Brown Stain on Grout in Bathroom Tile Has Homeowner Cornered

Q Our bathroom has white ceramic wall tile from floor to ceiling. In the corners at the floor we’re having a problem with a brownish stain in the grout. I’ve tried scrubbing the spots with a household cleaner. Any other ideas?

L.L.

San Clemente

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A Even though they’re not black, these could be mildew stains, says Gloria Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim.

Corners are susceptible to mildew because they’re hard to dry once the floor or tile has been washed. Many people simply mop the floor and let it air dry, which is fine for most of the floor, but the corners often take a much longer time to dry.

You have to really get in there with a towel and get the water out. To remove the stains, your first step might be to burn them out with a phospheric acid solution, which you can find at many janitorial supply stores. Once it’s gone, you can use a grout colorant to restore the original look of the grout.

If that doesn’t work, you may need a grout scraper to remove the tainted spots and then replace them with fresh grout.

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Q I have a sliding closet door that rolls bumpily. Frequently, the rear wheel jumps its track and I have to reset the door in place. The track appears to be stable, and I don’t see a problem. What could be causing this?

D.G.

Huntington Beach

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A With sliding doors, especially mirrored doors, ideally they’re installed evenly so that when they close, they touch the jamb evenly, says Katy Jackson of Martin Glass & Mirror in Costa Mesa.

Often, on doors that get used frequently, they’re switched. You begin using the door that closed on the right on the left jamb, without realizing it. When this happens, people often notice that the door doesn’t close the right way, and they give it a push. This pops the rollers off the tracks.

Also, after lots of use, rollers can wear out or get knocked out of adjustment. You may need to remove the rollers and take them to a door shop or have a professional look at the problem.

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Q I have a toilet that’s 20 years old, and I recently replaced the old ball-and-cock fill valve with a modern, all plastic valve. While everything works, I’m bothered that the bowl fills up about 3 inches lower from where it used to. I tried adjusting the valve but that hasn’t helped. Any suggestions?

J.T.

Yorba Linda

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A Many newer fill valves are engineered to save water, so it may not matter what kind of adjustments you make, says Ron Albright of Albright Plumbing & Heating Supply in Los Alamitos.

Some brands are designed for newer low-flow toilets, which don’t have as much water in the bowl. Check with your local plumbing supply store to see which kind is recommended for your toilet. You may need to replace the valve with a different brand.

If you have a question about your home or garden, A Helping Hand will help you find the answer. Send questions to John Morell, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.