The Shower Squeegee Hack You Need To Make Grouting Easier

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You've just finished DIYing a tile installation and you're feeling pretty proud. But you still have the messiest part left — applying grout. Grout should be applied after the tile has set, around 24 hours after it has been laid. It comes in a variety of colors and provides a lovely frame for the tile, but also serves a functional purpose. You need to use grout when installing tile because it blocks moisture and protects tiles from breakage, ensuring they last for years to come. 

Most DIY blogs recommend using a grout float to spread the grout between tiles, but if this is your first project, it's unlikely you have one on-hand. You could buy one, but aren't you putting yourself through all this DIY stuff to save money? Some sites recommend using a putty knife as an alternative, but others say the metal could harm your tile. Others suggest a credit card, but your tile floor is quite large and that could take hours of intensive labor to finish. So, what's a good grout-spreading tool that you already have on-hand? A shower squeegee! Spreading grout with a shower squeegee is a hack you need to make grouting easier, as it will cover lots of ground and won't harm your tiles. If you don't have one, this ALFLOD all-purpose shower squeegee 2-pack is only $10 and gives you one squeegee for cleaning your shower and one for grouting work.

To properly grout your own tile, mix the grout according to the manufacturers instructions, but use as little water as possible since it dilutes the grout's strength. Once the grout is ready, apply it to a small area first to test your grout-applying technique. With a traditional grout float, you'd need to hold it at a 45-degree angle and work it into the joints, but with a squeegee you can simply run it across a few times to make sure all the spaces are filled. Only do a small section of tile at a time, using the squeegee to remove excess grout as you go. After it has set for 30 minutes, wipe away any grout left on the surface of your tiles with a damp sponge. 

Allow it to sit for another three hours and wipe away grout residue again, changing out the sponge water as necessary (but make sure the sponge is only damp and not too wet). Once dry, you may see some grout haze remaining, which you can wipe off with a dry microfiber cloth. Grout will take around 24 hours to cure, so avoid walking on tiles or touching your backsplash during this time. Depending on the type of grout you used, you may need to apply a sealant, such as FILA Grout Sealer Spray.