Everyone understands the importance of keeping the bathroom clean, but unfortunately this isn’t always easy. As a naturally humid and warm space, it constantly faces the threat of mould, particularly around bath and shower areas.
Completely drying your shower after each use simply isn’t possible, which means you may notice mould developing between tiles or on silicone sealant. This can leave your entire bathroom appearing grimy and neglected, with many thinking bleach is the only solution for this problem. But one cleaning expert on social media has advised ditching bleach for shower mould and using two alternative ingredients instead.
TikToker and author Anna Louisa at Home reveals you can effortlessly combat shower grout and silicone sealant mould without resorting to bleach.
In a recent video, she issued a word of warning to anyone who has been using bleach in an effort to eliminate this problem.
She explained: “Using chlorine bleach on mould will get rid of it but it won’t kill it as it doesn’t kill the spore meaning it will eventually come back.
“It also creates an incredibly toxic gas when used on mould.”
How to get rid of shower grout mould
Anna has suggested using two straightforward ingredients that can accomplish the task in a much safer and more efficient manner – hydrogen peroxide and tea tree oil.
Simply combine one cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one teaspoon tea tree essential oil in a spray bottle and spray on any mouldy areas until thoroughly soaked. Next, cover with tissue and spray again until the tissue is thoroughly soaked.
Allow it to soak for ‘at least one hour’ to let the ingredients do their job. Then, remove the tissue, give the area a quick clean, and you should notice that the mould has vanished.
Anna advised: “If you’re making the solution to keep, then making it up into a dark bottle is better as hydrogen peroxide is reactive to light so this will prevent the hydrogen peroxide decomposing.”
She also reminded everyone dealing with mould to wear gloves during treatment, and always remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Why this method works
According to the experts at The Spruce, hydrogen peroxide is great for tackling mould in a safe way as it’s less harsh and produces fewer fumes than chlorine bleach.
It’s ideal for using in the bathroom, but it should not be used on porous surfaces such as wood as it can damage it. Its antimicrobial properties mean it can kill mould and fungus by breaking down its proteins and DNA.
As well as this, tea tree oil is a ‘natural fungicide,’ according to Mould In Homes. While it’s fairly safe to use, you should still wear gloves while handling it, as it may cause skin irritation.