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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> Mould and Sealer https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1389536053 Message started by Sandy on Jan 12^th, 2014, 2:14pm

Title: Mould and Sealer
Post by Sandy on Jan 12^th, 2014, 2:14pm

Hi all,

Happy new year.

I'm trying to find a solution to a small mould problem in my bathroom and hoping someone might have some advice.

I live in a rented apartment and pretty much the whole apartment was renovated prior to my taking receipt of the keys 2.5yrs ago, including the bathroom area. The join between bath and tiles is filled with a sealer that I believe is silicone sealer and over time, small spots/spores of mould have appeared in/on the sealer, not on the tiles or bath, right on the sealer itself. Myself and SHMBO have tried assorts of cleaners (bleach, ajax (or Cif, whatever you want to call it) etc) and nothing shifts it.

It's not massive areas, just spots a bit smaller than a 5p piece, but it passed me off and doesn't look particularly nice. Are there any tips/tricks for cleaning these mould spores out without resorting to cutting out the sealer and resealing it?

Thanks in advance.

Alex.

Title: Re: Mould and Sealer
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Jan 12^th, 2014, 4:22pm

Hi Sandy, the reason that mould will grow on the sealant (and no where else) is because who ever installed it wet their finger by sticking it in their mouth, and not using a small amount of water with a drop or two of washing up liquid in (to break the surface tension) ... there fore the enzime's from the installers mouth have contaminated the sealant, and are locking into the sealant....

sorry to say the only way to stop it happening is to carefully cut out the sealant and start again... and whet the finger with water!!!!

Title: Re: Mould and Sealer
Post by nvr24 on Jan 13^th, 2014, 11:33pm

Cut it out and redo it again. This time try and use Down Corning stuff, as it's mould proof.

Title: Re: Mould and Sealer
Post by Sandy on Jan 14^th, 2014, 5:46pm

Thanks for the replies.

Hmm, thought that might be the only option. That makes it pretty difficult and a complete ball-ache.

The bathroom fitter has managed to do a pretty good job at running the sealant. He's managed to do up the side of the bath, along the back, down the far side, along behind the taps, up the side of the adjoining units, along a 6' vanity unit and down the far end in what seems like one go. Indiscretions with licking his finger to "finish" the job to one side, it's not a bad job. Shame s/he messed up.

If it was my own place and back home in the UK, I'd try it myself knowing what to buy and where to get it from.

Methinks I'll push it on to the landlord.

Thanks again for the replies.