Scenario:
It took two weeks of combating tangled string lights and excess glitter, but you have finally done it! You've successfully turned your home into the magical winter wonderland that you've always dreamed it would be for the holidays. Your front yard is the crown jewel of the neighborhood with the light display you've put out, complete with an adorable inflatable snowman that sings. Inside, garland curves its way up a picturesque banister while a set of perfectly matched stockings creates a charming frame for your fireplace. Tinsel finishes off a beautifully decorated tree; a model train winds its way between the plethora of gifts waiting to be unwrapped. Everything is just as it should be, and you're ready to head up the stairs for some well-deserved rest, but then something stops you dead in your tracks! There, beneath your slippered foot, a hideous crack in your tile shows itself to ruin the otherwise flawless scene.
Dun-dun-duuuun!!!
For most, a crack in your glazed tile isn't quite the dramatic tragedy that we've laid out in this scenario, but it is a nuisance that puts a damper on the overall aesthetic of your home. The long-term fix to this is to simply replace the broken tile, but not everyone has the time to do that right away. This is especially true for the holidays! In other cases, the tile used on someone's floor is older and discontinued, so there's no way to find a match to replace the it with. Replacing the whole floor would be the only option in this instance, which can be expensive. Thankfully, there is a temporary quick-fix that will have your tile looking as good as new before your next holiday get-together!
Note: This trick is intended for GLAZED TILE only.
What You'll Need:
Wood Glue
Fingernail Polish Remover
Fingernail Polish that Matches Your Tile
Cotton Swabs
Step 1: Fill the Missing Chunks
Sometimes a crack in the tile comes with a bigger chip or piece of missing ceramic. If this is the case with your floor, take a bit of wood glue and fill the area. Wipe away any excess when you're done.
Step 2: Match Your Color
Find a fingernail polish that matches the color of your tile. You can mix it with some white or black if the color is a bit too dark or too light by itself. Pour about a quarter-size drop of nail polish onto your tile and mix together until it matches. Because the tile is glazed, you don't have to worry about the nail polish being left behind. A bit of nail polish remover will clear it off right away.
Step 3: Get to Painting
Once you've mixed the color to your liking, go ahead and paint over your crack until it's completely covered. Let it dry when you're finished.
Step 4: Clean It Up
When the nail polish is completely dry you can complete the process by putting a small amount of nail polish remover on a cotton swab and going over your work lightly with it. Be sure you don't saturate the cotton swab or press too hard on the paint. Doing so could ruin what you've done.
If you're not happy with the end result, simply use the nail polish remover to wipe it away and start again. There are no limits to how many times you can repeat this process!
Are you a visual learner? Click here to see how it's done: