One reader has a question on remodeling. Is is possible to frugally spruce up old countertops without ripping them out completely?

 

We just purchased a home in CA that has old tile countertops, the type with grout. They are cracked in places and chipped in others, and they basically look old and outdated. We cannot afford to replace them. I searched but cannot find any ideas on how to improve the look of this type of countertop. Can you help me?
Robin Y. in West Hills, CA

 

Grout whitener runs about $6 at the local Ace.  It comes in a container exactly like sneaker polish, and wastes a bunch. Use an artist's brush instead. After application, drying, and cleanup, let it dry some more and apply grout sealer.  Try a salvage yard for tile to match your counters, or find a larger tile in the same color and have it cut to the same size as the old ones. Tile counters give a great, funky, vintage look to a kitchen.  Get some eBay vintage kitchen accessories to spice things up, and enjoy the compliments.

Try looking for Oxygen bleach in your nearest handyman store.It is non-toxic, doesn’t produce harsh fumes, is color safe and fabric safe. It removes all food and grease stains with no or minimal scrubbing. The oxygen ions in the solution attack the stain molecules breaking them into pieces that rinse away with little effort.