Wednesday, April 24, 2024

How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Shower Caulk

Ec3 Mold Solution Spray

How to Remove Ugly Black Mould from Shower Silicone

EC3 Mold Solution is a natural compound consisting of citrus seed extract, plant oils, and distilled water. It works on almost every surface, including fabrics, tiles, wood, concrete, and even soft furnishings.

Spray an even coating over your sealant and leave it to stand for 10 minutes. Then rinse it off with water and dry thoroughly. Now reapply a new layer to the caulk and leave it to dry naturally.

You can spray this solution as many times as you like for preventative measures.

Clean Shower Walls Weekly

Mixing up a solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and applying it every week will also reduce the chances of mold growth.

You could even spray it every day. If you dont like the smell of vinegar, try adding in a few drops of essential oils, like tea tree oil, to improve the fragrance.

Hydrogen Peroxide And Baking Soda

Material

  • EC3 mold solution spray

Instructions:

First, you should apply a thick layer paste made of baking soda and a little water over the mold. Then, pour 3% hydrogen peroxide over it. You will see that it begins to fizz, which means that destroying the old and stubborn mold starts.

Accelerate the process by scraping the deposits with a scrub brush. Once you have removed all the mold, you should dry the area and add the EC3 mold solution spray over it.

Don’t Miss: How To Clean Mold Between Pavers

How To Remove Mold From The Showerdrain

This is by far the easiest moldremoval task in the shower.

  • Remove the shower drain cover if there is one. If not, skip to step two.
  • Spray the drain cover and/or the drain rim, inside, and stopper with peroxide.
  • Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
  • Using a toothbrush or the like, scrub all the mold you can see off the drain and components.
  • Rinse well, dry, and replace the drain cover.
  • Spray the drain generously with EC3 Mold Solution Spray.
  • Allow it to air dry.

And there you have it! Everything you need to know about black mold in the shower! Be sure to check out my post on how to prevent bathroom mold. Its important to take all the steps necessary to keep mold and mildew from sneaking up on you in the bathroom.

In this post I refer to EC3 products. They are one of the only two mold and mycotoxin removal products that I personally use and recommend. Please read my article outlining what makes EC3 superiorwhen it comes to killing mold and mycotoxins. It has been independently lab tested and proven to be 99% effective when used properly. I encourage you to purchase EC3 products directly through Micro Balance. If you prefer to shop on Amazon, Micro Balance has a presence there as well.

What Causes Black Mold

How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Shower Caulking

Mold thrives in hot, humid, and damp conditions. It also loves spaces with low light because sunlight dries the surface, removing the food that mold needs to grow. Every time you shower, moisture enters the atmosphere and circulates.

Mold is highly resilient and can survive in extreme conditions, so getting rid of it once it has found a home is tricky. It also has a habit of swiftly returning once you think you have eliminated the problem.

Mold loves cellulose above all other food sources, although it also likes other organic matter. Wood, drywall, grout, and caulk are all common feeding grounds for black mold. Caulk helps to repel water, so it sits on the surface and leaves a feast for mold.

Also, if you leave the bathroom with dampness in the air, mold will start forming in a few weeks. Plus, wet towels and clothes help trap humidity and moisture, while leaks and humidifiers play their part in allowing it to grow.

Read Also: How To Remove Mold From Vinyl Seats

Q: Does Bleach Really Work To Kill Mold

A: You may have heard that bleach is ineffectual for dealing with mold. Actually, it can be ineffective on porous surfaces. But in the bathroom, you are dealing with caulk, which is non-permeable, and the non-porous surfaces in your shower. So, using bleach and cotton balls should work just fine.

But if you do not want to use this method or if it is not getting the job done for whatever reason, there are some other ideas you can try.

Important Tips On How You Can Prevent Growth Of Mold

Molds are not something that should be taken lightly. The toxic effect in them is harmful to your health. It is said that prevention is better than cure and thats why you should be intentional about preventing black mold or any other type of mold from growing in your home.

Are you wondering how you can go about that? Here are tips that will ensure your caulk, bathroom, or other areas are free from mold.

  • Use Household Fan

Fans are common equipment in most homes and they play a great role in ensuring your house is free from moisture or smoke.

A good example is when you are boiling some water and the water vapor spreads to your kitchen walls. If you dont do something the vapor will not only cause the growth of mold but will also increase humidity. However, you can prevent that from happening with a fan.

  • Keep The Windows Open

When the vapor is held in the air, it will settle on your doors or windows and walls. This will increase the chances of mold growth in your home. However, you can prevent this by keeping the windows open to get rid of the vapor quickly.

This will ensure there is enough air circulation and also the regulation of humidity in the house. In case its winter time and you dont want to expose your family to cold, standing or ceiling fans might come in handy in curbing the vapor and humidity.

  • Check Outdoor Drainage

This is another great tip when it comes to the prevention of mold. If your home is located along a water path, you might have problems with mold.

Read Also: How To Clean Mold In Shower Grout Naturally

Clean Mold Off Silicone Caulking

A second option is to clean the mold off of the caulking. This is only recommended if the mold is very limited in size and growth. I would say anything that is less than five or six inches in length can be cleaned, then monitored to see if the mold comes back. If it does come back I would remove the silicone caulking and replace it with fresh caulking.

When you replace the caulking you should investigate the type of caulking you use. There are some new brands of caulking that are mold resistant or are treated with a chemical that kills mold. As always if you are not comfortable doing the job yourself that has experience in removal and or working with mold. They will often know how to control the issue, remediate it and fix the ongoing issue that caused the mold.

Vinegar And Baking Soda

Bathroom Cleaning : How Do I Remove Mold and Mildew From Shower Caulking?

Material

  • Scrub brush

Instructions:

Using the combination of white vinegar and baking soda is an excellent way to get rid of black mold in the bathroom. Add small amounts of vinegar in baking soda until getting a paste. Apply it over the mold with a scrub brush.

Cover the surface with the plastic wrap and leave it sits there for about two hours. Then, you can spray the caulk with EC3 mold solution spray to kill spores and mycotoxins left after cleaning.

Also Check: How To Clean Mold Off Plastic Cutting Board

Baking Soda Preventing Mold In Shower Caulking

While baking soda will not kill mold, it can be used after cleaning to remove moisture from any clean shower caulk and prevent future mold growth. This can be done with a solution in a spray bottle with water or with a baking soda paste. You dont have to rinse the product off, as you want it to sit and deter mold.

How To Remove Mold From Shower Caulk

Mold on shower caulk can be a little more difficult to remove sometimes, so the procedure is slightly different.

To remove mold from shower caulking you will need:

Once you have your items, use the following steps to remove mold from shower caulk:

  • Put some baking soda in your bowl and slowly add small amounts of bleach until you have a paste-like substance
  • Grab the paint brush and use it to apply the paste to the mold
  • Use the plastic wrap to cover the paste on the mold this may be a bit difficult depending on the location just do what you can
  • Leave it to sit for at least 1 2 hours
  • Remove the plastic covering and clean off the paste . If your mold is gone then you are done. If the mold is still there then start again
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    How To Remove Mold From Shower Curtains

    Shower curtains made from plastic or PEVA often stay damp for long periods of time and thus, are mold loves to grow there.

    Luckily, it is reasonably easy to get rid of:

    Method 1: Baking Soda + Vinegar

  • Remove the shower curtain
  • Throw it into your washing machine along with some bath towels they stop it from crinkling and actually act like scrubbing sponges
  • Add 1/2 a cup of baking soda and your normal laundry detergent and start the cycle
  • When the washing machine gets to the rinse cucle add 1/2 a cup of vinegar
  • Hand the curtain out on the line to dry
  • If you find that you still have some mold on your shower curtain, then you can try again. Because the curtain is made of plastic and blocks water, it may simply have been because the solution did not really get onto all parts of the curtain.

    If you have tried this method a couple of times , then move onto the bleach method.

    Read our guide on non-toxic shower curtains.

    Method 2: Bleach

  • Once again put the curtain into your washing machine with some bath towels
  • Grab a bucket and mix up a solution of 1/2 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup of your normal laundry detergent
  • Fill the rest of the bucket with water but do NOT add it to the washing machine yet.
  • Start the wash cycle and once the washing machine has filled with water add your bleach solution
  • When the cycle is finished hand the curtain out on the line
  • You may need to do this twice to make sure the curtain is fully clean.

    Removing Mold From Silicone Caulking

    How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Shower Caulking ...

    To eliminate mould from silicone caulking, remove the caulking and replace it with a fresh bead of caulking. Yes, this is more difficult than merely cleaning it, but it is the greatest method to ensure that it does not return.

    Remove any sources of humidity that are causing the caulking to become wet .

    Another approach is to remove the mould from the caulking. This is only suggested if the molds size and growth are relatively limited. Anything smaller than five or six inches in length can be cleansed and then watched to see whether the mould returns. If it reappears, Id remove the silicone caulking and replace it with new caulking.Some modern caulking products are mould resistant or have been treated with a chemical that kills mould. As usual, if you are unsure about performing the task yourself, contact a local contractor with experience in mould removal and/or working with mould. They will frequently be aware of how to control the problem, repair it, and resolve the underlying issue.

    How do you get rid of mould between silicon sealers?If you have silicone sealers surrounding your shower that have mould behind them, you must remove the silicone sealant and clean up/remove the mould. Finally, make sure the surface is clean and dry before reapplying the silicon sealant.

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    Create A Vinegar Solution

    There are a few solutions you can use to remove mold from your bathroom, but its best to start with the ones that are the safest. Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic mold killer.

    Its powerful enough to remove mold and mildew from a wide variety of surfaces, including shower caulk. For starters, you need a clean, empty spray bottle and some vinegar.

    You can pour the vinegar into the bottle without diluting it. If you dont water it down, it will deliver a better result. Spray the mold-covered areas with vinegar.

    This solution doesnt smell that nice, but the odor should clear within 2 hours. If your mold problem is a bit more serious, dont rinse the vinegar away after youre done.

    But, if your mold problem isnt so big, and you dont want your shower to have an unpleasant scent, you can mix the vinegar with a bit of water.

    You wont compromise the antifungal power of vinegar by much if you add a bit of water, but you will reduce the pungent smell. This is also a better option for those who have a larger area to clean as theyll have more liquid to work with.

    Q: What Are Some Alternatives To Bleach To Kill Mold

    A: If you are not keen on using bleach, there are a number of other solutions you can consider for getting rid of mold.

    One method that can work well is to combine water and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts. You can use a spray bottle to dispense it. You will need to wait for a little bit while the hydrogen peroxide goes to work, and then you can rinse it off.

    Another option is to combine water and baking soda. You can try adding just a little baking soda to a spray bottle with water, then spray, wait, and wipe it down. Alternately, you can mix in more baking soda to form a thick paste, and scrub with a toothbrush.

    Yet another idea is to use vinegar. You do not need to dilute the vinegar with water. You can just pour it right into a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar on the mold, and then wait. After the vinegar has had some time to work, you can rinse it off.

    If you want to enhance your vinegar, you can add a bit of tea tree oil to your spray bottle. Spray it as usual, wait, and then rinse. With all of these methods, you can scrub if you need to.

    Also Check: How To Clean Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling

    How To Remove Mold From Silicone Caulk

    The best way to remove mold from silicone caulking is to remove the caulking and replace it with a fresh bead of caulking. Yes, this is harder than simply cleaning it but it is the best way to do it and ensure it does not come back.

    You should also remove any sources of dampness that is is causing the caulking to get wet .

    Why Does Mold Keep Coming Back In My Shower

    Easy way to clean black mould mold from silicone mastic sealant caulking.

    If mold and mildew keeps coming back you need to make sure youre getting to the root of the problem. Its very likely that the mold isnt on top of your shower silicone, but rather beneath it and in that case youll need to remove caulk and possibly certain tiles to really remove the mold for good.

    Read Also: Bathroom Ceiling Mold

    First Things First: Where Is The Mold Growing

    If mold is growing on top of your caulking or grout, consider yourself lucky. Why? Because mold can actually form inside or under grout or caulk. The reason this can happen is because over time, your caulking may crack. All it takes is a tiny fissure for mold to get underneath.

    To figure out what you are dealing with, soak a few cotton balls in bleach, and press them onto the affected area. If you see the mold go away right away, it is probably superficial.

    But if 30 or 40 seconds go by and you can still see some mold, then it is inside the caulk. That is bad news, but you can still stop mold, even when it penetrates your caulk.

    Instructions On How To Remove Mold On Caulking

    How to Remove Mold from Caulking in Shower

  • Fill a large bowl with water.
  • If using cotton balls, you can stretch out the cotton balls before dipping them in the bleach water to make it easier to attach to a wall.
  • Put on gloves and mask, open a window, and/or turn on the fan in the bathroom.
  • Add a small amount of bleach to the water. Mix.
  • Dip cotton balls into the bleach water.
  • Apply the cotton balls directly onto the caulking with mold on it in your shower or bathtub.
  • Continue adding cotton balls to moldy parts of the shower.

    Continue adding more cotton balls or cotton coils to all moldy caulk in your shower, including along window ledges, and up the walls. Because the cotton is so wet, it will stick vertically. However, start at the top and work your way down if bleaching moldy caulking vertically, as the liquid will seep out and make the cotton balls below it fall off. Its okay to keep the cotton fairly wet, but it doesnt have to be super wet and drenched, especially if doing vertical parts.

  • Leave the cotton there for about 2-4 hours or until mold is removed. Be sure to shut the bathroom door and keep the fan running as you wait.
  • Spot check an area to see if the mold on shower caulking is gone. If not, reapply and wait another hour.
  • If the spot check looks good, continue to remove the cotton balls or cotton coils from your bathtub caulking.

    Discard them into a trash bag. Always be sure to handle bleach with gloves on and a mask if you have one .

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