How to Remove Mildew from Shower Caulk
Bathrooms are one of the hardest rooms in any home to keep clean. This is because it gets so much use, and it is almost always wet in the bathroom. This is the type of environment in which mold and mildew thrive. Fortunately, we keep most area relatively clean, but one of the hardest areas to clean mildew from is caulk. This is mostly found in the shower. Removing mildew from shower caulk can be a pain, and could end up a larger job that you originally thought. But the steps that you will need to follow are listed below. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spray bottle
- Copper powder
- Sponge
- Dry rag
- Strainer (homemade is fine)
- Razor blade
- Rough sponge or brush
- Caulk gun
- Caulk
- Masking tape
Instructions
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1
Boil a gallon of water on the stove. Once the water is boiling, mix in copper powder. Copper powder is normally used in rose gardens, and can be bought at any home improvement or gardening store.
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2
Strain the mixture that you've made after mixing it. There will be chunks left in the water; straining it will get rid of those pieces.
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3
Wipe the area with the mildew down with a wet sponge, and spray the area with the mixture. Allow this to sit for about 15 minutes.
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4
Wipe the area down with the dry rag, and see if the mildew is gone. If it is, you are done. If not, you have a bigger problem than you thought, because the mildew isn't on top of the caulk, its inside or underneath.
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5
Cut away the caulk using the razor blade, being careful not to cut the surface below the caulk.
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6
Scrub the area with water and the rough brush or sponge to remove the rest of the caulk residue.
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7
Follow steps 1 through 4 to clean the area again, and allow the area to dry completely.
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8
Mask off the area around where the new caulk will go, leaving 1/8 inch between the tape.
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9
Put the caulk in the caulk gun, cut the tip, and puncture the opening with a needle or pin.
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10
Apply a new layer of caulk where you just removed the old caulk. Smooth out the new layer, and remove the tape before the caulk dries. Allow the caulk to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Many people say to scrub the mildew and use bleach, but this will only eliminate the mildew on the surface, and the scrubbing will actually put more mildew particles in the air for you to breath in. Always wear a mask when cleaning up mildew or mold.
