Before you learn how to clean mildew from bathtub caulk, you must remember that mold or mildew is a living organism. It would be best to kill it by using potent cleaning agents such as bleach or ammonia to prevent this from happening in the future.
Mildew is a fungus that thrives in a warm and damp environment. Mold and mildew spores can be found all over the house, but one place they like to live the most is the bathroom.
When these spores are given suitable conditions like constant water supply and warm temperature, they will grow at a staggering rate. To prevent this from happening, here’s your complete guide on how to remove mildew from your bathtub caulk.
Why Does Mildew Grow On Bathtub Caulk?
Before we discuss how to clean and prevent mildew growth, you must first understand why it’s even there in the first place.
Since the bathroom is a place that is usually humid and moist, this makes it the perfect breeding ground for mildew. Check out this post on how fast does mildew grow to know more.
Aside from that, a poor ventilation system could also contribute to why mildew grows on your bathtub caulk. Having proper air circulation in your bathroom prevents the humid air from being trapped inside and carries spores outside the house.
It would help if you kept your bathroom, especially the bathtub, clean at all times. Try to make routinary cleaning sessions to avoid mildew growth as much as possible.
Removing Mildew From Bathtub Caulk
Step #1. Sweep the dust and loose debris away
Since you will be cleaning mildew off of your bathtub caulk, it’s better if you clean the whole bathroom while you’re at it. Ensure to sweep any dust and loose debris to avoid creating mud-like dirt around the room as you work on your caulks.
This is also when you check for any leaks that could be the ones responsible for the mildew growth. If there’s any, fix it immediately.
You might notice that mildew has a distinct and pungent smell. Take a look at this post to help you learn how to get rid of mildew smell in bathroom.
Step #2. Mix your solution
There are a lot of cleaning solutions you could use in this project. It’s up to you to decide which one is available in your home.
The most common one is mixing one cup of bleach per one gallon of water. Do practice caution while handling bleach as it is a corrosive substance that can irritate your skin and eyes.
You could also mix equal parts of ammonia and water. However, don’t mix bleach and ammonia as they can create chloramine gas which can be deadly.
Step #3. Apply your solution to the affected area
Once you’ve decided on your cleaning solution, it’s time that you apply it to the affected area. There are two ways to do this.
The first one is by pouring your solution into a spray bottle. Then, spray it to your bathtub caulks and use a brush to scrub off that pesky mildew.
You could also soak cotton coils in the solution and place them along your bathtub caulk. Then, leave it for at least 4 hours and scrub the caulk using a sponge.
Step #4. Repeat and assess the situation
After that, rinse off the remaining solution with clean water and air dry the caulks. If there is still mildew left after your first session of scrubbing, repeat the previous step until the fungus is gone.
Since mildew is not as stubborn as mold, it should come off at one to two sessions.
However, it would be best if you’d evaluate whether this mildew infestation is something that you can still treat with a cleaning solution, or you should proceed with replacing the bathtub caulk.
Step #5. Replace the caulk if necessary
If the mildew has gotten deep into the caulk, you may want to consider replacing it. The problem will keep on coming back in that case.
However, this must be your last option. It might help if you seek help from a professional caulking contractor on whether it’s wise to do so.
If you’d like to do it yourself, you may want to look into this post on tips for caulking to make sure you’ll have the results that you want.
Conclusion
Mold and mildew spores may cause health conditions such as respiratory diseases and allergies. Since the bathroom is somewhere we frequently go to in a day, it’s essential to know how to clean mildew from bathtub caulk and keep everything sanitized at all times.
Remember to protect yourself while using chemicals such as bleach or ammonia for this project. Keep in mind to only use either one of them and never mix them together as it may produce toxic fumes, which can be dangerous to your health.