How to Get Mold & Mildew Off of Clear Caulk Around a Shower Door

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By C.M. Mackenzie
eHow Contributing Writer

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Moisture from the shower often settles on the caulk around the shower door. You probably won't notice just how much a problem this moisture (and it doesn't take much) can be until mold or mildew grow. Mold and mildew grow quickly in the warmth and humidity, leaving tell-tale green, black or white stains along the caulk. Remove this as soon as you see it. If you let it remain, it will spread and may even find its way into creases inaccessible to cleaners or scrubbing tools.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Rubber gloves
Bathroom mold and mildew spray
Old toothbrush
Water
Sponge

Step 1

Protect your hands with rubber gloves. Spray bathroom mold and mildew spray directly onto the caulk; make sure every moldy or mildewed spot is covered.
Step 2

Open windows or doors to provide airflow to the room. Leave the room (Shut the door if pets or children are around the house.), and allow the product time to work. It should be safe to leave the mildew remover on the caulk for 30 minutes, but do follow label directions.
Step 3

Wet an old toothbrush, and scrub the moldy areas of the caulk. Wet a sponge, and wipe it over the caulk to rinse the cleaning product away. If mold or mildew remains, re-spray the product, and wait another 30 minutes before scrubbing it again.

Tips & Warnings

You can also try bleach and water (1 part bleach to 5 parts water) instead of commercial mold and mildew cleaners; however, commercial cleaners contain other ingredients in addition to bleach that help clean surfaces.
If mold or mildew stains remain even after scrubbing, this can mean the mold or mildew is actually beneath the caulking rather than on the surface. If this is the case, replace the caulk with new caulk.
Mold and mildew cleaners usually contain bleach. Because of this, do not use any other cleaning products with these. (Other cleaning products may contain ammonia. Ammonia and bleach create a toxic gas when combined.)