Removing black mildew from tile grout/caulk in shower

Posted by on December 14, 2005, 11:50 am

What's the best way to remove the black mildew stains from the grout &
caulking of a tile shower area? Tried bleach, helped but not entirely.
Stores only seem to carry products for soap scum & hard water (lime
away, CLR, etc).

TIA

Rick

Posted by Joseph Meehan on December 14, 2005, 12:35 pm

tzygkptr@gmail.com wrote:

> What's the best way to remove the black mildew stains from the grout &
> caulking of a tile shower area? Tried bleach, helped but not
> entirely. Stores only seem to carry products for soap scum & hard
> water (lime away, CLR, etc).
> TIA
> Rick

If the bleach did not do it, then I suggest you may need to use some of
that soap and hard water build product(s) to eliminate any deposits first.
Then use the bleach. The bleach does work, but it may call for more than
one treatment and does call for some scrubbing after to remove what remains.
I also suggest that you may want to seal the grout after you get it clean.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Posted by k on December 14, 2005, 5:10 pm

> What's the best way to remove the black mildew stains from the grout &
> caulking of a tile shower area? Tried bleach, helped but not entirely.
> Stores only seem to carry products for soap scum & hard water (lime
> away, CLR, etc).
> TIA
> Rick

You need more than just the bleach. Mix it with liquid laundry detergent in
a spray bottle. Fill 50% with bleach, 25% with detergent and 25% warm
water. Then spray away, and keep going over it until it's clean. Be aware
that the fumes are noxious, though probably not toxic. If it's too cold to
open the window, then you should probably hold out for a warm day. If your
tile continues overhead, then protect yourself (unless you favor spotted
blond hair).

This is a cheap concoction, so use all you have to. It will all come off in
the rinse.

Keith

Posted by on December 14, 2005, 6:11 pm

Thanks for the suggestions & the recipe, I'll give that a try!

Rick

Posted by Roger Taylor on December 14, 2005, 7:59 pm

> Stores only seem to carry products for soap scum & hard water (lime
> away, CLR, etc).

I use one of two Tilex products, available in grocery and large drug stores.
One is a foaming deep cleaning type, and the other is a liquid mold/mildew
spray. They are both based on bleach, and they have nozzles and parts that
dont seize up easily. I spray it on and leave it a few hours, then rinse it
off. If the stuff is really bad, you can use an old toothbrush to brush in
the liquid, then let it sit awhile.
I mostly use the clear spray. I know it is much more expensive than bleach,
but it is so handy.
I find that once the work is done, the mildew is very slow to return if I
sponge off the walls, tub edge, and tub floor and leave the curtain open
after taking a shower. Got to get that air circulating to fight mold.

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