How to Clean a Moldy Shower?

Mold can easily develop in damp shower tile. When not eliminated at the right time, this mold spreads on the entire surface and the nearby walls quickly. It looks unsightly and also reeks of a bad odor. Thankfully, mold is easy to eliminate. There are ways to prevent its formation altogether. Here are some recommendations on how to clean a moldy shower. This article will also throw light on how to prevent its recurrence.

Dangers of Mold

Mold leaves a greenish black residue on the surface, ruining the aesthetics of the surface. It also reeks of a bad odor. Mold and mildew cause respiratory problems and eye problems. Mold also makes the floor slippery, which can cause accidents. Mold also penetrates the porous grout between the tiles, deteriorating it. A damaged grout loosens the bond between two tiles and also causes water to stagnate in its holes, leading to bacteria, fungi and mold breeding. It is recommended to use high-quality tile floor cleaning products to clean a moldy shower area.

How can you Clean Mold?

Clean Mold Buildup in Showers:

If you find mold and mildew in your shower tile and grout, you need to clean it immediately using a natural stone cleaner. Such a shower approved cleaner is gentle on the natural stone and tough on the stains.

• Shower:

Mold is usually found in shower corners and shower tile because of constant dampness. Mold and mildew breed in damp shower corners. You will also find mold in shower caulk once it has started wearing off, because as soon as caulk starts peeling off or cracking and shrinking, it gives place to water getting stagnant in the gaps, leading to mold breeding.

To remove mold from shower caulk and tile, you need to use a very high quality cleaner which is shower approved and also effective on mold and stains. Ensure that the cleaner you use is deep-penetrating, because it needs to knock off the stains and mold breeding at the root level. After such detailed shower tile cleaning procedures, the shower is free from mold and mildew at the core and is thoroughly sanitized.

• Bathtub:

Mold also breeds on the corners of your bathtub, where you use caulk to seal it to the wall. Once the caulk cracks and shrinks or starts peeling off, it gives space for water and moisture to get stagnant. Mold and mildew find favorable circumstances to breed in such corners.

To remove mold from bathtub caulk, one needs to replace caulk with a better and a permanent epoxy resin sealant. You need to first rip off the old and damaged caulk and then engage in thorough cleaning of the corners using heavy-duty deep-soaking cleaners. Once the bathtub corners are thoroughly prepped and sanitized, you should seal them permanently using epoxy resin sealers, which are very sleek in appearance and also never pop off from the surface.

•  Grout:

Just like natural stone, grout is also highly porous. It tends to absorb all the moisture and dampness, leading to mold and mildew breeding inside its pores. This mold makes the grout very unhygienic and also deteriorates its integrity.

For grout cleaning and eliminating mold from grout in shower, you should first clean and sanitize the grout using heavy duty deep cleaning products. These cleaners do not damage the surface of the grout and penetrate deep inside its pores to eliminate mold and mildew at the root level.

How to Prevent Mold Occurrence?

• Keep your Shower Tile and Grout Dry:

After every shower use, you should keep your surfaces dry using absorbent cloths, else you could face issues with hard water stains, soap scum and mold buildup.

• Keep Your Tile and Grout Sealed: 

Only cleaning mold buildup from natural stone does not guarantee that it will not be formed again as they are porous. After tile and grout cleaning, you should seal your shower tile and grout using high-quality stone sealers as these form a waterproof layer on the surface. A natural stone sealer forms a hydrophobic layer on the natural stone, making the water sheet off the surface. As water is no longer absorbed by the porous natural stone, it does not lead to mold growth. The sealant gets inside the pores and shuts them permanently, thereby preventing moisture absorption and subsequent mold breeding.

The procedure to clean a moldy shower might feel a little overwhelming and you can choose to hire some contractors to do the job for you. You can also contact D’Sapone - we are one of the leading professional shower restoration service providers in the US. We offer the best mold removal treatments for your showers and bathtubs, ensuring that you get a thoroughly clean surface free from stains and mold. We have patented our procedures and we use exquisitely designed products manufactured by pFOkUS. You can also get a free estimate from our experts.