The $3 Hack That Makes Old Tiles Look Brand-New Again

Do your tiled surfaces (backsplash, countertop, floors) look a bit worse for wear? I’m right there with you, and no amount of scrubbing seems to get stubborn grout to release its dirty tinge. Thankfully, I stumbled upon a rather crafty way to get over this all-too-common problem. One Instagram user shared how she totally transformed the look of her 1980s kitchen by using a $3 find from Walmart (yes, really!). And you, too, can make your tiles look like new in a single afternoon.

“One day I was scrolling Pinterest and came across a bathroom with red grout,” Grace Bulic wrote in a recent Instagram caption. “I had seen the viral videos where people used white grout pens to refresh their tiles, so I thought … could I do this with RED? Walmart to the rescue (said no one ever)! $3 later and our 1989 kitchen got the fun upgrade she desperately needed.”

To totally revamp her kitchen backsplash, Grace bought a grout repair pen from a brand called Wanyng at Walmart. They come in black, white, gray, gold, green, and red, and feature a waterproof ink that instantly restores or revives the look of tired old grout — all while protecting the grout that’s already there.

The pens can also be used on metal, and they cost just $3 each.

Commenters on Grace’s post said that they have found similar success by using acrylic paint markers from their craft stash. “Did this with Posca pens, really cheap and loads of different colours to choose from, holds up really well a year later,” one person wrote. Another added, “I’ve done this but with acrylic pink paint on my toilet room floor. I have steam cleaned it and it hasn’t budged in a year, so I’m just about to do it again on the bathroom floors.”

You can snag a huge pack of 72 fun colors for under $30 in a set from Walmart. Because they’re acrylic, the colors won’t budge once dry and are super-opaque compared to regular markers.

With this $3 find, you can give your tile a quick makeover that looks like you spent thousands. Whether you go bold with red, blue, or green (or just keep it simple with white or black!) your tile will look brand-new and beautiful. Happy coloring!