Has your tile and grout seen better days? Have you tried every possible cleaning product, only to be left with stained grout that reminds you of a seedy motel? The good news is if your tile is still in good shape, you don’t have to rip it out. You can simply replace the grout. It’s a bit messy and time-consuming, but doesn’t require special skills and costs almost nothing.

You will need:

• Plastic drop cloth
• Dust mask and goggles
• Masking tape
• Power drill with a Carborundum bit or Dremel tool and bits
• Handheld grout saw
• Paint scraper with a teardrop head
• Small grinding stone
• Grout
• Rubber grout trowel
• Grout sponge
• Shop vac
• Rags
• Grout sealer

1. PREP THE AREA. The grout-removal process is simple, but messy. Before you start, remove everything from the bathroom you don’t want covered in grit and tape a sheet of plastic over the doorway to separate the work area from the rest of the house. Cover the tub with a drop cloth so that you don’t grind the grit into the tub and damage the finish. Wear a dust mask and eye protection.

2. REMOVE THE OLD GROUT. Start on a horizontal grout line at a comfortable working height. (For me, that’s about shoulder height.) Cover the tile on each side of the line with a 2-inch piece of masking tape to protect it if you slip.

With the drill or Dremel, cut down the middle of the grout line. The depth of the cut should be a little more than half the thickness of the tile. Avoid cutting into the drywall or backer board under the tile.

Use the handheld grout saw and the paint scraper to reach areas you can’t get at with the power tools and to remove the grout along the edges of the tile. Repeat this process for the rest of the grout lines.

For the finishing touches, you’ll have to use a handheld grout saw. These tools look like a straight razor blade attached to an offset handle. The blade is diamond studded and cuts through grout lickety-split.

Use the paint scraper and then the small grinding stone to remove the last of the old grout from the edges of the tile. Vacuum all surfaces with the shop vac and then wipe everything down with a damp rag.

3. REGROUT. When all the tile edges are clean, it’s time to regrout. Complete a small area first to make sure you’re happy with the result.

Mix a small amount of grout and apply it to the wall with the rubber grout trowel. Let it set up for a minute or two, then wipe off the residue with the grout sponge and clean water. After the water dries, polish the tile with a clean rag.

Once you’re satisfied with the result, grout the rest of the tile. I strongly recommend sealing the grout once the regrouting is complete. Two coats of grout sealer, applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions, will seal the tile and help resist the buildup of soap scum.