LESLIE: Heading over to New Jersey to chat with Carol. What can we do for you today?
CAROL: Hi, I love the show. Your website is terrific.
LESLIE: Thanks.
TOM: Thank you.
CAROL: I am calling because I have a problem, a dilemma. I have a small bathroom with a vanilla-colored tile. I don’t have an issue with the grout but I have an issue with the tile itself discoloring. There is a light purple hue that’s appearing on some of the tiles, randomly, throughout the shower; almost the color of a light bruise. And my husband says I’m causing it by using harsh cleaning chemicals. (Tom chuckles) I say I think the tiles were poorly glazed.
TOM: Yeah, well I don’t think that there are very many chemicals, short of an acid, that could take the glaze off of a tile. I mean wear and tear over the years can but I can’t imagine there’s anything that you’re personally doing to this that’s causing the problem.
LESLIE: Is it just a basic ceramic tile …
CAROL: Mm-hmm.
LESLIE: … not like a porous travertine-looking, fun, tumbled something?
CAROL: No, it is your run-of-the-mill basic tile.
TOM: It sounds to me like it’s wear and tear of the glaze surface that’s now getting dirt and soap scum and things like that embedded into it that’s causing it to discolor.
CAROL: Do you think it can be cleaned or do I have to replace it?
TOM: Well, have you tried CLR?
CAROL: No, I haven’t.
TOM: That’s pretty effective at removing a lot of that calcium, lime and rust. Why don’t you give it a washdown with some CLR and see if that does the trick.
CAROL: And you don’t think that I’m causing the problem by using (inaudible at 0:03:47.8)?
TOM: No, you tell your husband that we let you off the hook on this, OK. (Carol and Leslie chuckle)
CAROL: I love it. (chuckling) Super.
TOM: Alright, Carol. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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