It’s getting to the time of year when black mould reappears and starts to creep into the dark and damp parts of your home.
However, when damp starts to take over all the joints and edges in our bathroom, it can become much more serious than just an eyesore – it’s a health risk that many of us choose to ignore, until some nasty symptoms appear.
That slimy, black-green fuzz thrives in damp corners, especially in bathrooms where steam builds up and ventilation is poor. Over time, exposure to these spores can lead to sneezing, congestion, red or itchy eyes, coughing, and, for those with asthma or weaker immune systems, potentially much worse symptoms.
But despite the damage it could be doing to us, the government estimates the number of homes in England with damp and mould ranges from 4% to 27% of homes, or 962,000 to 6.5 million households.
Experts say frequent cleaning, good ventilation, and reducing humidity are essential first steps. Open windows, ensure extractor fans work, and fix any leaks.
But sometimes even these aren’t enough to shift stubborn mould stains, especially when they start to take over old sealant.
Luckily, one cleaning influencer has shared a simple, low-cost trick that doesn’t require elbow grease, just a bit of bleach, a kitchen roll and some time.
The handy trick shared by Afelias Kitchen on TikTok first involves wetting some kitchen roll or paper towels and tucking them onto the mould-ridden areas, ensuring they are properly covered. Once tucked in, give a generous pour of everyday household bleach so the damp kitchen roll can soak the cleaner up.
Finally, leave overnight to let the magic happen, and when you wake up in the morning, it should look just like new.
Afelia added: “Sharing this simple hack which can tackle mould growth on your sealant temporarily – we had a flood underneath our shower room a while back and the excess damp caused the sealant to go mouldy in such a bad way, I needed a quick and cost-effective solution and this 100% worked!!
“This is a quick fix, but if the problem persists, you should get the sealant replaced and get the underlying cause seen to to make sure you aren’t leaving it to worsen. This is NOT intended as a permanent solution if you have recurring mould problems.”
If you prefer using natural methods, you could try using a mix of baking soda and water to remove stains from your grout or white vinegar to remove mould from your silicone sealant.
While this method can be particularly effective, it is important to do a few key checks beforehand to make sure you’re bathroom will be okay. The easiest test is to apply a small dab of bleach on an area of the sealant and see if it survives.
If you proceed with bleach, try to ensure the bathroom is well ventilated overnight, keeping the door to your home closed, but keeping the windows wide open.