| Author | Content |
heebiejeebie
Buffalo, NY
June 5, 2007
10:17 PM Post #3580622
| The last house we owned got some serious mold/mildew in the bathroom. Crazy pink stuff all over the shower walls (plastic walls), near the faucets and totally all over the caulking. Sometimes it would be brown. Even if I would scrub (which yeah, I should have done more often), it came back within a few days.
This didn't seem to be much of a problem at our new place. We've been here a few months, and now I'm noticing it growing on the caulking, near the shower door, under the faucet, and on the tiles. This shower is different than the old one. The other one was a solid plastic wall, while this is tile and a sliding door.
I had been cleaning every two week and spraying with clean shower, but didn't do either for the last month. Neither bathroom had an exhaust system. I scrubbed and srcubbed the new mildew here and it doesn't seem to help, ecspecially on the caulk.
I really, really, really don't want a yucky mold covered bathroom again. How can I fix and prevent this? Is there a way to re-caulk over the old caulk? Because it doesn't seem to come off of the caulk. Yuckkkkkk. Any links on mildew cleaning, or caulking?
Thanks |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
June 5, 2007
11:17 PM Post #3580892
|
There's a product called Tilex that you can buy at any store that carries cleaning products. It smells like Clorox, but it's not. Whatever it's made of works like magic on those black mildew stains on caulk.
Get some, you'll love it.
|
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 6, 2007
12:48 AM Post #3581146
| Any cleaner with bleach will work, Tilex has bleach so that's why it works. Just make sure you get the mildew one, they have a couple other ones for soap scum and things and those don't have bleach in them. |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
June 6, 2007
12:57 AM Post #3581159
| Tilex does work great and if the caulk is too far gone it needs to be removed first and new caulk applied. Preventive measures when you get a chance install exhaust fans, until then, wipe down the shower after you're done and can spray with Lysol surface spray. |
heebiejeebie
Buffalo, NY
June 6, 2007
10:37 AM Post #3582114
| Jen,
Is lysol better than other surface spray?
I've been using clean shower. |
Mobi
Denver, CO
(Zone 6a)
June 6, 2007
12:48 PM Post #3582677
| I use a mixture of bleach and water in a sprayer. I spray it on and leave it and it works wonderfully. |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
June 7, 2007
1:37 AM Post #3585553
| The clean shower does a lot to keep the soap scum from sticking but the lysol actually kills mold/mildew, but has to be sprayed when shower is dry. |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
June 11, 2007
12:14 AM Post #3600808
|
I like the bleach and water solution, and it is plenty cheap enough.
|
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
June 12, 2007
12:24 AM Post #3604937
| Unfortunately, I can't use bleach I have a septic system. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 12, 2007
12:57 AM Post #3605031
| You can still use bleach, I wouldn't use gallons of it every day but a little bit from time to time isn't going to impact the septic.
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[HYPERLINK@www.alsnetbiz.com]
[HYPERLINK@cals.arizona.edu]
|
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
June 13, 2007
11:51 PM Post #3612979
| ecrane...thanks for the useful info, maybe I can get my whites whiter now! |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 24, 2007
11:12 AM Post #3652401
| I have had Tilex and also just used bleach and water. Tilex is only an expensive version of the homemade solution. Don't waste your money.
I am on a septic system and have not had it pumped in 20 years. I use bleach occaisionally, 1/2 cup to a full washer load. The worst thing to stop up your septic tank is grease. All leftover grease goes into any empty can or other disposable container and into the trash. |
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)
June 26, 2007
2:34 AM Post #3659455
| Woodspirit- How big is your tank? Do you use Rid-X or something like it?
We've only been in our house 2 1/2 years and we had to have it pumped out already. I never put grease down the drain. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
June 26, 2007
7:17 AM Post #3659664
| Same tank that was here when the house was built in 1960. Only been pumped once that I know of. It all depends on how well the field is working.
But I say that having no idea if there is even a field at all here. The property is very mountainous and I can't see, for the life of me, where the field might be. There is just no level land to put a field near it.
The houses here were built as summer cabins. They were all up on locost posts, instead of a foundation, with not even drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, just countertops with shelving underneath. Over the years nearly all have been remodeled, some with additions. I don't think the septics were designed to hold up under regular use of year-round residents.
No, I don't use Rid-X and believe it to be ineffectual; a waste of money.A box of Rid-X is way too small to work and besides, the bacteria in Rid-X will need warmth to grow; most septic are too cool. That is certainly true here in the mountainous - very cold spring water. |
gordo
Gulfport, FL
(Zone 9b)
August 11, 2007
1:18 AM Post #3843442
| After you clean thoroughly, wipe down shower walls with Pledge or Old English polish. The wax prevents soap buildup and mold growth.
Its also easier to clean next time. |
woodspirit1
Lake Toxaway, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 11, 2007
10:46 AM Post #3844178
| Never heard that before; great idea. |
pugwee
Seattle, WA
August 19, 2007
4:52 PM Post #3875254
| I use oxy clean for mold and it works o.k. When the mold was too bad on the caulk I changed it and used the mold resistant stuff. The best thing that I have found was a small battery operated personal fan that I place near the area after I wipe it down. You do need to be careful with most cleaning products in septic tanks especially the anti-bacterial stuff. |
