General Question

marinelife's avatar

What is the most foolproof method of removing mildew from caulk?

Asked by marinelife (62485points) October 9th, 2009

When they remodeled the bathroom in my house, they failed to make the tub level. Water pools in one corner and does not drain off, which results in the problem.

I usually use chlorine bleach. Are commercial tile cleaners or mildew removers better?

Does anything else work?

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12 Answers

SpatzieLover's avatar

@Marina I find bleach to be the best and most effective. I’ve used it to clean mold/mildew out of apartment bathrooms.

These cleaners work well too:
*TSP
*Tilex Mildew
*The Works

But, most “mildew” cleaners contain chlorine bleach, so it’s really the best/cheapest/easiest option in your arsenal.

BTW-Have you tried to remove the caulk? My best recommendation would be to do so, then use a high quality silicone caulk to replace it with. You should eliminate the problem this way.

Dog's avatar

I have used Tilex. We also have a faulty tub. We use a squeegee after each use to keep the mildew from forming.

SpatzieLover's avatar

@Dog We always use our squeegee, too. Then use Method shower spray or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day. It’s keeps the bathroom fresh smelling, too.

loser's avatar

I use Ajax with bleach and a soft bristle toothbrush. It’s kind of an all day project, though.

jrpowell's avatar

I’m in the fix the problem camp. Yank the old stuff and try to fix it. It might not be pretty but you could probably think of a way to stop water from accumulating.

marinelife's avatar

@loser Thankfully, it is only in the one spot where the water pools.

@johnpowell and @SpatzieLover Caulk removal is not an option. It’s a rental.

SpatzieLover's avatar

@Marina I’m a property manager. Have you told the manager about the issue? I’ve replaced caulk for tenants on many occasions

marinelife's avatar

@SpatzieLover I’m so unused to being a renter, I didn’t think of that as an option.

SpatzieLover's avatar

@Marina Give it a try ;) The worst he/she can say is no. I’m always pleased when someone brings things that relate to cleanliness/prevention to my attention.

jrpowell's avatar

Oh my.. Give them a call. I’m sure that they will be pleased to have the opportunity to fix the problem before it gets worse.

renee's avatar

I just did this and had to replace the caulk. You can buy a caulk remover which allows it to soften and then scrape it off. I used a 50/50 solution of bleach and water in a spray bottle to remove the mildew before sealing with new caulk.

proXXi's avatar

I’d say bleach.

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