How to clean tile grout

Learn how to clean mould in your bathroom

Have you noticed black mould in your bathroom? The humid and enclosed environment provides the ideal conditions for mould spores to grow. This guide will walk you through how to get rid of mould in your bathroom, and how to prevent it from returning.

3 easy tips for putting a stop to mould:

  • Sponge icon – Saint-Gobain Weber

    1. Keep it clean

    It doesn’t take long for baths and showers to build up a level of grime, so staying ahead of the cleaning will pay dividends. A swift wipe down a couple of times a week can be more effective than an intensive scrub once a month, as it stops bacteria settling long enough to produce mould in the first place.

  • Cleaning solution icon – Saint-Gobain Weber

    2. Choose your cleaning solution

    If you’ve already got some signs of mould growing on your grout or tiles, you may need something a little stronger than your everyday bathroom cleaner. While bleach will remove any staining as a result of the mould, it won’t kill the spores, particularly when it comes to a porous surface like grout. Pure vinegar however, should kill the mould spores and prevent them returning.

  • Hourglass timer icon – Saint-Gobain Weber

    3. Let it soak

    Using pure vinegar in a spray bottle, give the area a generous dose and leave to soak for one hour. For more stubborn mould stains when cleaning tile grout, a scrubbing brush or toothbrush should be used to lift the stain.

When removing mould make sure the area is well ventilated, both during cleaning and for a couple of hours afterwards. With natural cleaning solutions such as vinegar, they should be safe to use on all types of tile, and coloured grouts as you won’t have to worry about fading. With shop-bought cleaning solutions and bleach however, it’s best to check whether it’s safe to use on your chosen tiles/grout first.

Prevention is better than cure 

There are a few measures you can take to make sure your bathroom is as protected from mould as it can be:

  • Mould-resistant grout icon – Saint-Gobain Weber

    1. Use mould-resistant grout

    Not all grout is created equal. The first step in keeping mould at bay is using a mould-resistant grout. All Weber tile grouts are formulated with Mould Stop Technology which makes the surface of the grout inhospitable to mould spores. This prevents mould in two ways, by resisting water, and by containing ingredients that kill mould. It’s also safe to use with all types of tile, from ceramic to stone.

  • Fan icon – Saint-Gobain Weber

    2. Minimise moisture

    Mould loves moisture and flourishes in humid areas, so it’s best not to leave bathrooms full of steam at the end of a bath or shower. Even opening a window can make a massive difference, quickly letting the moisture out and fresh air in.

    If it’s too cold to do this, or if your bathroom doesn’t have a window, an extractor fan is a good alternative for ventilation. Just switch it on whenever you’re using the bath or shower. If you find that your fan isn’t helping to stop the spread of mould, you may need to consider replacing it with one that has a higher capacity.

Do you have any tips for preventing mould? Let us know on Twitter: @SGWeberUK

If you’ve decided it’s time to refresh your bathroom, why not use one of our grouts? weberjoint premium is not only mould-resistant, but has been formulated with PURE CLEAN anti-stain technology, and comes in a choice of 18 colours. Find the best tile grout for your next tiling job here.

Click Compare to help you choose the right product for your project, if you need further assistance please email technical@netweber.co.uk

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