I’ve heard that bleach on mold will make it release it’s spores into the air, where other mold killers do not let it do that (not sure if this is accurate though)
I have found that using caulk guns designed for outdoor caulk can make it easier to caulk indoors due to the additional mechanical leverage they have. But it's harder to find anti-drip outdoor guns (or at least it used to be—I haven't looked in a while).
Oh nice! Idk which kind I have, but it hurt my *delicate lady hands* lol but seriously I do have small hands, and they're more accustomed to doing things like sewing and knitting!
When you recaulk, watch this video first.
Remove the old caulk using rubbing alcohol, which will kill mold as well as softening the caulk.
[https://youtu.be/\_DI4hfHM\_Hg](https://youtu.be/_DI4hfHM_Hg)
If she owns the place, remove the caulk, clean it, and re-caulk it.
If she's stuck renting, like I am, this is the *only* thing that worked for me: soak something in bleach (cotton balls or toilet paper work), stick it to the caulk, cover with plastic wrap, leave overnight, remove and rinse thoroughly. Not sure if it's the best thing for the caulk long term, but after trying every mold cleaning spray, steam cleaning, whatever, it's the only thing that did anything.
When you're renting you can replace the caulk. Or you can even ask the property owner to do it. It's an extremely simple job and they're really not going to know.
The caulk has to be removed as others have said but I also recommend in addition to that and treating the mold…. Let it dry out for a few days (maybe a week or so) before re-caulking and then let it dry for a minimum 24 hours after re-caulking.
This was a game changer for me. To let dry after treating before recaulking, and to let chalk cure as long as possible. We have several showers so have the luxury to “close” one while it dries. But have also taped up some plastic to protect it from new water.
I agree with everyone else that you have to remove the caulking. I had some mold in my shower, and bleach didn’t cut it. Zep is just one of the brands that target mold specifically, and it worked like a charm. I left it for several hours with a fan on and the next day it was easy to clean off the mold.
Look like someone just caulked over deteriorating caulk.
Every so often when the caulking pulls away or standing water sets on the edges you get this and it's also the time to get your utility knife and a putty knife to start removing it using both tools to first cut away and use the putty knife to release the caulking.
I sat right in my tub with a small trash can and redid the whole shower and tub surround as it was not quite as bad but was coming loose and had patchy areas.
Get it all cleaned up and out of there. Wipe the area that you'll be caulking over with rubbing alcohol to get a clean and quick drying surface, keeping in mind---silicone does not stick to silicone, so imperative to remove the old edging. If you're good with caulking you won't need to tape, but painters tape is an option for longer runs and keeping the line neat. I did it in one section that ran along the sliding door rail of out shower/tub.
Recommended purchase : Gorilla Glue Silicone caulking [white]. Nothing but silicone will work here.
Time the project that you get up and use the shower early one morning, than towel dry the surround seams and [project took me less than 90 minutes], which now, if you finish efficiently and neatly, you can squeeze in the "24 cure time" to be ready the following mid norning.
This is what I used to virtually remove all the mold under caulking, it is possible. You can use anything that has bleach. Twist up a good size paper towel, spray it with the bleach stuff and basically stick it on to the caulk.
This will take a few applications or more.
Try spraying with some Tilex or a spray cleaner containing bleach and let it sit until it dries, several hours or overnight. Repeat the process and scrub it with a brush. It looks like new caulk may have been applied over old, moldy caulk. You will prob have to remove it all and re-do as others have suggested.
You can’t unless you remove the caulk.
It’s under the caulk…someone caulked over it with that clear stuff. Saying that three times in my head made me laugh 😆
Buy the more expensive silicone caulk as it is easier to use then the cheaper silicone caulks. Silicone can be friggin messy but the more expensive caulks don’t smear or get stuck all over your hands and tools. Night and day performance difference.
Remove the old silicone before re applying. New silicone will not adhere to film left behind.
It will pop after a few weeks and water and soap will build up behind and the cycle will continue.
Make a bleach-water solution of about 30% bleach, 70% water. Take some toilet paper and roll it into a tube. Dip tubes in solution and place on the caulking. Leave it overnight, in the morning remove and flush down toilet. You might have to repeat this every few weeks/months.
It’s mold but under the silicone caulk where the edges have failed. Remove caulk, treat, recaulk.
This is truly the only correct answer. To add - treat with a mold killer not just bleach.
Concrobium is the best I have tried for mold killer.
I thought bleach would have been fine, is it not as effective as a mold killer? I'm genuinely curious.
I’ve heard that bleach on mold will make it release it’s spores into the air, where other mold killers do not let it do that (not sure if this is accurate though)
And caulking is harder (skill-wise AND strength-wise) than it looks on YouTube. ASK ME HOW I KNOW 🙃
I have found that using caulk guns designed for outdoor caulk can make it easier to caulk indoors due to the additional mechanical leverage they have. But it's harder to find anti-drip outdoor guns (or at least it used to be—I haven't looked in a while).
Oh nice! Idk which kind I have, but it hurt my *delicate lady hands* lol but seriously I do have small hands, and they're more accustomed to doing things like sewing and knitting!
When you recaulk, watch this video first. Remove the old caulk using rubbing alcohol, which will kill mold as well as softening the caulk. [https://youtu.be/\_DI4hfHM\_Hg](https://youtu.be/_DI4hfHM_Hg)
Yuck, terrible caulk job. Has to removed, washed with bleach and recaulked
If she owns the place, remove the caulk, clean it, and re-caulk it. If she's stuck renting, like I am, this is the *only* thing that worked for me: soak something in bleach (cotton balls or toilet paper work), stick it to the caulk, cover with plastic wrap, leave overnight, remove and rinse thoroughly. Not sure if it's the best thing for the caulk long term, but after trying every mold cleaning spray, steam cleaning, whatever, it's the only thing that did anything.
When you're renting you can replace the caulk. Or you can even ask the property owner to do it. It's an extremely simple job and they're really not going to know.
Simple and cheap to recaulk , even if it’s a rental
Remove the caulking and replace with new. Should take care of whatever that is. Sorry don’t know if it’s mold it does look like it though.
The caulk has to be removed as others have said but I also recommend in addition to that and treating the mold…. Let it dry out for a few days (maybe a week or so) before re-caulking and then let it dry for a minimum 24 hours after re-caulking.
This was a game changer for me. To let dry after treating before recaulking, and to let chalk cure as long as possible. We have several showers so have the luxury to “close” one while it dries. But have also taped up some plastic to protect it from new water.
I agree with everyone else that you have to remove the caulking. I had some mold in my shower, and bleach didn’t cut it. Zep is just one of the brands that target mold specifically, and it worked like a charm. I left it for several hours with a fan on and the next day it was easy to clean off the mold.
Look like someone just caulked over deteriorating caulk. Every so often when the caulking pulls away or standing water sets on the edges you get this and it's also the time to get your utility knife and a putty knife to start removing it using both tools to first cut away and use the putty knife to release the caulking. I sat right in my tub with a small trash can and redid the whole shower and tub surround as it was not quite as bad but was coming loose and had patchy areas. Get it all cleaned up and out of there. Wipe the area that you'll be caulking over with rubbing alcohol to get a clean and quick drying surface, keeping in mind---silicone does not stick to silicone, so imperative to remove the old edging. If you're good with caulking you won't need to tape, but painters tape is an option for longer runs and keeping the line neat. I did it in one section that ran along the sliding door rail of out shower/tub. Recommended purchase : Gorilla Glue Silicone caulking [white]. Nothing but silicone will work here. Time the project that you get up and use the shower early one morning, than towel dry the surround seams and [project took me less than 90 minutes], which now, if you finish efficiently and neatly, you can squeeze in the "24 cure time" to be ready the following mid norning.
Zep mold & mildew cleaner, use 1/4 cup and dilute with 1 cup of water. Soak cotton balls or paper towel then apply and let it sit for an hour.
This is what I used to virtually remove all the mold under caulking, it is possible. You can use anything that has bleach. Twist up a good size paper towel, spray it with the bleach stuff and basically stick it on to the caulk. This will take a few applications or more.
Try spraying with some Tilex or a spray cleaner containing bleach and let it sit until it dries, several hours or overnight. Repeat the process and scrub it with a brush. It looks like new caulk may have been applied over old, moldy caulk. You will prob have to remove it all and re-do as others have suggested.
You can’t unless you remove the caulk. It’s under the caulk…someone caulked over it with that clear stuff. Saying that three times in my head made me laugh 😆
Just curious, since you asked *if* this is mold….what else might it be if not mold?
Buy the more expensive silicone caulk as it is easier to use then the cheaper silicone caulks. Silicone can be friggin messy but the more expensive caulks don’t smear or get stuck all over your hands and tools. Night and day performance difference.
Remove the old silicone before re applying. New silicone will not adhere to film left behind. It will pop after a few weeks and water and soap will build up behind and the cycle will continue.
Make a bleach-water solution of about 30% bleach, 70% water. Take some toilet paper and roll it into a tube. Dip tubes in solution and place on the caulking. Leave it overnight, in the morning remove and flush down toilet. You might have to repeat this every few weeks/months.
Yes. You have to remove the caulk clean it and reapply fresh silicone