Here's how to clean your grout so your tile looks its best

Tile is tough. In fact, the "weakest link" in this material actually is the grout. Grout can become stained or cracked, and it needs to be replaced sometimes. It may seem like an exhausting project, but it's really not that hard, and it sure can make a huge difference when repaired correctly.

Cleaning grout is best done with vinegar and water and a small scrub brush or toothbrush. Bleach also is a great cleaner. Be careful with both materials.

To get a "new" look, you might be able to use a grout colorant or grout paint. Most come in an easy-to-use applicator bottle, and you even might have a choice of color. They also usually are waterproof.

If the grout can't be cleaned or painted, then you probably should think about replacing it. First, figure out what type of grout you have. Usually you will find that grout that is wider than 1/8 inch is a "sanded" grout, while smaller grout lines are unsanded. In especially wet areas, the original grout might be acrylic-based or epoxy grout. The next thing you need to find is the correct color grout.

To remove the old grout, use a grout saw. This is a small, hand-held tool that you rake through the joints to scrape out the old grout. There also is a tip that you can buy to use with a rotary tool to accomplish the same task with much less work. Vacuum away all of the dust before putting the new grout into the joint(s).

Follow the package directions for mixing your new grout, and spread it evenly into the spaces between the tiles with a rubber float. You can use your fingers if you want, but try to wear rubber gloves, especially with the sanded grout. Smooth the grout to the same level as the surrounding grout, and make sure to clean off the face of the tiles before the grout starts to dry.

To keep your grout looking good, apply a grout sealer to the surface. This will prevent most stains from settling into the grout. You may want to reapply it every year or so.

Don't throw away those scraps of house wrapping

Tyvek and similar house wraps are great protection in your walls when building or adding onto your home. The scraps, whether they are yours or someone else's, also are pretty handy. This material is thin and lightweight but very strong and waterproof. Cut yourself an apron out of a scrap and use it in the shop or garden. It can be turned into a great cover-up for a grill or patio furniture. Or make a super banner to advertise your garage sale.

Washers help give tarps longer life

Plastic tarps are perfect for covering up things in a hurry when you don't want them to get wet. They also can be used as a great temporary shade when working outdoors. The grommets that are built into many make it easy to use rope to tie them in place, too. But eventually the ropes will start to tear the grommets out of the plastic. We have found that if you add a washer on either side of the built-in grommet, the rope will abuse these instead of the grommet. The washers need to be large enough to fit over the string and also not slip through the grommets. A bag full of washers costs a lot less than a new tarp would, too.

Super hints

• If you have a mix of furniture in your home and don't have the budget to buy all matching pieces, just use some paint. Paint everything the same color, and the pieces will look good together. It's a simple solution to what could be a costly renovation.

• Cleaning tools, like sponges, scrubbers and brushes, can and should be cleaned in your dishwasher periodically. It also will sanitize them and keep you from spreading germs around your home.

• Don't throw away the last few charcoal briquettes. As long as they are plain briquettes, you can use them to absorb odors and moisture in basements, closets and other damp, smelly places.

Q. My toilet sweats a lot during the summer, like I do. I want to see if there is some way to cut down on this. It's starting to cause a moisture problem in the bathroom. What do you suggest?

A. The cold water in the toilet tank is attracting the moisture from the room to condense on the side of the tank and drip off. The moisture in the room needs to be reduced, so if you shower in this room, run the exhaust fan longer. Keep air flowing in the room whenever you can; don't keep the door closed. A coat of paste wax on the tank takes away the cold surface. It will have to be reapplied at some point.

Q. We are trying to sell our home, and we washed our fence, but it still looks dirty or faded. Is there anything else we can do to make it look better?

A. We like to use a chemical fence cleaner that contains oxalic acid. This cleans the wood so much that it looks like new wood again. If you use a penetrating stain over that, it will stay looking good for a little longer.

Q. The brick on the north side of my house has some dark stains on it. I believe the stains might be mold. I've tried using water and soap but can't get the stains off. It is shady on that side of the house, but I can't do anything about that. Is there a way to remove the stains?

A. Mix up a spray bottle with half water/half bleach and spray it on the dark stains. Be careful not to get too much on shrubs or grass. Use a scrub brush to clean off the stains. Once it is clean, apply a water seal to the bricks to prevent it from coming back. You will have to do this once a year.

Reader tips

• I was cutting through a piece of pipe with my hacksaw. I use it because it works so fast, and I prefer doing things by hand to using power tools sometimes. I needed the slit to be a little wider than the blade, so I put a second blade into the saw frame. The two blades, side by side, made a wider cut in the pipe, and I didn't have to go back and widen it with a file or anything. Two blades are better than one sometimes.

• We finally replaced our old, plain mailbox with a brick-covered box at the curb by our home. It looks so nice, and should last a very long time. The old one had to be replaced several times. I took the old mailbox and put it in the backyard, and now use it to hold some of my hand tools, used when gardening. It's a great place to store them and keep them handy and dry. When I find a weed that needs to be pulled or a limb that needs to be trimmed, my tools are right there and ready to use. I even have a vine growing up the post that the box is on.

• I really have enjoyed having a dust collector on my sander. What a difference it has made in my shop. And then, I accidentally tore it. I tried to patch it but couldn't, so I tried to find one at the hardware store. No luck. I finally tried a paper vacuum-cleaner bag that I had in the house, and it worked. I bought some more, so now I have a disposable dust collector.

• I have taken your advice and keep a few tools and supplies in the trunk of my car just in case I have a breakdown while traveling on the highway. I have added something that might come in handy for others as well - an oven mitt. After suffering from a radiator leak, I found that an oven mitt would be good to have on hand, literally! It allows you to handle hot engine parts and get back on the road faster.

• I have a hose reel that takes care of my water hose, but I didn't have a great place to store the wand or sprayer that I use sometimes. I mounted a small soap dish on the wall right next to the outside faucet. It's a great place to keep small items like these, and it has drainage holes in the bottom so it doesn't hold water. It was simple to install right on the wall.

Shop talk

• Ask the Experts is a new radio show featuring Super HandyMom Kelly Carrell and co-host Kent Patterson. Each Saturday, a new home-improvement topic will be presented, along with an expert in the field to answer your questions. The radio show airs in the Dallas/Fort Worth market on KSKY 660 AM from noon to 1 (CDT), and also will be available online via www.ksky.com. Keep up to date with the schedule through the www.thesuperhandyman.com website, and feel free to call in during the show to ask questions at 866-660-KSKY (5759). Tune in and get answers to your questions every Saturday.

• Grilling just got a lot easier and more convenient with the new EZ Grill. It's a disposable instant grill in a box. It's available in two sizes and can be used just about anywhere a standard grill can be used. Slip one in your camper, and it will be ready to go when you are. Take it on your next family outing. All you have to do to use it is shake the grill to evenly distribute the charcoal, place the grill on the metal stand and light the corner of the starter sheet. After it has burned for about 15 minutes and the flames have died down, you can cook your food. Make sure the coals are out, and throw it away. There's no need to clean it or store it. To find out more or to find a local dealer, visit the company's website at www.ezgrill.com.

• Baking soda isn't just for baking. As a matter of fact, it can be used for all sorts of things in the shop and home. Baking soda doesn't cost very much, and just about everybody has a box or two in the house, so why not use it to its full potential? We have put together a list of some of our favorite uses.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells' website at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.