66-Year-Old Grandma Sent To Hospital After Living With Toxic Mold Exposure Caused By Dirty Grout (and Why You Should Be Worried Too)
Shelly Daniels | Monday, August 17, 2026
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Maya Ellsworth, all-American mother and empty-nester, managed to enjoy her twilight years in spite of the fact that her husband passed away a few years ago. As so many elderly parents do, she relied on her daughters to take care of her.

When she first started getting sick, she thought it was a seasonal bug.

She became alarmed when that ‘seasonal bug’ progressed to pneumonia.

“She called me up out of the blue one night because she was having trouble breathing,” Valorie, Maya’s twenty-four year old daughter, said. “I knew that was a sign of something serious. I took her straight to the E.R. and thankfully the doctors were able to get her symptoms under control. It could have been so much worse.”

Less attentive doctors might have written off Maya’s symptoms as something mild that had gone untreated. Dr. Martin Delacourt ran some tests just to be sure.

“When the bloodwork came back showing Micrococcus, I knew this wasn’t something people are typically exposed to. It wasn’t bilateral pneumonia caused by the flu. We were dealing with something related to her environment.”

After a short interview with Dr. Delacourt, Maya admitted she’s a homebody.

“I go for a short walk in the mid-afternoon sometimes. I just don’t find the time to get out and about very often. When the doctor told me what he saw in my bloodwork, I couldn’t believe it. It had to be something in the house,” she said.

Dr. Delacourt offered to come to the home to see if he could help Maya identify the source of what made her sick.

“When you are dealing with something like this,” Dr. Delacourt said, “it’s potentially life-threatening. That’s not a situation we can leave to chance. We’re looking at either a foodborne illness or, more commonly, mold."

Many Americans underestimate the importance of removing mold from the home, and it turns out this was Maya’s case.

Dr. Delacourt identified the source of the mold that made Maya sick.

It was the tile grout in the kitchen and the bathroom.

If your grout lines look like this, then you could be in danger, too:  (But even if they're not this bad, you still need to be careful because some of the molds do not show up at all.)

Dr. Delacourt recommended the grout be cleaned immediately.

Maya talked to a few local contractors to try and fix the problem, but hit a wall. Either the job was too small, or the quotes offered were far outside of their price range. A task like this is hard work and can be a real pain for anyone—for someone of Maya’s age, it was virtually impossible.

Maya had nowhere else to turn. She asked her eldest daughter for help.

This was the beginning of the magical journey that led to the creation of Groutshine, a non-toxic, odorless formula that instantly cleans tile grout—with the stroke of a pen.

Maya’s daughter was a research intern at a prestigious university. She’s spent the last four years pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. When she brought the problem to the lead researcher, a team was formed to fix this problem.

Maya’s daughter Valorie described it as a modern miracle.

In her words, “It was less than two weeks later we had the first prototype ready. I couldn’t believe how everyone in the department came together and worked tirelessly on figuring this out. I’m so grateful to all of my colleagues for the help.”

Valorie brought the prototype to her mother’s home and tested it on the groutlines in the kitchen and bathroom, and it worked to perfection! She was able to clean all of the groutlines by herself EASILY and QUICKLY. The best news was yet to come: Maya’s illness symptoms completely dissipated. She was back to her normal self.

The story blew up as millions of Americans have learned about the dangers of toxic and moldy grout, causing the demand for Groutshine to skyrocket.

After months of controlled tests, the formula was completed and packaged into a pen that anyone can use. Earlier this year, Valorie officially launched her product to the public, and the rest is history...

What is it?

GroutShine is a grout pen that deep cleans any bathroom or kitchen tile—in SECONDS!

How does it work?

Mold and bacteria can percolate and grow in tile grout—and if left unchecked—can evolve into dangerous pink or black mold. If inhaled it can get into your bloodstream and cause infections and other serious complications.

That’s just one reason why you need Groutshine!

When is the last time you heard of a doctor recommending a home-cleaning product? The patented formula tackles grout stains at a microscopic level, leaving behind crisp, white tiles lines that make your kitchen or bathroom look BRAND NEW, and actually removes and prevents bacteria from growing.

Ditch the dangerous tools or expensive contractors—they often do more harm than good! GroutShine’s non-toxic, odorless formula dries in seconds, so it’s safe to use anywhere in your home. Easily take care of 3-5 rooms with each pen.

But, is it Really Worth All This Hype?

So far, the Groutshine has sold over 10 million units directly to consumers, even without the help of being sold in stores. The Groutshine has been SELLING OUT every time new stock becomes available, it’s become THAT popular.

And, it’s all from word of mouth. People just like you are loving it so much that they’re posting about it on instagram and telling everyone they know about it!

Speaking of hype… Just LOOK at these Instagram user posts!
The GroutShine has started to develop a cult following, and with over 10,000 5-star reviews, it makes sense. Here’s what customers are saying about it:
D
Derrick T. Verified Buyer
06/30/26
I had a sore throat and migraine headaches for about a week living in a 30-year-old house. I wasn't getting much relief from the big brand allergy medicines. While doing some research on remedies, I read that it is caused by mold from tiles! We were on a budget that made renovations impossible. I was skeptical when I saw this GroutShine pen that it could really get rid of tile mold. Well, I am soooo happy to report that this product works! Not only did it renovate the bathroom, but it also healed me!
C
Carlos Hill. Verified Buyer
07/08/26
GroutShine totally transformed my tiles! They were so boring and dirty and I even considered getting new ones. I was so impressed that I only spent a very little and it made such a huge difference to the kitchen! Also surprisingly I got rid of sneezing and foggy head after this mini-renovation.
A
Alan Rogers Verified Buyer
07/30/26
Living in a military quarter means there’s a lot of things I can’t change. I had tried every product I could find to clean the grout in the tiles and nothing would make them look clean. So I gave the GroutShine a go and I am more than happy with the result!
M
Martha Coleman Verified Buyer
08/14/26
So I took a risk and I decided to grout my bathroom tiles with GroutShine. I must say I am loving the new look! It’s amazing easy. Why didn’t I do this months ago??
We reached out to Gary Lawson, star of the hit TV show Repo vs. Renovation, to see what he had to say. Here’s his take:

We’ve been using GroutShine on the show since it first came out, and it’s become a staple in our repertoire. When it comes to deciding whether we’re going to renovate a house, we make multiple decisions on where to best save cost. GroutShine has literally saved us thousands of dollars over the course of the show. It’s even been a deciding factor for renovating instead of repo’ing!

After doing some research, we decided to try GroutShine out for ourselves.

For the longest time, I’ve been wanting to do something about my ugly, dirty grout lines, but I never found the time or energy to do it myself. Just like the other mom in the story above, I found if I could get a contractor to give me a quote, it was just too far outside my price range.

After hearing about Maya’s story, I was shocked to find out the grout that I thought was just an eyesore was actually a health hazard that could make me seriously ill.

After I read about what happened with Maya, the first thing I did was go out and buy a mold detector. Lo and behold, it came back positive. Traces of toxic mold were found growing in my kitchen and both bathrooms.

That was it for me. I knew I had to give Groutshine a try.

Part of me still thought it might be too good to be true, though. It seemed too simple. I wondered why no one had thought to invent this earlier, and how it was that the household cleaning products I already had were insufficient to remove the mold.

But...I had been cleaning my home with them for years, and I was still detecting mold in my home, so they obviously weren’t doing the job. I was skeptical, but I decided at this point I didn’t have anything to lose.

I got on the official website and ordered 4 GroutShine pens the moment they came back in stock.

…Here’s What I Found.

I ordered 4 Groutshine pens from the website, and they arrived at my door in just 2 days. I wasn’t expecting that!

The pens ended up being the SIMPLEST cleaning tool I’ve ever used.

Zero chemical smell. Not only did it work, it worked GREAT! It was so easy to use, anyone can do it. I just swiped that pen across the grout lines, and whatever magic formula they have inside these pens, it literally made my grout shine—FAST! It literally made my grout look brand new in seconds!

I’ve gotten so many compliments from visitors, friends, and family, and they all want to know what I’ve done with the house to make my floors so attractive. I tell them, the best hack to freshen up a space comes in a little pen and it’s called Groutshine.

And not only did it do wonders in my kitchen, but each pen covers 3 to 5 rooms, so I took to my bathrooms next. It was like magic. (I decided to take advantage of the sale and stock up and get 4 pens)

When I retested the rooms for mold after using Groutshine — gone. No traces of mold whatsoever. I got exactly what I was looking for: stellar results on a budget, and I had the peace of mind knowing that the mold was gone. Health risks are something you just don’t gamble with, especially where your family is concerned.

I’ve had a life-changing experience with Groutshine, and you can, too! This product is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It’s the answer for stubborn stains and buildup trapped in your grout that could be harboring mold and bacteria, and you don’t need those health risks in your life. I can’t recommend Groutshine enough!

How Much Does It Cost?

It’s currently on sale at their official website for just $29.95!

Is it worth the price?

Of course! I look at my purchase of Groutshine as the thing that saved me from potentially serious illness by ridding my grout of mold.

Groutshine does some serious work for a friendly price.

And, it’s definitely EASY to use. I bought a Groutshine pen for my 70 year old mom, and she’s able to use it, no problems whatsoever.

I love what this product has done for me. I feel like everyone should have one. I bought one for my sister and for my dad, and they are loving it.

That’s the best recommendation I can give: Groutshine is the real deal!

And, add in the fact that GroutShine offers a 100% Money Back Guarantee, and you just can’t go wrong.

UPDATE
UPDATE Thursday, August 27, 2026 - Ever since the GroutShine was featured on TV, an incredible amount of buzz has been generated and has since sold over 2 million sets. Due to its popularity and positive reviews, the company is so confident in their product that they are now offering a one-time discount of 50% off. To see if they are still available, click on the button below.
Apply Discount & Check Availability >>

9 Comments

Georgeann Genna · Idaho
OMG it really works on getting rid of mold! I can tell the air quality at home has gone up soooo much. My doc said I don't have mold allergy any more!
· Reply · 38 · Aug 11, 2026 5:10 PM
Erika Medie · Delta Haus-U55
I love this product! I've done about a third of my kitchen so far using 1 pen. I've had no problems with the tip of the pen. The flow is fine. I shake it frequently and so far, so good. :)
· Reply · 32 · Aug 12, 2026 6:58 AM
Clay Matthew Pirtle · Home Depot
This stuff is amazing! After using the pen on my tiles, my breathing is much better and no more musty smell at home!
· Reply · 43 · Aug 12, 2026 10:22 AM
Cheryl Rackers · Perry, GA
Needed this to whiten grout lines in a small bathroom with white ceramic tiles that had a lot of dirt ground in. The difference is night and day... fantastic!
· Reply · 22 · Aug 13, 2026 6:44 PM
Martin Fraley · Wyoming
Our home is over 50 years old. The grout in the bathrooms is not chipping like the shower but it is stained from age. This product is so easy to use that I’m not dreading doing other projects with it.
· Reply · 18 · Aug 15, 2026 7:55 PM
Laura Sylvia · Los Angeles Lakers by Citizen Sports
I don't hate my old tile as much! My husband and I renovated our ground level. The tile was old and just would have cost way too much money to pull up. Needless to say the area came out amazing after applying this pen!
· Reply · 24 · Aug 16, 2026 7:28 AM
Betty Sylvester · HOME
This is a great clean look grout restorer! Made the old brown grout of my shower turn white again!
· Reply · 24 · Aug 17, 2026 9:48 AM
Ashley Anita · California
I wish I had found this product sooner. The pen is easy to use and covers grout stains very well. We had mildly yellow grout stains and it covered it right up. My bathroom looks completely new now. I would highly recommend.
· Reply · 24 · Aug 18, 2026 11:48 AM
Brad Morgan · Phoenix
Used so many products out there and this by far was the best and easiest to use! Just apply on a clean surface and rub away the excess with a damp cloth and voila!! Can't say enough good things about this product! Worth every dollar!
· Reply · 24 · Aug 20, 2026 12:15 PM