Crying - please help with floor grouting

[Loussa]

Hi. I have just bought a new house (first time buyer). Spent more than I can afford (well close to) on a brand new kitchen. We went for limestone effect porcelain tiles (matte).

Ive had to be without my karcher for two months - got lost in the move. Full disclosure we have 2 golden retrievers. I’ve done my best with the flash speed mop but the floors have been trashed.

Gave it a good clean but the grout looks
disgusting still. I’ve told DH not to walk the dogs in the woods but he has ignored me. Dh has called me not to get fixated.

How can I get them back? Do I need to regrout?

I white grouted five whole large rooms of floor tiling. Within years there was no option other than to use a multitool with an abrasive blade and scrape out every single joint. It took about a week and then replaced with dark grey. Lesson learnt.

I went into the owner of a scrapyard's house once and complemented them on there white floor tiles with black grout. I regaled my experience above and they admitted it was white grout dirtied with oil from the scrapyard.......

We have dogs and our house is spotless. However the over reaction to this grout colouring is laughable, she does need to get a grip /meds - must drive the husband up the wall if shes like this with everything else.

To clarify, you are crying about the grout in this photograph?

Maybe seal it with something like Lithofin?

regrout in a darker colour.

If you think the grout is discoloured and it bothers you, why not regrout it in another colour, which would look nicer anyway.

Awww OP, this is ok, it's just what happens in a household to the floor tiles whether you have dogs or not.
It doesn't look dirty & is barely noticeable, honestly.

@5thCommandment
I envy you , I can't do spotless with my pack 🤣.
I can do clean and not get my knickers in a twist over the colour of the grout .

A spray mop type thing is fine for a quick once over but doesn’t really scrub.
I would use your steam mop more often and every now and again, get a scrubbing brush and scrub it.

I actually prefer the look of the stained area , makes the tiles look more natural

TBH I think it looks better dirty, it blends in with the tiles better 😂 the white looks a bit jarring

Crying OP, seriously?

I wish I had your problems.

So do we and mine isn't but then a 'spotless' house is not high up on my priority list! Tidy and clean is enough for us. 😀

OP, it is completely understandable you are upset with the behaviour of your DH and given he is completely ignoring your instructions to avoid muddy parts with the ddogs making you upset this can be classified as emotional abuse which is actually a criminal offence.

If it continues my advice would be take a picture of the bank statements, and know your rights perhaps sounding out advice from a good lawyer. Give him a chance to change his ways explaining how horrific is behaviour is affecting your life and then LTB. I suffered emotional abuse myself from a man for years until I decided enough is enough. I hope it works out x

This is exactly what my mother was like when I was growing up. And still is. In utter servitude to her pristine house. She would shout at me for walking on the carpet. In slippers. I should have made sure I only walked on the rugs. All sinks in the house had to be dried and buffed to a shine each and every time they were used.

I avoid going to visit her as much as possible now.

As pp have said, OP needs to seek help for this because it affects other people who deserve not to be treading on eggshells in their own house.

Because his happiness and that of the dogs is so much less important than the colour of the grout? 😕

I appreciate that your own history will be colouring your viewpoint here but seriously...WTAF?

If my husband issued 'instructions' on where to walk the dogs I would see THAT as controlling and crazy.
This man's behaviour is not 'horrific'! Bloody batshit.

Did it ever occurred to you @TheyAreAllTheSame is that her dh is ignoring her not because he's abusive, but because what she is asking is not reasonable?

Golden retrievers are mud magnets. And constantly shed hair. Only their beauty and loving nature make up for this. I want a house with a separate dog entry into a room where he can stay until he's clean and dry.

It isn't unreasonable to ask her DH not to ruin the kitchen floor with those filthy paw marks. As I said earlier, behaviour that causes distress ( maliciously on purpose) is classified as emotional abuse. Her DH is actually breaking the law, although I'm not sure the police would enforce it given the rampant misogyny that exists in the force. My point is that she is being controlled by a man who is ignoring her requests to leave the kitchen floor in a reasonable state. Huge red flags for me and could point to further problems down the line. If it was me I would give him a chance to reform/ modify his behaviour but take pictures of the bank statements in case it doesn't change if she decides to leave her DH. It's selfishness and I would classify it as controlling behaviour

I have a similar floor, but mine must be 20+ years old. I don't have dogs, just cats, yet I gave up ever having clean grouting a long time ago! It does look better clean and bright, but I just cannot be arsed to put in the effort needed to keep it looking perfect.

I will think carefully what flooring I put in my next kitchen as a result though.

Sorry OP - I know it's not helpful - hopefully others will be along with more practical solutions. I would definitely explore the OCD angle though - it is likely more beneficial to find a way to live with it (and your other symptoms), than stressing yourself out trying to make the floor look perfect all the time.

Her DH is actually breaking the law

Speechless.

@TheyAreAllTheSame so every time a husband does anything that upsets his wife that's emotional abuse? Does that work the other way? If my husband tells me he doesn't want me acting in a certain way and I refuse to comply Im abusing him? Whether what he asks is reasonable or not?

Eyes massive pile of Mr Monkey's muddy trainers by the front door - I wonder if I can get him arrested for that. 😂

You need help.