Cleaning and regrouting tiled shower

[Davidm]

My ceramic tiled shower cubicle is looking decidedly grubby, with black mildew on the grouting and silicone sealant, and limescale on the bottom of the metal frame. SMWBO wants a clean-up before visitors arrive next month. The tiles are sound, as it most of the grouting.

I'll use limescale remover or Cillit Bang to soften the limescale then scrape it off. The silicone sealant I'll cut out, clean up the surface with sealant remover, and then after re grouting will reseal with Unibond anti mould silicone sealant.

For the grouting I plan on giving it a good soaking with thick clear bleach, use the Bosch Multi with "tile cutting" disc to cut back the good grout a little, or remove any loose grout. Maybe then another soak with bleach to kill any remaining mould spores. Then I'll regrout the whole lot with a white water proof tile grout. Normally I use Unibond powder tile grout.

It it then worth sealing the grout with Lithofin (the data sheet says it's for porous surfaces, waterproof tile grout isn't porous)?

Anyone recommend a different approach, or different products?

[Muddymike]

I found that my Dremel hardly touched the grout between tiles when I tried to similarly re-furbish a shower area. A dedicated grout removal tool and a lot of elbow grease was my final answer.

Mike

[meow2222]

Put folded bogroll on all the black mouldy bits. Apply bleach & leave overnight. Repeat a few times and the foulest mould can look like new

NT

[ss]

Same here, bought one from screwfix I think £4 or thereabouts. Takes the grout out quite easily but best to do a bit at a time, I done a square yard each day and soon got round it all.

[John Miller]

A while ago on here, someone (TMH, I think) recommended the HG Mould spray from Lakeland. I bought some and tried it on my shower and it's very good. Not only kills the mould but seems to act as an inhibitor as the mould takes a long time to come back.

John M

[PeterC]

It's not suitable for use on enamelled surfaces; the Blitz one from Lakeland is the same. What is it with these things? If they can't be used on common surfaces where they're needed, they're f'useless!

I was looking at ways of cleaning out the washing machine and thought that one of the specialised gloops might be worth getting. No good on plastic or aluminium, so there goes the outer drum and probably the drain pump on my AEG. Machines are made of a limited range of materials, so making treatments that can't be used...!

Rant over.

[petermeakins]

Mould Shield Forever White Grout reviver did it for me. About 100 times eas ier than re-grouting. I scrubbed the grout with a bleach solution first. de ad easy - says it lasts 10 years. Doubt that's true but still sparkling whi te after a few months in my damp bathroom.

[John Miller]

My frame of my shower enclosure is the fairly common white painted aluminium. I've used the Lakeland cleaner twice without any ill-effects.

John M

[PeterC]

I suppose if it doesn't attack aluminium it might be OK on enamel - but might be a different action, e.g. stain the bath.

[Davidm]

Got some HG Mould Cleaner (Homebase as it's only a few minutes from me) - very impressed, spray on, leave 30 mins, wash off with sponge and warm water. Had to re treat a few spots, but now the Mrs says it looks like new, even the silicone sealant has come up very well. Just need to redo a few bits of loose/cracked grout and roberts your fathers uncle.

Strong smell of amonia for a few days, so use goggles, mask and gloves, plus old clothes while doing it, and keep the windows open.

About £6.50 for 500ml, which has done the whole shower with a bit left, so not too expensive. May make a point of doing it a couple of times a year now.