Porous Grout also should definitely be sealed.  The important thing is that tile and grout should be properly sealed using a professional sealer.  Using a cheap sealer or using improper sealing techniques can cause more harm then good. 

Ceramic tile is a dense man made material that can be cleaned with minimal effort.  It will not absorb any sealer and therefore the sealer will create a topical coating on your ceramic tile.  This topical coating will trap dirt and contaminates and will be more difficult to clean then the tile surface itself.  Therefore it is not recommended to seal any type of ceramic tile. 

Grout on the other hand definitely needs to be sealed with an impregnating sealer.  Grout is a porous substance that if not properly sealed will absorb all types of dirt and contaminates.  Most tile stores will have professional fluorocarbon based sealers specifically designed for sealing grout.  Stay away from the big box stores cheap sealers as well as the silicone based sealers.  The cheap sealers will not provide adequate protection and will break down prematurely.  Conversely the silicone based sealers will trap dirt and contaminates inside the sealer and make cleaning your grout virtually impossible.

Apply the sealer with a roller or brush type grout sealer applicator to the grout.  Let the sealer sit on the grout for 5-10 minutes.  Do not let the sealer dry on your tile or grout.  Wipe off the excess sealer from your tile using cotton towels or paper towels.  Be sure no to leave any excess sealer on your tile and do not leave any puddles of sealer sitting on your grout.  Let the sealer dry for a few hours with adequate ventilation before using your tile and grout.

For a more permanent sealing solution a colorseal can be applied to your grout instead of using and impregnating clear sealer.  A colorseal application will make cleaning and maintaining your grout much easier then a clear sealer.  A colorseal also has the added benefit of restoring your grouts original appearance.  Additionally a colorseal can also be used to change the color of your grout and to give it a much more even appearance.  A colorseal application needs to be done by a professional tile and grout cleaning and restoration contractor.   For more information on hiring a professional contractor please visit our contractor page.

To keep your grout properly cleaned and  maintained you should use a professional PH neutral cleaner specifically designed for cleaning tile, grout and stone.  A PH neutral cleaner will not damage any of your stone or tile surfaces and will not bread down any of the sealers used on your tile and grout.