There is nothing worse than mould in your shower, and as someone who has lived in homes with poor ventilation in the bathroom, I have a personal vendetta against it.
Not only can it cause serious health issues, but it is also unsightly and can leave your bathroom smelling awful if it gets really bad.
It can feel a little overwhelming, and sometimes it seems like a problem that will never go away.
However, it doesn’t have to be like that, and this is why we have created this epic how-to guide for ridding your shower from mould – including the silicone and the grout. It’s time to say farewell to your mould crisis and hello to a fresh-looking shower.
How to Remove Mould from the Drain and Walls
The shower drain tends to be the main place that mould gathers, but you may also find that it creeps up on your shower wall or shower tiles. It might seem frustrating, and maybe even a little daunting, at first, but the way to get rid of it is actually pretty simple.
However, since we are using a lot of bleach here (and throughout the guide), please remember to wear gloves and old clothes (if it splashes, it will leave discoloured spots) while ridding the shower of mould.
#1 Mix up a bleach and water solution, and make sure there is more water than bleach. Although not too much, because you want it to be relatively strong. Then, pour it into an empty spray bottle.
#2 Spray the solution around the drain and on top of the mould before leaving it to sit for around 10 minutes.
#3 Take a coarse brush and start to scrub the mould away. Hopefully, it will have started to fade a little beforehand to make the job a bit easier on you. For the really tight spots, you might need an old toothbrush or something similar so that you can reach.
#4 Rinse the solution and mould away, and you will be left with a sparkling drain. You can use this same method for your tiles and shower walls as well. Just make sure the bleach solution isn’t too strong if you are using it on walls.
How to Remove Mould from Shower Grout
This is the first place you will find mould growing because it is porous and holds water for much longer. This method of mould removal uses bleach, so if you have coloured grout, it would be best to use one of the natural methods that we go through later on.
#1 Mix up another batch of the bleach solution (one part bleach, two water) and pour it into the spray bottle.
#2 Spray the mixture onto the affected grout all over the shower.
#3 Using a brush, preferably nylon, scrub the grout and get the mould off.
#4 Rinse the grout, and watch the mould and dirty water wash away, leaving everything looking clean and new.
How to Remove Mould from Shower Silicone
When trying to remove mould from shower silicone, the process can be a little difficult because of the way the silicone dries and its positioning. So, we have a quick list of things you are going to need before you start our tried and tested method:
#1 Spoon some baking soda into the bowl and slowly pour in the bleach, mixing it until you get a paste-like consistency.
#2 Take the paintbrush and use it to apply the paste to the mould on the silicone. You can also use rubber gloves if you don’t have a brush to hand.
#3 Do your best to cover the paste on the silicone with clingfilm, although this can be a bit tricky so don’t worry if it isn’t perfect. Once this is done, leave it for between one and two hours.
#4 Remove the clingfilm and clean the paste away with warm water. If the mould is gone, the job is done, but if it still remains, you will have the start the process again.
Health Risks
Mould is really bad for your health, especially the black mould that grows in bathrooms. For those with asthma and allergies, it can cause serious breathing issues that can lead to hospitalisation if they are exposed to it for a prolonged period of time.
This is because the mould spores disrupt lung function, making it harder to breathe, as well as irritating the throat – causing coughing and shortness of breath.
Black mould is even able to cause asthma, which can be quite terrifying, and WHO has attributed a significant number of child asthma cases to exposure to black mould in damp conditions.
Even for those who are otherwise healthy, the mould exposure does increase the risk of chest and lung infections, which can cause serious illness. It’s not good for your body to breathe it in, so the best thing is to remove it as soon as possible.
This is also why ventilation is so important, and if you are not able to keep your windows open a crack in the bathroom, or you don’t have any windows in the room, it is worth investing in a dehumidifier.
This will suck the excess moisture from the air and help to prevent the growth of mould and mildew.
Products: Natural DIY
You’d be surprised by how effective natural products can be when you are cleaning mould from your shower. We have a couple of top solutions that we strongly recommend you try when mould removal duty calls, and you can find them both below.
White vinegar: This amazing natural cleaner is fantastic for cleaning mould, and also acts as a disinfectant. It’s something you should always have in your cupboard for cleaning, and it can be used neat or mixed with water to create an effective spray.
Baking soda: This is also an incredibly effective method for mould removal, and after turning it into a paste with some water, just let it sit on the mould for 20 minutes before using a brush to scrub all the mould away. You can also mix it with white vinegar for something a little stronger.
Borax: Mixing this with a large amount of water is a cheap and easy way to get rid of mould naturally. All you really need to do is scrub the solution onto the area and then wipe away afterwards to get rid of the mould. It’s very effective on tiles and grout.
Clear ammonia: This can be sprayed onto the mould and then left to sit for a couple of hours. Afterwards, it just needs to be wiped away. Remember to only ever use clear ammonia, and to never mix it with bleach as the fumes are toxic.
Hydrogen peroxide: Again, this is a spray, leave for a few hours, and wipe away solution. You should use 3% hydrogen peroxide, and it can be mixed with white vinegar for an extra kick when tackling serious mould on your shower walls.
Further Reading: How to Descale Your Shower
If you don’t fancy making natural remedies at home, there are quite a few that you can find on the web, each of which contain natural ingredients and no harmful chemicals. We have two of our favourites below for you to take a quick look at.
Ecozone Bathroom Spray
This particular bathroom spray is made with natural ingredients and no chemicals, so you don’t need to worry about any harsh chemicals coming into contact with your shower.
It is able to cut through limescale effortlessly, and despite using natural plant extracts within its formula, it is also able to destroy mould easily.
Free from allergens and artificial preservatives, it’s a great solution to use if you suffer from asthma or allergies but desperately need to clean your bathroom.
Cruelty-free, made in the UK, and completely vegan-friendly, it comes at an incredibly affordable price and is sure to change the way you clean for good.
Surethem Mould Cleaning Spray
This particular natural cleaning spray has been specially designed to tackle black mould – the main form that you will find lurking in your bathroom.
The ingredients are all natural and organic, with no nasty chemicals, so you can have peace of mind while also enjoying a clean shower that looks and smells amazing.
It is ready to use, so there is no need to dilute it, and the spray bottle means that application to the affected areas is quick and easy.
It can be used on walls, ceilings, tiles, and practically every bathroom surface for widespread application, and for a litre bottle, the price is quite reasonable.
Products: Shop Bought
There are times when mould situations call for something more powerful than the natural solutions, and it is in these cases where the shop bought chemical cleaners are most effective. There are loads of them on the market, leaving you spoilt for choice when finding the one that works best for you and your situation.
We have been through a number of ways in which chemicals such as bleach can be helpful when the mould is really tough to get rid of. Below, you will find two of our top picks for your consideration.
HG Mould Remover
A good and trusted brand, this particular mould remover has been designed for black mould, making it exceptionally effective when you are trying to rid your bathroom of it.
The formula is foam, which makes it very easy to apply, and it can be used on silicone seals, grout, plaster, tiles, stone, and essentially every other bathroom surface that needs to be freed from mould.
It only takes 30 minutes to work, and will even help to control re-growth – keeping your bathroom cleaner for longer.
Using it is incredibly simple, and it comes at a superb price for a 500ml bottle.
Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover
Probably the biggest cleaning name out there, we all know Cillit Bang, and this particular cleaner has been made to remove black mould.
The strong chemical formula is able to obliterate the mould in your bathroom, without leaving any stains behind, and it will even work to remove them from your shower room walls and surfaces.
The results are visible within a matter of seconds because the solution works incredibly quickly to break the mould down, and there is no need to scrub it in; you just rinse it off gently with a cloth.
It comes in a pack of three bottles, making this an incredible bargain you won’t want to miss out on.
How to Clean a Shower Curtain
How do you remove mould from the shower curtain though? While they can be incredibly cute (I have a small collection of printed shower curtains), they can also be massive mould traps that need some serious cleaning and maintenance to prevent them from getting ruined and smelling.
However, the process of removing mould is not necessarily a hard one, and we have two excellent methods for getting the job done. The first of these is by using a baking soda and vinegar solution to remove the mould in question, the steps for which are below:
#1 Remove the shower curtain from the shower.
#2 Place it in the washing machine with a couple of bath towels (these prevent creasing and act like sponges for scrubbing the curtain).
#3 Add half a cup of baking soda alongside your usual washing tablets and start the cycle.
#4 Once it reaches the rinse stage, stop the machine and add half a cup of white wine vinegar and then allow the cycle to finish.
#5 Remove the curtain from the machine and hang it out to dry. The mould should be gone. If not, you can repeat the process a couple of times.
You may find that the baking soda and vinegar method isn’t quite enough though, and in cases like this, you can try our next method. This one uses bleach, which means it is a lot more powerful and so likely to be effective on curtains that are severely mouldy. Here are the steps for you:
#1 Place the curtain in your washing machine with some bath towels, for the same reason as the first method.
#2 In a basin or bucket, mix a solution of a half cup of bleach and a quarter cup of your regular laundry soap. Then, fill the rest with water. Put it to the side, and move onto the next step.
#3 Start the wash cycle, and once the machine has filled with water, you can add the bleach solution. The reason this is done is so that your towels don’t get ruined by the bleach.
#4 Once it has finished washing, hang it out to dry, and the mould should be gone.
Further Reading: Old Shower DIY Makeover
It should be noted that for really bad mould growth you may need to wash it twice this way for the mould to go. If it still remains after two washes with a bleach solution, lay the curtain on a flat surface and scrub it off by hand.
Should this fail, you may be better off purchasing a new curtain and throwing the mouldy one away. You can look at the next section for a few ideas.
Anti-Mould Shower Curtains and Mats
Your shower curtain is naturally susceptible to collecting mould, as is the mat you use on the shower floor. While both of these should be kept clean at all times, it’s always worth investing in ones that are mould resistant so that you don’t have to worry so much about their maintenance.
To help you get an idea of the products on offer for you, we have selected our favourite shower curtain and shower mat for you to look at so that you can get some ideas.
ANSIO Shower Curtain
This polyester shower curtain is ready to hang from the moment you open it, and it is really simple to install. While this particular one is solid white in colour, you can also pick up curtains with gorgeous patterns if you want to mix things up a little.
Measuring in at 180cm x 180cm, it offers full coverage of your bath or shower, allowing you to wash without splashing water everywhere.
Additionally, it has been designed to be resistant to both mould and mildew, meaning that the maintenance is lower, but that it is also much easier to clean.
For all of this, the price is exceptionally good as well and will fit into any budget comfortably.
TowelsRus bath Mat
Shower floors can get really slippery, which poses a threat to your safety and can also make your experience a pretty stressful one. This mat is here to stop all of that, and it is secured to the floor of your bath or shower using a set of suction cups.
It is made from rubber, which is comfortable under your feet, and the non-slip surface means that you won’t fall over when you are half-asleep and trying to bathe in the morning.
It is incredibly easy to clean and maintain, as it just needs to be washed in warm water, and it is also resistant to mould and fungus – so you don’t have to worry too much. Long-lasting, it comes at a great price and with excellent levels of reliability.
FAQ's
Q: Is black mould in shower dangerous?
A: yes, not just black mould but all mould is dangerous in the shower and can make you sick in many different ways.
To Conclude
Hopefully, this guide has helped you learn all about the ways you can rid your bathroom from mould and mildew, leaving it looking fresh and new so that you can really enjoy your bathroom again.
There are so many handy pieces of advice that you can follow, but we have also gathered some of our favourite natural and chemical products for you to look at.
This is to help you figure out which methods are going to work best for you, but also show you some of the most reliable mould killers on the market so that you can get rid of everything faster and more efficiently.
What did you think of our mould removal guide? Did it contain everything you needed to get your bathroom looking spectacular again, or are there tips you would have liked to see included here? We love hearing from you, so feel free to leave us a message in the comments below.
