How do you get mold and mildew from growing in your shower/bathtub?

Question

I just bought a place with my wife and the caulking job in the bathtub/shower was terribly done. We have scrubbed with AJAX, CLR, and scrubbing bubbles. There is a nasty mildew/mold build up within the caulk and in some areas the caulk is black. Should I replace the caulk, replace the tub and tub liner, or use something like a wire brush - or i'm open to suggestions.

Answer 1

pull the chaulk and replace it, then make sure there is plenty of ventilation in the future. Dry surfaces collect no mold

Answer 2

What kind of tub liner do you have - acrylic?  What kind of wall do you have - acrylic or fiberglass...three piece wall or one piece wall...any seams?

You never need replace a tub unless it is fiberglass.  Everything else is best to cover with an acrylic tub liner. The old tub acts as support for the liner.

If your tub liner and wall were done by Bath Fitter they might come out and take a look and maybe caulk for free (they have a one piece wall). They will have you listed by your address.  Explain that you just bought the house, etc.  If your tub liner is acrylic and three piece, call another acrylic company in your area and see if they did the work?

All caulking fails eventually because water gets under it. The bacteria in the water forms a culture and that is the black moldy stuff.  It will always grow back as long as there is moisture underneath. Once it gets moldy you have to re-caulk.  You can only clean the surface because the moisture already underneath will eventually produce more mold.

You have to tear the caulking out.  If you have an acrylic tub and wall liner, there is an etching solution on the market which you apply before the caulking and that roughs the acrylic so caulking holds for 5 years or longer.

Answer 3

for health reasons you should def replace everything that does not look sanitary. molds can also be deadly so i suggest you start this project a.s.a.p   also try using damp rid to keep lingering moisture under control.

Answer 4

First, try (and make sure it's the exact brand) Tilex mildew remover.  I have used it with great success. Spray it on multiple times and let it soak in, somehow it just "eats" the mildew.

If not, I would try something very abrasive...but I fear that it may be to no avail as the mildew has probably seeped into the caulk pores.

Answer 5

cut the old caulk out and put new in and if that doesn't work I would replace it

Answer 6

Use a diluted bleach solution on it to kill it off.

Make sure you have proper ventilation to keep the moisture down to stop it from coming back.

If it doesn't want to go away, you may need to dig out the grout and reapply fresh stuff.

If all of that seems like too much work, just pee on it whenever you take a shower. That will also kill it.

Answer 7

You should look into getting a Liner. There are 3 main companies doing this type of remodel. Make sure you  get quotes from at least two (2) so you can make the best and most informed decision. The companies are:

1) Luxury Bath

2) Re-Bath

3) Bath Fitter

Luxury Bath has the thickest material in the industry. It also has a product called microban. Microban is a antimicrobial product that actually fights mold and mildew. Microban makes it easier to clean and keeps it cleaner between cleaning. Luxury Bath also has a no nonsense Lifetime Warranty. www.luxurybath.com

Re-Bath would be my second choice. The reason being is they, like Luxury Bath have a one piece "dog leg" (The dog leg goes from the top of the tub rail to the floor in front of the tub.)

The reason I would not recommend Bath fitter is because of the dog leg. This is the area that is most prone to leaking and they piece it together here.  Also see these links

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowner...

http://bath-fitter.pissedconsumer.com/

As far as other options there is

1) tearing it out and starting over

2) Ceramic tile

3) re-glazing

With tearing it out you will be forced to use a fiberglass tub, which is very porous making it very difficult to clean. (for those that are reading this, thinking how nice your fiberglass tub is, go in there and rub your fingers over it. It may look o.k. but it will be greasy, that’s because the porous material is literally sucking the soap scum in.  Fiberglass surrounds are also known for cracking and being "spongy" when you stand in them.

Ceramic tile is definitely attractive, but unfortunately the grout is the weak point, after all its 80% sand, and sand sucks in the water making it a perfect surface for mold and mildew. Grout also needs maintenance once a month, but before you do the maintenance, you need to clean it with a toothbrush.

re-glazing is when they paint the tub. This is more of a band-aid if your trying to sell the home, but don’t care how it will look in 6 months to 1 year. It also doesn't address the walls or fixtures.

Answer 8

Recaulk the bathtub 1st. I have a friend who installed a skylight in his bathtub/shower & said it got rid of a really bad mildew problem. Maybe a little costly, but it also adds light to a bathroom.

Answer 9

try undiluted bleach. or vinegar. and if neither of them work, you probably need to replace the caulk.

Answer 10

use the mildew remover or bleach but be sure to ventilate the room well and also the home the fumes are very strong.

Once the mildew is removed, wipe down the shower area everytime it is used... just use your bath towel.  This should prevent mildew from returning and staining the grout or/and calk.