Need to know how to get rid of mould in shower silicone and other areas?
Mould in shower recesses, on shower walls or growing on the shower tile grout can be annoying, look terrible and cause health problems. Mould loves warm humid conditions so the bathroom in general and the shower in particular are very conducive to growth. Treating,removing and preventing mould in shower areas can be quite time consuming and labour intensive. So be prepared to expend some elbow grease.
Best way to remove mould in shower
While the best form of cure is prevention, there will be circumstances where showers start to show signs of mould growth. The sooner, you take action, the sooner your shower will be restored to pristine condition.
Contrary to popular opinion, bleach, although effective in treating surface mould is not the best way to treat it. The Australian Environmental Mycology Laboratory recommends that surface mould be vacuumed up with a HEPA vacuum, then to wash the area with an 80/20 solution of water and vinegar. White vinegar treatment is known to be the most effective means of removing mould. If there are particularly stubborn stains the same laboratory recommends using bicarbonate soda to remove them.
How to remove mould from silicone sealant
Due to the way it dries and because of how it is usually positioned, silicone presents some unique problems for mould removal. To get the job done with as little fuss as possible it is suggested that you have the following implements and ingredients at the ready.
- A basin or bowl
- Either a solution of vinegar and water or bleach
- Baking soda
- Cling wrap
- Rubber gloves
- A paintbrush and possibly an old toothbrush
Mix the bleach or vinegar solution with the baking soda to make a paste. Use the paintbrush to apply the paste over the silicon. You can use a toothbrush to access any hard to reach spots.Then, apply cling wrap over the paste and allow the solution to stand for two hours. Get rid of the wrap and then wash the solution off. If the mould is no longer visible the job is done, however, if there are still traces of mould, the process will need to be treated. If that all sounds a little difficult, then it might be best to call in an expert to take care of your mould problems.
How to remove mould from drains and walls
Often, the first place that mould inevitably appears around is the drain. From there it often spreads to the shower floor and walls. While this does appear really unsightly, it can be treated rather efficiently. The first step is to mix up your treatment solution whether that be a mixture of bleach and water or, the more effective mixture of vinegar and water. If you choose to use bleach, make sure that the bathroom area is well ventilated and you wear protective gloves and clothing.
The solution is best applied using a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with your solution and then spray over the drain area, visible mould and shower walls. Let the solution stand on the walls and dry for about 10 minutes. Then use a scrubbing brush to remove the mould from the affected areas. When you have finished scrubbing the solution and and mould away, you should be left with a sparkling drain and pristine clear walls
How to remove from shower grout
Grout is porous in nature and absorbs water easily, making it an excellent place for mould to grow. When treating mould in this area it is worth remembering that using bleach can cause discoloration of grout. It is therefore best to use a solution of water and vinegar which can be sprayed over the affected grout areas Then, use a nylon brush to scrub the mould off the grout. It is then a simple matter of rinsing the area clean and you should have clean, mould-free grout in your shower.
Why you should consult with an expert
As well as being hard work and messy, working with mould can be quite dangerous, particularly in areas that are not well-ventilated such as shower cubicles and bathrooms. Microscopic mould spores can be dislodged at any time and easily inhaled by the person removing the mould. This can make it quite the health risk for the do it yourself mould treater.
Even if the job is done effectively at a surface level, it is unlikely that most homeowners will be able to pick up the source of the mould outbreak and effectively deal with that. If mould is occurring in shower areas it could well be evident in other areas of the home as well. Only by consulting a mould expert can you be sure that your home will be rid of the mould. Call the Mould Doctor today to arrange a consultation!