Keeping Silicone seal round shower from going black

cujimmy · 28 Feb 2019

I've just removed the horrible old silicone sealant round my shower tray, cleaned it all up and re-sealed it all. I'm pleased with the result, and SWMBO is even more happy.

However, I'm looking for any tips and tricks to stop it all going black and horrible again.

Someone suggested spraying it every couple of months with a mixture of 2 parts water to 1 part clear vinegar. Is there any truth in this, or is it just an old wives tale?

Any suggestion gratefully received.

Jim

KenGMac · 28 Feb 2019

cujimmy, good evening.

One tip I had from an Old plumber was under no circumstances use Bleach to clean the Mastic?

As for White vinegar? I have just this week used white vinegar and a ball of tin foil to remove, without scraping and scratching surface rust from polished steel fireplace surround?

Ken

jctilingservices · 1 Mar 2019

yes it does work to an extent, best solution I can think of, when finished in the shower, thoroughly rinse and dry the tray/ silicon bottom row of tiles as often as possible, the majority of silicons turn black due to people rinsing shampoo off their heads, then that along with water lies on the tray and silicon. White vinegar

pete50 · 1 Mar 2019

I use a strong spray bleach and have done for the last twenty years or so. I don't use mastic I use bathroom silicon and it doesn't do it any harm. I have replaced the old silicon once in those 20 years because a small part had come away, not because I use bleach but because I used cheap stuff from Homebase. It does stink initially but that goes when you have your next shower. Whatever you read says use bleach to kill the fungus except for this forum. Oh well.

opps · 3 Mar 2019

I too use bleach (neat).

Back in the days when I smoked, I used to use neat bleach on all of the grouting too to remove the nicotine stains from the grout.

Many sanitary silicones contain acetic acid. Vinegar contains acetic acid. If you are not careful you may dissolve the silicone (although I don't imagine that recently applied silicone will have black mold).

foxhole · 4 Mar 2019

Keep well ventilated and mould will not settle . Do not leave bottles etc in shower as anything hindering air flows helps the mold.

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Keeping Silicone seal round shower from going black

cujimmy

KenGMac

jctilingservices

pete50

opps

foxhole

DIYnot Local

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