Removing mold from silicone caulk?

[lago]

We have a small bench in the shower and when cleaning it, I noticed some mold in the silicone caulk. I tried several of the mold/mildew removers, including Zep from BORG. The stuff works OK on grout but not silicone.

I think I had this problem many years ago in a previous house and I think I wound up cutting it out and then reapplying new caulk.

Has anyone found anything that would work in this situation?

[offthemark]

Diluted bleach. Mix about a 2 parts water to 1 part bleach mixture in a squirt bottle. Spray down the area after your shower each day for a few days.

Always worked for us.

[Tundra_Man]

+1 on the bleach, although I've always used it full strength. Just rinse it off after the mold disappears in a few minutes.

[Woodnut]

have 'ya tried Kaboom? (albeit, bleach is cheaper...)

[TJohnson]

Bleach is an awesome cleaner/disinfectant....Cheap Too!

Let it sit for awhile and then rinse it off.

May take a few times to work, but be patient and the mold/mildew will die off and keep up the spraying and it won't come back.

They now make "Mildew Resistant Silicone", but mold/mildew can still grow on whatever is stuck to the silicone.

"100 "Silicone" is impervious to just about anything. On the other hand, "Latex Caulk" can and will stain.



Todd Johnson

[lago]

Thanks for the tip. I have it soaking now and it looks like it's working.

Ken

[430752]

Just a thought on bleach: I thought the trick with bleach was to apply with cold water, and rinse with warm water. or apply with warm and rinse with hot. Point is, I thought bleach was one of those that could only thoroughly rinsed with water warmer than when applied for some reason.

anyone know this or am I just imagining? well, anyway, you may wanna rinse the shower with cold water after a shower then bleach, then rinse warm, or similar.

curt j.