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?

"Davidm" wrote in message
...

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?

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

On Monday, April 8, 2013 12:32:25 PM UTC+1, Davidm wrote:

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?

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

On 08/04/2013 14:31, Muddymike wrote:
A dedicated grout removal tool and a lot of elbow grease was my final
answer.

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.

On 08/04/2013 12:32, Davidm wrote:
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?

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

On Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:11:30 +0100, John Miller wrote:

Anyone recommend a different approach, or different products?

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

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.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On 09/04/2013 09:55, PeterC wrote:
On Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:11:30 +0100, John Miller wrote:

Anyone recommend a different approach, or different products?

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

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.

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

On Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:43:18 +0100, John Miller wrote:

On 09/04/2013 09:55, PeterC wrote:
On Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:11:30 +0100, John Miller wrote:

Anyone recommend a different approach, or different products?

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

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.

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

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.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:11:30 +0100, John Miller
wrote:

On 08/04/2013 12:32, Davidm wrote:
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?

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
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.

Well todays there are lots of products available for cleaning the bathrooms but it s not easy to clean them. If you have a worst conditioned bathroom then I think you shouldn't take risk and call some cleaning service provider because they will give you the best results.. but it depend upon you what you wan't Good Luck.

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