Thank you both. I read all the fine print on the grout cleaner Mosesco mentioned, but I have to admit, it made me too nervous to use on sealed granite. I also tried to get the contractor back in to clean his mess, but he wouldn't do it. Instead he suggested I get some muriatic acid and a stiff scrubbing brush and gloves and scrub it off. That, too, gave me pause. Thus, my post in the first instance as I was hoping there was another solution. Of course, if the contractor isn't off base with the muriatic acid recommendation, then the solution posed by Mosesco probably would work in the same manner.

Any dots of paint should come off by lifting with a single-edge razor blade. Tiny atomized spatters or smears will come off with some 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper or a rubber sanding block, lubricated with paint thinner or water+detergent. If the old varnish is nice and thick you don't have to worry about sanding through the finish to bare wood. Pick off the big flecks, then abrade the mist/smears. Casey

So , regrouting after all is said and done is a reliable and sure backup plan. As well as it might look nicer to have everything all freshened up as well. Grout is cheap and easy too. ok that being said here is another option that I have often heard my painting buddies discuss but have never tried myself. Use petroleum jelly as masking over the grout. Brush it on the grout, do your refinishing, then clean it off. In the event you get some stain bleeding over( which I believe may happen no matter what) you can always go to plan B , regrout. If it were me I would plan on plan B. Petroleum jelly can be a contaminant for your finish and I think a good finish is more important than preserving some old grout that probably could use an update anyways

K Flowerdot- The installers sealed my soapstone countertops, although they had been instructed in writing not to seal them. Although I was assured several times by my contractor that these fabricators were very familiar with soapstone, clearly they were not, nor apparently was he. The installers returned the next day and removed the sealer with acetone. My soapstone countertops are beautiful and matte, like I wanted, and I love them…but sometimes I wonder if the sealer had any lasting effect…although I don’t really think so. I’ve not had any problems with water rings, stains, etc. Soapstone is nonporous (which is why they don’t need to be sealed) so the sealer just sat on the surface…or so I was told. I would choose soapstone again, but I’ll be sure to use M Texiera for the fabrication next time.