The Best Homemade Grout Cleaner For Mold
Its a fact that mold loves moist and humid environments with poor air circulation.
Think about it.
Where in your home gets hot, humid, and wet most of the day?
Thats right your bathroom shower.
Whenever you take a shower, the air becomes humid and filled with moisture.
This is the perfect condition for mold to grow if it can find a suitable food source. The tile grout on the shower walls is most often where you will find mold growth.
You can prevent and get rid of mold in these areas by taking a few simple steps.
Most of the time preventing the mold growth is the best cure. However, sometimes thats not always possible.
The best remedy for this problem is to deprive mold of what it needs to grow.
Moisture!
If you can keep the tiles dry after each shower, you can avoid the mold growth altogether.
All you have to do is wipe down the shower walls with a hand towel or absorbent cloth after each shower.
Doing this will help to make the grout get dry faster.
You can even use a use a squeegee.
No one method is better than the other. The key is to remove the excess moisture from the tiles and the grout lines.
Also, you should run your bathroom exhaust fan for at least 30 minutes after you take a shower. This will help to remove the damp, humid air and help to dry the tiles and the grout.
If you have mold growing on the grout, you can take some simple steps to fix this issue.
And safety glasses to avoid the peroxide from getting in your eyes.
The Best Anti Mold Tile Grout
How To Remove Mould From Shower Grout
This is the first place you will find mould growing because it is porous and holds water for much longer. This method of mould removal uses bleach, so if you have coloured grout, it would be best to use one of the natural methods that we go through later on.
#1 Mix up another batch of the bleach solution and pour it into the spray bottle.
#2 Spray the mixture onto the affected grout all over the shower.
#3 Using a brush, preferably nylon, scrub the grout and get the mould off.
#4 Rinse the grout, and watch the mould and dirty water wash away, leaving everything looking clean and new.
Where Can Mould Form And How Do I Remove It
How you remove mould can depend on where its located. It can often be found on surfaces like tiles, grout, sealant or a shower curtain. You can remove mould with various home-made cleaning solutions or with one bought from a shop.
MouldCleaning Solutions: Buying vs Making
When it comes to removing mould, you can create your own cleaning solutions:
- Non-toxic: Vinegar is a great option for killing mould. It may smell unpleasant, but it wont have the toxicity of bleach. Pour it straight onto the spores or use a spray bottle. Try mixing it with water with a ratio of 2:1, leave for 30 minutes before wiping.
- Borax: A natural insecticide and fungicide, this solution mixes sodium tetraborate decahydrate – or baking soda – with water. It doesnt need to be rinsed off and can prevent mould from growing. You can buy baking soda in many supermarkets.
- Bleach: The heavy-duty and last-resort option. Bleach will kill mould on showers and tiles etc, but it is a toxic substance, so take great care when using. Mix it with water at a ratio of 1:10. Rinse away afterwards if children or pets are around.
If are unsure about these mixtures, you can buy ready-made cleaning solutions and mould removers from supermarkets. The benefit of store-bought products is that you dont have to worry about mixing substances, you can be sure of their measurements. However, most are bleach-based, so you will need to be aware of any fumes.
You May Like: How To Kill Mold In My Basement
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Shower Grout With Tea Tree Oil
If you have some tea tree oil at home, this recipe is an easy way to learn how to get rid of mold in shower grout. Do not rinse this recipe away quickly. It has to sit and kill the mold over a few hours.
- Old toothbrush
Mix this cleaning solution in a spray bottle and shake it up a bit. Before you spray it on the tile, make sure the grout is dry. You might want to run a dry cloth across it first to make sure.
Grab an old toothbrush, scrub away, and your mold problem will disappear. All it takes is some scrubbing of the grime on your grout. Thats how to remove mold from grout.
The Very Best Way To Clean Shower Tile Mildew With Set
If vinegar and tea tree oil arent doing the trick, then its time to move onto another homemade shower mold cleaner: baking soda. This grout cleaner is fantastic when you need to remove a mildew stain that wont disappear. Baking soda can also be used with vinegar in the washing machine to remove mold and mildew from a shower curtain.
- Toothbrush or bristle brush
Start by creating a thick paste by adding water to the baking soda and blending it well. Add the baking soda paste to the shower walls, getting in between the grooves of the tile. Scrub the paste into the grout lines, using a toothbrush to work the cleaner deep into the crevices and cracks.
Next, spray some vinegar over the baking soda paste and wait for the bubbling to stop. After the fizzing has subsided, continue scrubbing the tile grout until visibly clean. Rinse with clean water and dry.
Read Also: Clean Mildew From Bathroom Ceiling
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Shower Grout
I also previously wrote a post about the best way to clean grout by using and comparing Magic Eraser on grout, baking soda to clean grout, and a steam cleaner for grout. They all worked fairly well!
I didnt at the time have black mold growing in my shower grout though.
One of the best things you can do when battling black mold in shower grout is to replace the grout completely and re-grout. Mold often seems to grow on grout as it starts to age and crack as it is porous.
No, this is likely not an easy or cheap process, but this will ensure the grout is indeed mold-free. Just be sure to use top-quality grout!
Plus, you may also discover a water issue behind the tile or grout that you can better address so as to prevent it from growing again.
But, if your grout still looks like its in good shape, then try one of the following methods:
Once you remove black from shower grout, be sure to use a squeegee to remove excess moisture and water from your tiles and grout after showering to prevent it from coming back.
Get Rid Of Stubborn Shower Mold Infestations
When mold continues to regrow on grout, the treatments in use may be insufficient or conditions may remain conducive to growth. Consider reapplying vinegar or sodium borate solutions and be sure to wait at least 60 minutes for either of these treatments to sink in before scrubbing and wiping off the affected surface.
Some porous materials are impossible to disinfect thoroughly enough to avoid recontamination. Any substance that is completely contaminated with mold may need to be torn out and replaced.
Failure to remove contaminated items may cause the same type of mold to resume growing on affected surfaces and spread. If you are not sure what type of mold is growing in a residence, it may be worthwhile to schedule an inspection, mold test or consultation to get a mold remediation estimate.
Also Check: Uv Light Basement Mold
How To Clean Black Mold In Shower Ceiling
Like all of the other molds, you again need to fix the cause of the mold , before you tackle the mold itself or youll just have to do it again soon!
If it is on porous materials like a popcorn ceiling, wood, drywall, and so on, youll need to remove that portion of the ceiling and replace it.
If it isnt severe, and your ceiling is made of a non-porous material, and you are looking to remove the black mold in shower ceiling, youll want to:
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold
- Pin
- Working Time: 15 mins – 2 hrs
- Total Time: 15 mins – 2 hrs
- Skill Level: Intermediate
Mold spores can be found nearly everywhere on earth. But finding black mold is unnerving because of its potential danger, so you want to get rid of black mold as soon as possible. When the spores are exposed to moderate temperatures and moisture, they begin to grow and multiply. Our homes, especially bathrooms and damp basements, can provide nearly ideal environments for mold to thrive.
The good news is that not all mold, even the ones that appear to be black in color, are dangerous. There are three categories of common molds found in households that can have health effects:
- Allergenic molds that can be safely removed by using disinfecting products
- Pathogenic molds that can be controlled with disinfectants
- Toxic molds that require professional treatment and disposal of all affected materials
What has become known as the dangerous black mold is Stachybotrys chartarum, a colony with a dark green or black slimy surface. It is most often found in homes or buildings that have been exposed to excessive amounts of water and humidity for an extended period of time, especially after a flood. S. chartarum produces trichothecenes, a type of mycotoxin. Exposure to S. chartarum could potentially lead to a wide range of respiratory health effects, though this has not yet been proven.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Clean Mildew Off Of Leather
How To Clean Grout In The Kitchen
Cleaning kitchen tiles are basically the same as cleaning the bathroom or shower. Use the same types of cleaners, but make sure you rinse well with warm water. You dont want to leave any residue behind that might come in contact with food.
- Step 1: Scrub off dirty grout using warm water and a stiff brush in a circular motion, and then leave it for few minutes to dry up.
- Step 2: Mix vinegar with waterWhen you have your mixture, spray it in equal parts and let it stand for a few minutes then scrub with the brush.
- Step 3: Apply baking soda and vinegarApply the baking soda paste, spray vinegar, and cover grout lines with more baking soda.
Let the mixture foam before you scrub.
- Step 4: Add hydrogen peroxideResistant stains may need hydrogen peroxide. Apply it in the form of a paste with baking soda.
- Step 5: Rinse with clean waterRinsing helps to avoid resettling of dirt in the grout lines.
- Step 6: Steam cleaningIf there are persistent grout stains, you may need the help of various steam cleaners in the market.
- Step 7: Dry offOpen the windows or put on a fan and let the grouts dry thoroughly.
To keep your kitchen grout and stain-free, spray often with vinegar and water at least once a week. You can also wipe with alcohol to maintain a mold and mildew free surface.
After trying all of your options for cleaning mold, if the fungus continues to come back and re-infest areas of your bathroom or kitchen, call in a professional to do the job for you.
How To Ensure Mold Free Grout
Having mold free grout boils down to keeping the humidity out of the bathroom. You can buy a dehumidifier and keep it running, or keep the door to the bathroom open.
Both of these methods will keep the moisture levels below what mold needs to grow. Even just turning on the bathroom fan could work to avoid mold growth. Any way to keep the air moving through the bathroom, and the moisture out of it is an excellent idea.
A shower squeegee can help to remove excess moisture. You may use a tile primer that is water-resistant to paint the moldy area with it. That should ensure no mold ever grows there again.
If you encounter extremely moldy grout that resists your cleaning efforts, it may be time to remove old grout from tiles and replace it with new. Sometimes starting over can be the most efficient option.
Don’t Miss: How To Clean Mold In Bathroom Ceiling
How To Get Rid Of Mold On Silicone Sealant
Silicone sealant is a rubbery material often used in bathroom showers to prevent water from getting behind the walls and joints.
Frequently, these sealants can get moldy and look unsightly.
This usually happens because the surface of the sealant stays damp in your bathroom causing mold spores to settle and begin to germinate.
When this happens, you can either attempt to clean the mold growth or remove and replace the sealant.
It is possible to remove mold from silicone sealants at the first sight of mold growth.
Below are some items that can be effective in cleaning mold from silicone sealant.
- Mild detergent
I usually dont recommend using bleach.
But in this situation, it can be effective in removing and killing the surface growth.
Before you attempt to use bleach or any other chemicals, make sure you read the instructions and NEVER mix bleach with other chemicals when cleaning.
Another important thing is to use protective equipment such as gloves, goggles and long sleeve shirt one that you dont mind if it gets bleach stains.
Ventilation is also important, always open windows and use exhaust fans.
These steps below can be used to remove mold from silicone or caulking in your bathroom shower.
They can be found at any home improvement store.
Use Baking Soda Or Borax
Baking soda and borax are both alkaline substances. Mold doesnt like that. Mold prefers to grow in slightly acidic environments instead. Because of this, you can use baking soda or borax to kill mold and then scrub it off.
There are three ways to do it:
- Make a borax or baking soda paste with a bit of water and apply it to the moldy grout. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub the area with a brush and rinse it with water.
- Apply some borax or baking soda powder directly to a damp cloth and use that for cleaning the grout.
- Mix 1/2 cup of borax or baking soda with a gallon of water. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution over the mold and mildew. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes. Then, use the scrub brush and rinse it with water.
Remember, baking soda is abrasive. You should avoid scrubbing your tiles directly with a baking soda mixture. If youre going to use this cleaning agent, use a thin brush or toothbrush.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Mold On The Bathroom Ceiling
How Do You Clean Stubborn Grout
Grout Cleaning Instructions
How To Remove Mold From Tile Grout And Concrete
Unsealed grout, tile and concrete are very porous and therefore susceptible to mold growth. Its very common to see mold growing in the grout between the tiles in a bathroom or kitchen or on the concrete in your driveway. Every time these porous surfaces get wet, it can take several hours to dry, allowing mold growth to happen quickly.
Also Check: How To Clean Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling Naturally
Diy Mold Removal Cleaners For Tile And Grout Include:
1. Chlorine bleachYou can use chlorine bleach undiluted or you can make a bleach and water mixture to spray on the grout. Never mix bleach with any other cleaners or agents as this can create toxic, life-threatening fumes. You also wont want to use bleach if you have colored grout, as it can cause discoloration.Work in small sections, applying the bleach, and scrubbing it in with a grout brush or toothbrush. Allow the bleach to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and repeat if needed.
2. White VinegarVinegar is non-toxic and wont cause discoloration of colored grout. Spray undiluted vinegar on the grout and let it sit for 30 minutes. Scrub the grout with a grout brush or toothbrush. Spray more vinegar on the area, let it sit for another 30 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Repeat this process if necessary.
3. Baking SodaMake a baking soda paste by adding a few tablespoons of water to a cup of baking soda, until youve reached a spreadable consistency. Using a grout brush or toothbrush, apply the paste to the grout and scrub it in. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, or up to a few hours, before remoistening and scrubbing away the mold. Rinse with warm water and repeat if necessary.
