the grout was ready for the next stage of the restoration.
Applying Tile Doctor Grout Colourant
The customer had selected a cream shade from the Tile Doctor Grout Colourant range, as it complemented the surrounding beige travertine effect tiles and would create a more uniform appearance throughout the bathroom.
After confirming the grout was completely dry, two coats of Tile Doctor Grout Colourant were carefully applied using a small brush. The colourant was worked directly into the grout lines, with any excess removed from the tile surfaces before drying. Once cured, the epoxy-based formula forms a durable protective barrier that helps resist staining and makes routine cleaning significantly easier.
Replacing the Silicone Sealant
To complete the refurbishment, the existing silicone seal between the bath and tiled walls was removed. The old sealant had become stained and affected by mould, so it was carefully stripped out and replaced with a fresh application of mould-resistant white silicone, providing a clean finish that matched the bathroom suite.
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The entire project was completed in a single day. The restored grout and new silicone sealant transformed the appearance of the bathroom, and the customer was extremely pleased with the result.
For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro, it’s a gentle but effective Tile and Grout Cleaner that comes with a trigger spray so very easy to use in a bathroom.
Source: Professional Grout Cleaning and Protection Service in Central Manchester
Mal Malic is your Manchester expert in tile, stone, and grout maintenance. As a trusted agent of Tile Doctor—the UK’s largest professional tile, stone, and grout restoration network—Mal has access to specialist products and proven techniques to tackle a wide range of cleaning and restoration challenges. Whether interior or exterior, domestic or commercial, you can rely on expert care and outstanding results.