Unfortunately, mold in grout is extremely common. Since showers are warm and wet, it’s a perfect environment for mold. You can clean shower grout mold with any of these natural solutions.
Why Does Mold Grow on Grout?
Mold grows on grout for several reasons. First, the grout has a slight texture that traps a tiny amount of water. Showers usually have the right temperature, humidity, and amount of light that mold needs to thrive.
Although water is the reason the mold grows, cleaning the tile grout isn’t always easy. While you can quickly wipe down shower tiles, the grout takes more time and care to clean.
How To Remove Mold in Grout
The easiest way to clean mold in shower grout is with one of these natural cleaners. While specialized bath cleaners or mold and mildew products are available, they usually are not more effective. Plus, they are usually more expensive. Regardless of what cleaner you use, always work in a well-ventilated area. Run your bathroom exhaust fan and open a window when cleaning mold.
Chlorine Bleach
In most cases, regular bleach is the best way to remove mold from grout. Spray or wipe the grout with bleach and gently scrub with an old toothbrush. Allow the bleach to set for 30 minutes, then scrub the grout again. Finally, rinse the bleach away with warm water.
Bleach has a strong smell and can irritate your skin, so wear a face mask and gloves. While bleach works on any grout, it can fade or stain darker colors. For that reason, it’s best for white or light-colored grout. Also, never mix bleach with any other cleaners or chemicals.
Distilled White Vinegar
Regular white vinegar is another way to clean shower grout mold. Unlike bleach, it will not discolor or fade your grout. Just spray the vinegar on the grout and wait 30 minutes. Afterward, scrub the grout with an old toothbrush and spray on more vinegar. Wait another 30 minutes and rinse your shower with warm water.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the least expensive and most versatile cleaners around. Mix half a cup of baking soda with one tablespoon of water in a bowl and stir until it forms a thick paste. Add more baking soda if the paste is too wet or more water if it is too dry.
Then spread the baking soda paste over the shower grout to kill the mold. Wait for ten minutes before scrubbing with a soft brush or rag. Rinse with warm water and check the grout for mold. Apply more paste and repeat the process if necessary.
Baking Soda and Distilled White Vinegar
If the white vinegar or baking soda did not remove the mold in your grout alone, you can combine them for an extra strength cleaner. First, wet the shower grout with water and then sprinkle the area with baking soda. The water will help hold the baking soda in place. Then spray the grout with vinegar.
The baking soda and vinegar create a foaming action that helps kill the mold and leaves your grout clean. Gently scrub the grout with a brush or rag to speed up cleaning. For stubborn mold problems, repeat the process until it is all gone.
How To Prevent Mold on Shower Grout
The best way to prevent mold in grout is by drying the walls after every shower and cleaning your bathroom every other week. A squeegee works best, but you can use a towel as well.
Another option is to keep a spray bottle with bleach in the bathroom and spritz the walls after every shower. For a standard 16 oz spray bottle, add 2 oz of bleach and then fill with tap water.
Here are more tips to prevent grout mold in the shower:
- Turn on your exhaust fan before every bath or shower
- Leave the fan running for at least 30 minutes afterward
- Wipe your shower walls with a squeegee after every shower
- Keep the shower curtain or door open for 10 minutes after getting out
- Then close the shower curtain or door so they can dry as well
- Alternatively, spray the shower walls with a weak bleach solution
How To Clean Mold From Caulk in the Shower
If you have grout mold, it’s common to have it on the caulk in your shower too. Bleach is usually the most effective, but you can remove mold from the caulk using any of the methods above. However, mold can grow deep inside the caulk, so it’s usually better to replace it altogether.
Carefully cut out your existing caulk and clean and disinfect the area with bleach. Add one cup of bleach to a gallon of water, then wipe or spray the area. Let the area air dry, then apply new caulk. For the best results, use a mold-resistant caulk for kitchens and bathrooms.
Do you have persistent problems with mold in grout? We can get rid of your mold problem permanently. Call 888-681-1071 now for a free quote.
