Steven L. wrote:
I've got black mildew stains on the grout and a couple other places in
my bathroom over the bathtub. Tilex isn't removing them.

Is there something better I can use?

Is X-14 really better than Tilex, or is it the same stuff?

Thanks in advance!


Tilex mildew formula is bleach and lye. It should have a long shelf
life, but the high pH makes it harsh to work with and limits its efficiency.

X-14 is bleach and washing soda. It should be more effective and less
harsh than bleach and lye, but it would go bad sooner on the shelf.

There's something cheaper, milder to work with, and more effective:
equal parts bleach and baking soda in water. You mix a little when you
need it because its shelf life is in hours.

If you have a bad stain, a paste of baking soda and bleach should remove it.

Another approach uses borax in water. You can't dissolve much borax in
water, but a little goes a long way. Adding a little vinegar or ammonia
to the borax solution can help it clean better. If you clean with borax
and don't rinse, you may find that it's a long time before mildew will
grow there again.