How to Clean Bathtub Caulk

Yuck! But you can easily clean mildew and mold from caulk.

Did you know that caulk was invented by the ancient Babylonians? Well...maybe it wasn't, but no matter. Whoever came up with it, caulk was a great invention. Except for its unpleasant habit of growing mildew and mold, and otherwise getting all gunked up. Here's how to clean it.

Instructions

1. 

   Soak some toilet paper or paper towel in liquid chlorine bleach (you should wear gloves for this, as bleach is hard on the hands). Clorox is fine, though any type of bleach will do the trick.

2. Wad the paper into narrow pads a bit wider than the caulk itself.

3. 

   Place the pads over any mildew spots, and leave them there overnight. If the caulk is a total mess -- around a bathtub rim, for instance -- then use the pads along the entire perimeter of the tub.

4. Remove the pads, rinse, and Voilà...clean caulk.

5. Alternatively, you can dampen some toilet paper or paper towels with water to start out. Proceed with Step 2 and Step 3, and then slowly pour bleach onto the wadded paper as a final step. Adding the bleach with a bleach-safe squirt bottle is probably the easiest way to control the amount you use (you don't need much) and keep it off your skin.

Tips & Warnings

• This works best on light mildew growth, so don't wait too long and let it get out of hand.

• Bleach is a poison! Handle it with care, and keep kids and pets away from the tub when the caulk is soaking. Keep the room well-ventilated.