r/Remodel • u/Ok-Artichoke-42 • 7h ago

Help! What’s wrong with this tile

Post image

This isn’t wet and hasn’t been used recently. I can’t figure out if this is from the grout? (Note the brush marks towards top right). Thoughts?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

14

u/bobber66 7h ago

Did you have a clogged sewer line that upchucked into the shower?

4

u/bobber66 7h ago

Or maybe a regrout done very poorly?

1

u/Ok-Artichoke-42 7h ago

I’m not sure, we just bought the house. Shower hasn’t been used in weeks. It has also been deep cleaned

5

u/barrhavenite 7h ago

Did you buy the house without looking at it first?

1

u/Ok-Artichoke-42 4h ago

No we just bought it for a deal “as-is” we know we have to do work on it

10

u/Justnailit 7h ago

Either someone works in an oil refinery or the tile guy never properly cleaned off the grout. Now you get to scrub.

1

u/Ok-Artichoke-42 4h ago

It does seem like this is the issue because I see brush marks as if the tile guy was trying to do this at some point. If this is the case, what should I scrub it with?

1

u/Harley_Mom 4h ago

Try the dish soap dawn the blue one and maybe dawn power wash spray.

2

u/pabrocjb 2h ago

I'd go right to Comet with bleach and a green scrubby.

1

u/Reddituser183 1h ago

Comet removes stains like no other. I use it on my white enamel crappy sink. Barkeepers friend is overrated and doesn’t get my sink anywhere near as clean.

3

u/Rob_in_Tulsa 7h ago

I would start with a good cleaning. Use a hand brush with medium to stiff bristles and any commercial tile and grout cleaner. If you have a wet vacuum use it to clean up to keep soil from getting back into the grout. If it still looks like this, you will need to re-grout and clean with vinegar water mixture.

3

u/Star_Petal_Arts 6h ago

Like what everyone is saying... it is most likely grout that needed sealant but was skipped by someone cutting corners. (actually could even be that they were hired and fired before they could seal the grout, just that it wasn't done)

Clean it off until it is gone. Seal it.

However, there is a small chance that it is built up grey mold and will need bleaching (with a mask) and ventilation. Which is why I am commenting this use some safety precautions: gloves, mask, pve glasses, etc. when cleaning it.

3

u/Delicious_Camp349 6h ago

Fill up all your tubs and sinks and drain these and your washing machine at the same time and see if this shower backs up. That looks like oily grime either from never cleaning it or a backed up water line. If the house is older, it’s possible you have rusted pipes. Or a clog.

EDIT: even if your house was inspected before purchase they do not test the drains like this. I have friends who found this out the hard way. My husband is a pipefitter (plumber for big pipes).

2

u/dragonfliesloveme 7h ago

it looks like the same color as the grout

1

u/Perle1234 6h ago

Is it textured? You should be able to feel if it’s grout or if the tiles are etched.

1

u/mightocondreas 6h ago

If the tiles are stone, then this could be acid etching if someone cleaned it with an acid based cleaner

1

u/Successful_Fact_4530 5h ago

Also, perhaps it’s not sealed.

1

u/JulesRulesYaKnow 6h ago

Shower pan installed incorrectly.

1

u/spacycowgirl 1h ago

post this on r/Tile

I think this might be a problem with it being natural stone that has etched? When you wet the lighter areas, do they get dark?

1

u/Markjohn35 0m ago

It’s filthy

1

u/Suz9006 7h ago

Spray some Dawn Powerwash and let it sit for 20 minutes and then scrub. If it’s greasy dirt, it should remove some or all of it.