Shower cleaning (Houston: mover, tile, calculation)

[Oildog]

I scrub my shower out with a Lysol bathroom cleaning product that I thought was working reasonably well. Recently I found some dark material accumulating on the grout around the tiles. Scrubbed it off but it came back a few days later. Is this mildew, and if so what should I clean it with...will it ruin the integrity of the grout?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Clean as much as you can physically, then get rid of it with a diluted bleach solution, it should clean it up nicely after a few hours. Don't get the area wet again for least a week (my own calculation), to make sure no spores are born, or spread.

After waiting, seal the grout again. Most people forget, grout needs to be sealed now and again. There are some sealers rated for 5 years, or more, but those are laboratory tests. Also, most of the sealers today are water based; I'd look for the ones that aren't, they work much better.

[elnina]

^^^ I agree: bleach should work! ( make sure your window is open and vent is on - bleach stinks!)

http://www.askthebuilder.com/284_Rem...om_Grout.shtml

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-clean-tile-grout.htm

[Oildog]

Unfortunately most of my windows are sealed shut and there are none in my bath. I'll give another good scrub down then will try the Hilex.

[tstone]

Wife uses some homemade paste w/ baking soda + bleach, scrubs it w/ a toothbrush, goops on more paste and lets it sit in overnight. Next day comes a scrubbing with the usual bristle brush.

Black stuff comes back every month or so. I guess I need to seal it.

[elnina]

Here are many tips for you problem:

http://www.onlinetips.org/black-mold/get-rid

[EleciaF]

Bleach only whitens mold/mildew. If you really want to get rid of it use white vnegar, that kills it. If you then need the stain removed use Tilex mold/mildew remover. HTH!

Elecia ~Moving from Rhode Island to Houston before Thanksgiving

[houstonfan]

Agree with HTBU. Bleach....and then the important thing is to seal or else it'll keep returning. The problem with a vertical wall is bleach often runs down it, so either get the kind that clings (gel like) or try the paste that Tstone suggested (sounds like a great idea though never tried it). If no windows, turn on the vent, leave other windows open and turn on fan.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by elnina

^^^ I agree: bleach should work! ( make sure your window is open and vent is on - bleach stinks!)

Removing Mildew from Grout

How Can I Clean Tile Grout?

And can kill you if you breath too much of it for long enough...

[Metro Matt]

Scrubbing Bubbles has always worked for me.

This thing really works too & WITHOUT toxic chemicals.

Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber