How To Clean Mold In Shower Grout Naturally
Mold in shower grout is a common problem. High humidity combined with porous grout is a perfect habitat for mold. The lack of ventilation, shower screens, or curtains make this situation even worst, creating a haven for black mold. This was a problem in our bathroom. Here is how I have cleaned mold in shower grout naturally, without bleach, borax, WC cleaners, or any toxic substances.
Two steps are required to get rid of the mold for good.
Step 1: Remove the moldStep 2: Eliminate the mold triggers
Baking Soda Plus Hydrogen Peroxide
Apply a thick baking soda paste to the area affected by mold. Spray or carefully pour hydrogen peroxide over the baking soda paste so it begins to fizz, which will help loosen the mold further. Scrub the fizzing paste using a stiff bristle brush, then rinse the paste and mold away with water. Repeat as needed.
Tip: If there’s mold on the caulk that seals around your tub, faucet, sink or toilet, the safest thing to do is remove the caulking. Sterilize the area with bleach or distilled white vinegar and dry it thoroughly before replacing the caulk. Opt for a mildew-resistant caulk to inhibit the growth of future mold. Some mold problems can’t be tackled with home remedies or commercial cleaners found at your local store. If you’re facing stubborn grout mold or too much mold to handle alone, call the pros at ServiceMaster Clean for complete mold removal from any area.
How Do You Clean Grout Hacks
To try this grout-cleaning method, first layer the toilet bowl cleaner along the grout lines and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes. Before any scrubbing starts youll see the dirt start to release from the grout. Then, go in with your toothbrush or grout brush and start scrubbing!
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Warm Water And A Scrub Brush
You can use warm water and a scrub brush to get rid of mold if the area is small. Make sure to use a brush that is stiff and fits the grout lines, like a tile brush or thin scrub brush. Go along the grout in small sections, douse the area in water, and scrub hard.
Youll see that scrubbing the area is a common thread between all of these cleaning techniques. No matter what type of solution or chemical you use, you need to physically remove the mold. According to the EPA, even dead mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Regularly Disinfect With Vinegar
There is one little additional trick. Take a spray bottle and fill it with a 50/50 mixture of water and white distilled vinegar. Each time after your bath or shower, spray this mixture onto the tile grout and leave it. The vinegar will do a lot in terms of disinfecting and killing mold spores before they grow into full-blown mold.
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How Do You Remove Black Mold From Shower Grout
To remove the black stains that mold leaves on non-porous surfaces like grout, mix equal parts of bleach and water in a spray bottle and spray it over the stained area, allowing it to sit for several minutes. Return and spray the area again, and use a scrub brush to scrub out any remaining discoloration.
Grout Is A Highly Porous Material & Susceptible To Mold Growth
In addition to having an environment that is ideal for mold growth, grout is naturally a very porous material. When water sits on the surface of the grout for extended periods of time, mold quickly begins to form. Certain types of grout are made to be mold-resistant. Unless you build your home or remodel your bathroom, however, you are unlikely to have this type of grout in your shower.
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How To Get Rid Of And Prevent Bathroom Mold
Learn how to remove and prevent mold from growing in your bathroom in the future.
Mold is infamous for producing spores that, when inhaled, can cause anything from rashes to headaches to respiratory problems. At-risk groups such as the very young or old and people with compromised immune systems, mold sensitivities and allergies, or asthma can have serious reactions to mold.
Turn The Fan On & Open A Window
When you have finished showering, turn on a fan or open a window until the humidity from your shower has dissipated.
You need to have top-notch ventilation to remove the humidity and moisture from the air. The lack of humidity creates a poor breeding ground for bacteria and is the easiest way to maintain your mold-free space.
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How To Prevent Mildew From Growing
Once youve cleaned off the mildew, you need to ensure it doesnt come back. Try checking if other parts of the home have been contaminated, like your shower curtains.
If you do find some mildew, heres a guide on how to remove mildew from shower curtains. Here are other ways to keep your home mildew-free
Is Vinegar Or Bleach Better For Killing Mold
Vinegar truly is better than bleach at killing mold. That means the mold will grow back. In fact, recognizing the bleach as a threat, the mold will grow back even stronger. When bleach is used on porous surfaces like drywall or wood, mold membranes will move deeper into the surface to avoid the chemical.
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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.
Removing Mold From Grout
Before working with any sort of mold, its a good idea to remember you safety. Wearing gloves and a doctor or sawdust mask is something you should always do when dealing with mold. However, the cleaning chemicals that you might use will require ventilation as well. You dont want to breathe in anything like bleach or large amounts of vinegar.
One of the best things to use against mold in grout is bleach. Chlorine bleach is a great way to destroy the tiny microbes in it, but it shouldnt be used if you have colored grout. White grout is fine to use bleach with, but it will remove the color if it is colored. Using a toothbrush or some other bristled brush, simply scrub in the grout of the tiles. Between the tiles, the bristles will get into the pores and apply the bleach into it.
If you have colored grout, distilled white vinegar is a great option. Combining it with baking soda and making a loose paste of it will bring cleanliness to your grout. Apply it to the grout and wait for about thirty minutes before applying the toothbrush to it. This will get into the pores of the grout, similarly to the bleach with the white grout. Scrubbing it will get the mold out, though you may have to go over it more than once.
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How To Clean Shower Grout
Follow our expert tips on how to clean the grout in your shower:
If you find that your tile grout or caulk is missing, chipped away or very stained it may be time to consider having the shower tile re-grouted and/or re-caulked by a professional, such as Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company.
What Kills Mold Instantly
In such cases, a solution of diluted bleach provides the fastest way to kill mold on walls or flooring. Prepare the solution by adding one cup of bleach into a bucket that contains about a gallon of warm water. Then proceed to scrub the mold vigorously with a stiff-bristled brush youve dipped in the bleach solution.
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Quick Answer: How To Clean Mold And Mildew From Ceramic Tile
Wiping the tiles with a premade solution of 10% bleach and 90% water should remove most of the mold . For particularly tough stains, try mixing a solution of 25% bleach and 75% baking soda in a cup. Always test the solution on a small section of your ceramic tile before you tackle the mold .
What Is The Best Mold Removal Product
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can be used together to fight the mold more effectively. One of the most effective natural mold removal products is tea tree oil. This product is more expensive but a little bit will go a long way. Tea tree oil is available at most natural health shops and it comes in a little bottle.
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To Remove Black Mold From Hard Surfaces Follow These Steps:
If youd rather not use bleach, white vinegar or baking soda are good natural substitutes that kill black mold. Vinegar can be used just like the bleach.
Clean Your Shower Tiles With Vinegar And Dish Soap
Dish soap is another versatile cleaning product you can use on all kinds of grime and toxic mold. When you combine it with vinegar, it gets even more powerful.
This recipe is especially useful because it incorporates tea tree oil it not only is tops at removing mold but also leaves your shower doors and tiles smelling fresh.
- 1 pair of rubber gloves
- Scrubbing pad
Mix the water, vinegar, and oil in the spray bottle. Apply the solution to all areas that need cleaning. Let it sit for at least five minutes, and then scrub, rinse with hot water, and dry.
To keep your shower mold-free, spray your shower walls and shower curtain with the solution every day. This recipe can also be effective as a house wash solution to rid your home of mold and grime.
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What Is Mould And Why Is It In Your Home
Mould is a type of fungi and can grow on a range of surfaces both indoors and outdoors. Its a naturally occurring organism. Reproducing by making spores, mould prefers damp and poorly ventilated areas where it has easy access to water, which is its main food source.
Mould in the home can be caused by:
- Poor ventilation
- Condensation
- Humidity
What Is The Black Stuff On Tile Grout
Mold and Grout Mold can be responsible for black grout. In areas where there is moisture or high humidity, mold can develop. Though it can appear on kitchen backsplashes, it is most commonly found on bathroom floors and shower tiles. To avoid health risks, as quickly as possible, mold should be removed.
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How To Remove Mold From Non
After cleaning the bathroom, it is time to get to work with the homemade cleaning solutions. Start with the shower, tub, and other non-porous surfaces.
These materials are smooth, allowing you to wipe the surface clean with a rag after applying the solution.
Choose one of the cleaning mixtures discussed and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the entire surface that you want to clean until it is evenly coated but avoid spraying enough to create pools of liquid.
You can spray every surface is in the bathroom, including the inside of the shower and the tub surround or walls.
It should also work on the grout and caulk. However, you may need to scrub those areas after cleaning the non-porous surface.
If you do not have a spray bottle, pour the cleaning mixture into a bucket. Use a disposable towel or old rag to apply the solution on the affected surfaces.
Allow the cleaning mixture to set for several minutes and then wipe clean with cloths or rags. As you wipe the surface, the mold should come right off. Replace or rinse the cloth or rag when it gets dirty.
In some areas, the mold may remain. To get the tough patches of mold, spray more of the cleaning solution and then scrub clean with an old toothbrush or scrubby brush.
When you are satisfied with the mold removal, use the baking soda solution to disinfect all the surfaces and kill any microscopic mold spores.
Take Steps To Prevent Mold In The Future
As long as mold can find a porous and damp place in your bathroom, it can grow and come back. The best way to enjoy clean grout in your bathroom is to prevent mold from growing in the first place. Here are some tips to keep mold from growing in your grout:
- Thoroughly clean your bathroom every week
- Open a window and turn the fan on to let out steam
- Run the fan for half an hour after showering
- Seal grout once per year
- Wipe down the shower after using it
- Spray an anti-fungal solution monthly
- Spray a tea-tree oil solution after you shower
- Fix leaky bathroom faucets
Cleaning grouting takes some elbow grease, so its a good idea to do everything you can to prevent mold growth.
Andrew Saladino
Andrew Saladino is the Co-Founder of Kitchen Cabinet Kings where he has helped over 10,000 customers with their remodeling projects. He is a nationally awarded kitchen and bathroom professional by the NKBA and his advice has been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Huffington Post, Mashable, Yahoo! Small Business, and more.
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How To Remove Mold From Grout With Bleach
Chlorine bleach is the most commonly used cleaning agent when it comes to DIY mold grout removal. It works well and not only kills the mold spores, but also disinfects the area and removes the buildup of soap residue from the tiles and grout.
Method 1:
- Mix one part bleach to four parts water in a spray bottle
- Spray the affected area, wait for about 30 minutes, then scrub vigorously with a brush
- Rinse with cool, clear water. Repeat the process, if necessary.
Method 2:
- Use a stiff bristle toothbrush to scrub bleach directly onto the moldy grout
- Let the bleach sit for about 15-30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Repeat as needed.
Warning:
- Bleach causes fading and discoloration, so it should not be used on colored tiles or colored grout
- The fumes from bleach can be irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, so you need to wear a mask, safety glasses, and rubber gloves when using it. Keep the room well ventilated during the cleaning process and let the windows open for a couple of hours afterwards to make sure that all harmful fumes have left the room.
Best Mold Grout Cleaners
Whether you are looking for a natural way to clean the bathroom and kitchen or a commercial cleaner, you have options. Use vinegar, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide to clean between your tile naturally. Or you can purchase a variety of cleaners that contain bleach or use bleach and water to whiten and brighten the area.
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How Using Antimicrobial Protected Ceramic Tiles Can Help
If the advice weve given so far sounds like a lot of work, there is an easier way altogether. You can purchase ceramic tiles which have an antimicrobial protection built into them that are designed to inhibit the growth of stain and mold-causing microbes on their surface. This technology is built in at the point of manufacture and does not wipe off or wash away. Youll find plenty of styles and designs of antimicrobial protected ceramic tiles from the likes of Daltile and Corona. As the technology works to inhibit the growth of stain and mold-causing microbes, your ceramic tiles are kept hygienic for longer, and stains and molds are less likely to occur.
