Remove mold from a sealant rim

Video: Easy way to clean black mould mold from silicone mastic sealant caulking.

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Using ammonia
Method 2 of 3: Using bleach
Warnings
Necessities

Removing old sealant edges and applying new sealant edges can be very time consuming if mold starts to grow in the edges. Fortunately, this does not have to be necessary to get rid of the fungus. Try cleaning the sealant edges first with known household products like ammonia and bleach (be careful NOT to mix and use these two chemicals at the same time). These agents have been proven to largely remove mold, but they are quite aggressive. Non-toxic household products such as vinegar and baking soda are sometimes even better at removing mold.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Using ammonia

Ventilate the room. Remember that ammonia can be harmful to you if you inhale the fumes. Provide better ventilation. Open windows and doors, turn on the ventilation and / or turn down fans to get the air moving.
Wear a breathing mask. Chances are, in a room like the bathroom, you have few options for improving ventilation. In this case, make sure to wear a breathing mask to filter the vapors. Or just wear one to be extra safe. A regular paper face mask will not protect you from the fumes from the ammonia. You need a breathing mask with an activated carbon filter that fits well against your face and that absorbs the ammonia. You can get help in finding the right breathing mask at many hardware stores and you can also find a lot of information about it on the internet.
Prepare a mixture. First, make sure you ventilate the area in which you prepare the mixture well if you do this somewhere other than the area that needs to be cleaned. Then mix equal parts of ammonia and water in a spray bottle or other container before pouring the mixture into a bottle using a funnel.
Spray and scrub. When the mixture is ready, spray the moldy sealant edge evenly with it. Wait five to 10 minutes for it to set in and start killing the fungus. Then scrub the injected sealant rim with a small brush. Wipe the sealant edge with a cloth or paper towels to remove all residue.
Repeat the process and see if the fungus is gone. If all mold is not gone on the first try, try again. If the fungus has not disappeared after several tries, use a different cleaner. Keep in mind that ammonia works well to kill mold on non-porous surfaces, but porous surfaces as a sealant can often be a problem.
If the problem returns, use a different cleaner. Know that a sealant rim may look clean after you scrub and wipe it, but it may still contain mold. If you see mold again in the sealant rim shortly after your attempt with ammonia, see this as a sign that the mold has penetrated too deep into the sealant and the ammonia cannot reach it properly. In this case, try a different cleaner.

Method 2 of 3: Using bleach

Expect the same risks and limitations. Ventilate the area just as you would if you were using ammonia. Also know that chlorine bleach has the same problems with porous surfaces. Only use bleach as an alternative if you don't have ammonia in the house, or if you prefer to use bleach for any reason. If you've already tried ammonia, don't use bleach. Chances are that it will not work with bleach either.
- Also remember that when you mix bleach and ammonia, toxic fumes are created. So if you've already sprayed the sealant rim with ammonia, don't treat it with bleach.
Prepare a mixture. Measure out 250 ml of chlorine bleach. Pour it into 4 liters of water. Stir until well blended.
Scrub light mold spots with a wet sponge. If the mold spots are quite light, get a clean sponge. Soak the sponge in the mixture and squeeze out the moisture. Then scrub the moldy sealant edge with it.
Spray worse mold patches before scrubbing them. If a quick scrubbing with a wet sponge doesn't work to get rid of the mold, fill a spray bottle with the mixture. Spray the moldy sealant rim with it and leave it on for five to ten minutes. Then wipe the sealant with your sponge.
Repeat the process with a cleaning brush. If it still doesn't work with a sponge, spray the sealant rim again. Allow the bleach to soak deeply into the bottom molds. Then scrub the sealant edge again, but this time with a cleaning brush.
Treat mold that has penetrated deep into the sealant edge with cotton balls. If spraying the sealant rim doesn't work well enough to get to the bottom mold, use cotton balls. Soak them in the mixture. Note them along the sealant edge and push them against it with a cotton swab. Leave them overnight so that the sealant edge can absorb as much bleach as possible. Then scrub the sealant edge again in the morning.
Spray the sealant rim again after you have cleaned it. Remove mold and other dirt by wiping the sealant edge with a cloth or paper towels. Then spray the sealant edge again with the mixture and leave it alone. Prevent new mold growth by allowing this active substance to soak into the sealant rim. EXPERT TIP
Use hydrogen peroxide with a strength of 3%. First look at the list of ingredients to make sure that the medicine has a strength of 3%. Then just fill an atomizer with the agent and spray the sealant rim with it until it is soaked. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then scrub the sealant edge with a sponge, brush, or both. Wipe the sealant edge afterwards.
Use vinegar. Use distilled white vinegar, and not one of the more luxurious varieties you may have in your pantry. Fill an atomizer with vinegar and spray the moldy sealant rim with it. Let the vinegar sit for an hour, then wipe the mold off with a sponge and rinse the sealant rim with water.
Use a mixture of baking soda and water. Measure out ¼ tablespoon of baking soda. Put this in an atomizer. Fill the atomizer with water and shake it. Spray the affected area once and wipe it off immediately with a sponge or brush. Then rinse the sealant rim with water and spray it again to prevent it from getting moldy again.
Use a mixture of borax and water. Mix 200 grams of borax powder with 4 liters of water. Soak a sponge in the mixture and wipe the sealant rim with it, or fill an atomizer with the mixture and spray the sealant rim with it. Then scrub the caulk edge with a brush and wipe it clean.

Warnings

Always wear proper eye and hand protection when using the above cleaners.
Commercially available antifungals sometimes contain ammonia, so always check the ingredients list before using any with bleach.