I have 1.5mm of white grout between rectified white tiles on my kitchen walls as a splashback (or backsplash in North America*) behind the sink and cooktop and I'm concerned about stains from food and mould.
I've read on the web I'm supposed to seal the grout using a soak-in sealant in what sounds like a very time-consuming prcoess that has to be repeated every year, forever.
Is there a more long-lasting way to do this?
Surely just using that new "no-mould-for-five-years" white silicone sealant would be better than that?
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((* this is hilarious – I'm imagining some dopey kitchen contractor who says it wrong migrating from the US to Australia or vice versa and everyone picking up the wrong term))
Best Answer
You want to apply a penetrating grout sealer. This one says that it last up to 5 years depending on conditions.
The key for the sealer to last as long as possible on a backsplash is to avoid cleaning it with "harsh cleaners" like bleach and antibacterial sprays. You want to use something that is not going to remove the grout sealer when cleaning the backsplash. They sell specific cleaners that are easy on the grout at the tile shops, but I have read that just using diluted white vinegar works.