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May/June 2020 41MIX
PERFECT
GROUT
Only mix enough to do one wall;
any more is liable to dry out. After
mixing the dry grout and water,
let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes so
the dry ingredients can dissolve.
Mix it again to evenly distribute
the additives (water-retention
aids and polymers for adhesion
and flexibility). If the grout dries
out and stiffens before you
have a chance to use it, don’t
add water—that weakens the
grout by throwing off its ratio
of water to dry ingredients. Just
mix more.Pfister Thurmont 8” Widespread
Faucet$207// Pfister designed the Thur-
mont faucet to be good-looking and easy to
install. Its cartridges are color-coded for the
faucet’s hot and cold sides. A tool-free fitting
connects the hot and cold lines to the spout.
Once installed, its ceramic-valve cartridges
ensure a very long working life.Milwaukee Electric Sawzall Torch
Cardbide Blades$16 // Not every bath-
room can be repaired. Some need to be
replaced. This carbide-tip reciprocating saw
blade is 50 times as durable as a standard
metal blade, says Milwaukee, and can con-
vert even steel pipe or cast-iron waste lines
to scrap.Firm Fit Flooring Premium Tiles
Collection$4 per square foot// As
heavy-duty a waterproof luxury vinyl tile as
you’re going to find: about 3/16-inch thick
with a 22-millimeter-thick wear layer. And
easy to install: Each plank clicks to its neigh-
bor and is installed above, not fastened to,
the surface below.Shop-Vac 4 Gallon 5.5 HP Wet/Dry
Utility Vacuum 5910400$100 // Clean-
ing a bathroom job requires a shop vacuum.
Shop-Vac says its new SVX2 motor is more
powerful and durable than its predecessors.
Other upgrades to the time-tested machine
include a more tip-resistant profile and large
rear wheels that help it pivot and roll smoothly.Proctor & Gamble Mr. Clean
Clean Freak Mist$6 // This cleaner’s
primary ingredient, alcohol ethoxylate, is a
surprisingly potent surface-acting cleaner
that chews into fat, grease, and soap scum.
It’s low-sudsing, relatively low-odor, and less
sensitive to water hardness and calcium. And
the bottle’s pump design covers more surface
with each pass.
Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa
$73 per gallon // Using a matte paint in a
bathroom is a great idea, provided that the
coating is formulated for it. This paint provides
a velvet-like texture that masks surface imper-
fections. It’s also both mildew-resistant and a
high-hide paint, so you can be assured that it
will bury ugly colors beneath it in one coat.Six Products That
Will Save Your Butt
in a Bathroom Project
34