Need Help for My Shower..

Updated on October 15, 2008
L.S. asks from Houston, TX
22 answers

Help! I have tried my hardest to keep my tile shower clean, and it is a mess. I had the daily scrubbing bubbles automatic cleaner, and on top of that, scrubbed it once weekly, and the grout is still black in the corners. I tried bleach, baking soda, vinegar, and CLR. I am at a loss, and it seems like I will NEVER get this black mold to go away. Does anyone have any advice short of re-grouting the whole shower? Thanks in advance..

**Update**
I went and bought the Tilex Mold and Mildew, and I sprayed the shower down, and ran.. I am 9 mos prego so didn't want to be around the fumes, and I came back 1/2 hr later, and it was 80% better! I couldn't believe my eyes.. and the Tilex is only $4! Thanks Mom's! I really was trying to go the "natural" route with vinegar and baking soda, but I think with my shower, Tilex will have a permanent place! I cannot thank you enough.. you have made my year!

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So What Happened?

**Update**
I went and bought the Tilex Mold and Mildew, and I sprayed the shower down, and ran.. I am 9 mos prego so didn't want to be around the fumes, and I came back 1/2 hr later, and it was 80% better! I couldn't believe my eyes.. and the Tilex is only $4! Thanks Mom's! I really was trying to go the "natural" route with vinegar and baking soda, but I think with my shower, Tilex will have a permanent place! I cannot thank you enough.. you have made my year!

Featured Answers

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A.C.

answers from San Antonio on

I had the exact same problem and my friend suggested a bleach pen and it worked. It's like a gel that's bleach so you can just let it sit on the grout for a while. VENT the bathroom though!!! Another thing that worked in my shower was Mr. Clean Magic Eraser but I think the I'd try the bleach pen on grout first. Good luck.

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J.G.

answers from Houston on

I have one of those huge walk in showers (two headed). I found that using Clorox Clean Up Cleaner with Bleach. I spray in through out the entire shower after I shower. I go back awhile later and it is all white. I do this about two to three times a week. It is humid here and the mold can grow fast. Try it..J.

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K.F.

answers from San Antonio on

Tilex mold and mildew remover works wonders!
Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Sherman on

L.,

I shop with a company that provides non-toxic household cleaners, personal care products, and many other wonderful things. You really should consider getting all of those toxic items out of your house, especially since you are expecting. I can assure you that these products won't make you run from the room and will work better and cost less. Oh by the way these products are shipped directly to my door, because I order directly from the manufacturer. Let me know if you would like more information.

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M.H.

answers from Houston on

As another woman stated in a previous post, and I agreed, Tilex is awesome. Its got some pretty toxic fumes, but that stuff will penentrate anything!! It may take an application or two.

Margaret :)

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S.R.

answers from College Station on

Hi sorry about the mold...I cleaned houses for over 8 years.. and the air force showers as one of our jobs and they had bad bad mold... but try tilex for showers in the cleaning section... it will work but you have to be careful and NOT mix cleaners... tilex is strong and make sure you have all the other cleaners out of there before using it... scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner did not work for mine.. did not get down far enough... I love scrubbing bubbles... but Tilex is what I am using now... I use it after the last person takes a shower... and also if you need to scrub it try the erasers my I think mr clean... they work too... don't MIX chemicals that can be very bad and make you sick... good luck S.

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Tilex makes a Mold and Mildew spray that is great.
It could be that the corner grout is not sealed enough.
Once you get it all clean again and it is dry, you may want to reseal the tile. It is very easy to do. Just use a small paint brush and apply the sealant directly to that portion of the grout.

Ask at the hardware store about the proper sealant for your shower.

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L.B.

answers from Houston on

Tilex Mold & Mildew. Lowes sells it. Works great and quick!

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J.L.

answers from Houston on

Typically the corners are caulk, not grout. So it may just be a matter of pulling out the caulk and re-caulking. We have that happen in the bottom of our shower and have had to pull the caulk up between the tiles and the bottom of the shower and re-do it. Remember to let it dry for a day or two!

As a rule, I only clean my house with baking soda, vinegar and perioxide so I take the more "natural" approach versus using chemicals.

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N.A.

answers from Houston on

Comet Spray Gel - Mildew Stain Remover has worked wonders in my shower! I tried many things too as I recently had this same problem where I couldn't find anything to work. Then my mom told me to try this and it worked GREAT :o) You just spray it on the spots (it is a thick gel that sits on the spot) and leave it on for just a bit then wipe away. My shower looked so good when it was done that my husband even said it looked new again! Anything that works so well that my husband notices and comments on when it comes to cleaning, gets a "thumbs up" from me --- LOL!!

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

My husband actually used the wrong type of caulk in the corners. The mildew was actually growing behind it..it was clear caulk. We did have our showers re done. Now they stay fresh. We do have to clean them often. Another lady friend of mine told me she wiped down her shower with her bath towel every time she showered it helped with mildew.

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A.A.

answers from Austin on

Have you tried Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?

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C.S.

answers from Austin on

Sounds to me like the caulk needs to be replaced. Just noticing all the cleaning solutions you listed as having tried, and thought you might be interested in what I have done. I actually converted my home to better, safer cleaning products, which do not contain any bleach, ammonia, phosphates, or other harsh chemicals. My home is cleaner and my family is healthier. I love not having to try not to breathe while cleaning my bathroom because using these cleaners in a small space does not make me feel dizzy or ill. My new cleaning products are actually less expensive per use than the grocery store brands so I'm thrilled with my discovery. I do not sell the products, but if you are interested in "going green", converting your home and shopping direct, then I'll be happy to tell you how you can do it too!

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C.T.

answers from Houston on

Oh my gosh, it's funny that you ask this because yesterday I just got this cleaner I ordered in the mail and tested it out on my hall bathroom and my jaw hit the floor!!!!!!!
I called my husband in the bathroom because he just had to see it.
After this he sprayed it on the kitchen tile grout, the side walk outside and the side of our house and it took stains out that nothing else has been able to get out.
I get all of my cleaning products from a company called Melaleuca, this is defenitely something to consider coming from one mom to another.
Price comparison for the Tilex verses my Tub and Tile (which has no toxic fumes) is, mine is 5.24 but is concentrated and you can make 4 24 oz. spray bottles from it and it will do the same thing Tilex does for more than half the price!
Let me know if you are interested.

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V.L.

answers from McAllen on

L., my mothers shower had the same problem for years and nothing worked. I finally went to home depot and went to the tiling section myself and found this little bottle that colors your grout. I think I paid about $8 for the bottle. Basically you just get a tooth brush and brush on this color to your existing clean grout. They come in four different colors I believe. My mothers tile is a cream color so I went with a almond color which is a brown. Once you put it on follow the instructions on the bottle. It took me maybe fifteen mintues to put it on and let it dry. Just be sure to try to stay on the grout with the color as much as possible. When taking off the excess off the tile, it was a little more time consuming. Year year later, my mother no longer has toreally clean the grout at all. No more dark mold on the grout either. Just your basic upkeep of cleaning the actually tile with 409. She loves it and because the color was darker, it really made the tile stand out. Good luck! You can find it at home depot next to the already mixed tile grout and adhesives, it's in a bottle about 4-6 oz., it's small. And it covers your whole shower and more some.

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P.D.

answers from San Antonio on

I actually use Tilex in my shower. It is made for molds and such. What you want to do is clean your shower with the regular stuff you use (CLR, Lime Away, whatever) and then spray on the tilex in those corners that are still black and leave it there. don't scrub it, don't wipe it off because the next time you take a shower it will wash away. And it's actually quite gentle so it won't hurt anything. This works for me every time. Good luck!

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J.R.

answers from Houston on

X-14 mold and mildew remover is the answer. It has a strong scent and when I was pregnant I had to make sure I was gone for the day after using it but I just spray it and go...no scrubbing the mold at all. I have had trouble finding it sometimes so when we do come across it we stock up.

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V.B.

answers from Houston on

I'm going to have to agree that Tilex is the answer. It works wonders in my shower and I won't use anything else.

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C.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Try X14 or TileX mildew to the root. It works wonders!!!!!

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S.C.

answers from College Station on

Hi L.,

Here is one more for you, Tilex is great!And of course any product you use for something like that is always going to have strong fumes, but here is one for you its only a $1 its called the Works it is made for hard water,mildew build up you name it. There is no spraying, you just squeeze it on the spot and let it sit it is normally gone in seconds. Good Luck!

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M.D.

answers from Victoria on

Mr. Clean Eraser pads. I use them to get the dirt out of my tile grout. Once you get it out, reseal the grout! Good luck!

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P.C.

answers from Houston on

Take a spray put about 1/2oz of water and fill with bleach. Spray the tile and leave it over night. Rinse it the next day and keeping doing this for a week. That is how I got my white again. I did not scrub it. I just left it to soak. It came out.

Sincerely,
P.

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