Author Topic: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk  (Read 4167 times)

Tris Prior

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Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« on: August 05, 2019, 09:43:42 AM »
Please help me avoid paying a professional a shitload of money to solve this. There are awful brown and black mildew stains in the caulk where my bathtub meets the shower wall and also in the caulk where the window meets the shower wall and on the windowsill. I have guests coming to stay with me in a few weeks, one of whom delights in pointing out all the shortcomings of my housekeeping, of which there are many, and she is going to have a field day over this. (Yes, I know I shouldn't care, but I do; these gross stains really bother me even if no one else ever sees them and I am super sensitive about my terrible housekeeping skills. I'm just not good at it.)

I have tried the following so far:
- baking soda and vinegar, left to sit then scrubbed off
- Soft Scrub with Bleach, both with lots of scrubbing and left to sit for literal hours. This gets permanent hair dye out of old porcelain tubs and sinks, how did this not work?!
- Mold and mildew remover spray.
- Dishwasher detergent (saw this mentioned here once)
- Cotton balls soaked in straight bleach, set on top of the stain and taped down and left for 8 hours (this was a trick I found on the Internet.)

Nothing has worked even a little. I'm at a loss. If 8 hours sitting in bleach doesn't whiten it, what will? What should I try next?

We rent, and I am not even a tiny bit handy, so ripping off the caulk and redoing it seems daunting. I don't want to screw it up and end up with water leaking into our downstairs neighbor's apartment (which has already happened a few times though that had nothing to do with anything we did). I also don't want to ask our landlord to redo it and call attention to how bad we are at cleaning the bathroom.

I just ordered a grout whitening pen off Amazon because our grout is nasty too and I don't have hours to scrub at it with a toothbrush. I'm wondering if that might help?

bacchi

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2019, 09:50:42 AM »
A grout pen is just paint. Give it a try in an inconspicuous corner and see if it sticks through a shower or three.

You could always get some caulk and do a skim coating over the stained caulk.

SunnyDays

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2019, 09:54:12 AM »
I want to know the answer too - I have the same situation.  I haven't bothered trying to fix it yet, because roommate that splashes water ALL over the place is still here, but it's nice to know what hasn't worked for you.

Tris Prior

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2019, 10:04:14 AM »

You could always get some caulk and do a skim coating over the stained caulk.

Like, caulk over the caulk? Huh. Didn't think of that. That might work, though as I said, not even remotely handy and I fear making an unholy mess.

bacchi

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2019, 10:38:46 AM »

You could always get some caulk and do a skim coating over the stained caulk.

Like, caulk over the caulk? Huh. Didn't think of that. That might work, though as I said, not even remotely handy and I fear making an unholy mess.

Watch some videos, get some blue painter's tape, and use a damp throw-away rag and your finger and you'll be fine.

If the old caulk is silicone, it may not stick, but it's probably acrylic/latex.

Gagnante

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2019, 12:41:00 PM »
I have successfully used Soft Scrub with Bleach by squeezing it on in a fairly thick layer and then covering it with saran wrap to keep it moist and leaving it for about 24 hours.

Tris Prior

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2019, 01:42:50 PM »
I have successfully used Soft Scrub with Bleach by squeezing it on in a fairly thick layer and then covering it with saran wrap to keep it moist and leaving it for about 24 hours.

24 hours? Hm, I think I only left it on for about 8. I put duct tape over it to seal it in. I hesitated to do it for longer because we have cats and had to relocate the litter box (which lives in the bathroom) and keep the door shut as our cats absolutely are obsessed with the bathtub! I didn't want them to get bleach on them. Fortunately there weren't accidents but they seem to have a clear preference for the box being in there.

Good to know that it didn't totally eat through your wall or anything (which was also a fear of mine).

Re caulking over the caulk - I mean, obviously I need a longer term solution but this guest is only staying over one night. So whatever I do only needs to hold for 1 day/night. This might be easiest.

Jon Bon

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2019, 01:45:43 PM »
I have successfully used Soft Scrub with Bleach by squeezing it on in a fairly thick layer and then covering it with saran wrap to keep it moist and leaving it for about 24 hours.

Yeah I have unsuccessfully done the same thing! Basically stripped the finish off the tub so YMMV!

Really though recaulking is stupid easy, make take you 30 mins if you really took your time. Total cost should be <20 bucks.

Ok wait back up, your LL wont do this? I try to do this every year, and do it for tenants when they ask so they dont strip the finish off the tub with faulty DIY.






Tris Prior

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2019, 02:17:31 PM »
I hesitate to ask our landlord because, well, it happened because we weren't staying on top of bathroom cleaning when life got busy and we both had some mental health struggles, and to be honest I'm really embarrassed about that. I don't want him to think we're slobs who aren't keeping up his property. Which, of course, we clearly are. :/

(ETA: this is a regular thing that landlords should be doing? I literally have never had a landlord offer to do this even when we were there many years.)

ChpBstrd

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2019, 02:21:01 PM »
A tube of caulk is $3.
A flat razor blade to remove the old caulk is maybe $5 if you can’t borrow one.
YouTube instructions are free.

Knock it out in 30 minutes and learn a new skill. The stain is occurring because water is getting under the old caulk, which means it needs to be replaced as it is no longer sealing.

Lucky Recardito

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2019, 02:35:55 PM »
I've never had success getting stains out of bathroom caulk (grout yes; caulk no). But I agree with others that re-caulking is super-easy. (Only downside is that you will want to give it 24 hours to cure without using the shower, which can be a pain depending on your schedule and whether or not you have another bathroom to use in the interim.)

I've only done this in places I've owned, but I'd categorize it as "within the bounds of something you can do in a rental" as long as you think you'll do an okay job. That said, I'm also a landlord -- and if my tenant asked me to do this, I definitely would (but I would never think to offer unprompted).

ETA: Caulk gets gross even with good bathroom cleaning habits. Don't feel bad about it. 
« Last Edit: August 05, 2019, 02:37:38 PM by Lucky Recardito »

nereo

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2019, 02:46:22 PM »
A tube of caulk is $3.
A flat razor blade to remove the old caulk is maybe $5 if you can’t borrow one.
YouTube instructions are free.

Knock it out in 30 minutes and learn a new skill. The stain is occurring because water is getting under the old caulk, which means it needs to be replaced as it is no longer sealing.

I was going to post the same thing.
Just replace the caulk and put new stuff in.  It's not hard.  It just takes a bit of scraping with a razor blade. You've probably spent way more time trying to clean the old caulk then you would have just putting new stuff in.

FWIW caulk should be replaced periodically anyhow.

Tris Prior

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2019, 03:32:52 PM »

I was going to post the same thing.
Just replace the caulk and put new stuff in.  It's not hard.  It just takes a bit of scraping with a razor blade. You've probably spent way more time trying to clean the old caulk then you would have just putting new stuff in.

FWIW caulk should be replaced periodically anyhow.

How do I make sure it's completely sealed and isn't going to result in water coming through my tub and into my downstairs neighbor's ceiling? This has already happened a couple of times (not as a result of bad caulk, though, something was wrong with the overflow valve in the tub and that got fixed).

My neighbor is a huge complainer and throws a fit to our landlord any time something breaks even if it's a normal wear and tear sort of thing, so I'm a bit nervous. I'll look up some videos when I'm home from work and show them to Boyfriend and see if he thinks it's something we can tackle without fucking up. (Not exaggerating when I say NOT handy at all, very very poor at anything involving home repairs even when closely following instructions. I seem to not have a very steady hand. :/)

ChpBstrd

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2019, 03:44:08 PM »

I was going to post the same thing.
Just replace the caulk and put new stuff in.  It's not hard.  It just takes a bit of scraping with a razor blade. You've probably spent way more time trying to clean the old caulk then you would have just putting new stuff in.

FWIW caulk should be replaced periodically anyhow.

How do I make sure it's completely sealed and isn't going to result in water coming through my tub and into my downstairs neighbor's ceiling? This has already happened a couple of times (not as a result of bad caulk, though, something was wrong with the overflow valve in the tub and that got fixed).

My neighbor is a huge complainer and throws a fit to our landlord any time something breaks even if it's a normal wear and tear sort of thing, so I'm a bit nervous. I'll look up some videos when I'm home from work and show them to Boyfriend and see if he thinks it's something we can tackle without fucking up. (Not exaggerating when I say NOT handy at all, very very poor at anything involving home repairs even when closely following instructions. I seem to not have a very steady hand. :/)

Seeing it done on video will help with these concerns. Perhaps get 2 tubes of caulk and use the first one to practice in the corners of a cardboard box before doing the tub?

The only ways to fuck up I can think of are:
1) scratching up the tub enamel with the razor blade.
2) getting caulk all over the grout and having to clean that up.
3) getting the wrong color caulk.
4) not removing enough of the old caulk and getting a lumpy final result.
5) putting your finger in your hair with caulk on it ;)

SquashingDebt

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2019, 03:55:09 PM »
I'm a renter and have asked my landlord twice in the last 4 years to fix my caulk around the bathtub.  Once because it was discolored and once because it had cracked.  As opposed to seeming judgmental about my cleaning habits, he was grateful I had cared enough to bother to let him know.

I don't think your landlord will judge you, unless your bathroom is actively filthy when he or she comes to fix it.

bacchi

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #15 on: August 05, 2019, 04:20:14 PM »
I don't think your landlord will judge you, unless your bathroom is actively filthy when he or she comes to fix it.

Troof. The reality is that almost everyone has bad caulk occasionally.*



* intended

hops

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #16 on: August 05, 2019, 04:59:16 PM »
If you haven't tried this spray, it works well:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mold-Armor-32-fl-oz-Liquid-Mold-Remover/999994296

If the problem is extensive you'd need to hit the areas several times, carefully following directions. But re-caulking (or asking the landlord for help) will likely be much easier than you anticipate.

Loretta

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #17 on: August 07, 2019, 04:15:45 AM »
I sprayed straight Clorox bleach on my gross caulk on Sat morning and then the rest of the day anytime I went in the bathroom I sprayed it again.  It might just need persistence! 

Rosy

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #18 on: August 07, 2019, 07:02:19 AM »
A tube of caulk is $3.
A flat razor blade to remove the old caulk is maybe $5 if you can’t borrow one.
YouTube instructions are free.

Knock it out in 30 minutes and learn a new skill. The stain is occurring because water is getting under the old caulk, which means it needs to be replaced as it is no longer sealing.

Don't feel bad - you are definitely not the only one. It is true that the old caulk has to be replaced when it no longer seals and who wants to put up with a nasty black rim anyway. Just looking at it, I imagine breathing in mold - yuck, not at all good for you either.
Besides, mold spreads if you don't tackle the problem - I promise you that caulk will continue to disentegrate.

You can do this, it really is not difficult.
Step one - the part I hate the most is the removal of the old caulk - one of those razor blade utility knives you get at HD or Lowes and a bit of elbow grease is all you need. Then you clean up the mess very well and make sure it is as dry as possible before you apply the new caulk.
 
Step two - you apply the bright white caulk in a long, even, continuous motion. Immediately after you applied the caulk you dip your finger in dishwashing liquid (like Dawn) and lightly draw your finger along the center of the line of caulk. You want it to look nice and even and adhere well all around, especially in the corners. The caulk hardens quickly so you need to work fast in correcting, doubling up or cleaning up your caulk line.

 I recommend you do a little test patch (not on your bathtub) so you know how much pressure to apply and practice the motion a bit:) since it is your first time - it is not rocket science - you can absolutely do this.
... and remember the worst thing that could happen if you really screwed up is that you get out the knife and scrape it back off!!

I don't recommend applying new caulk over old, because it doesn't fix the problem and will look just as bad in no time. Ask me how I know:).
Just think, once you figured out how to caulk the bathtub you can caulk the windows and the ring around the base of your toilet too:).

The alternative is to find a friend who will do it for a dinner or a six-pack. Once you removed the old grout, it literally takes only a couple of minutes to do this. You've already wasted way too much time pondering and cleaning up for hours - JDI:).


Tris Prior

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #19 on: August 07, 2019, 07:45:09 AM »

... and remember the worst thing that could happen if you really screwed up is that you get out the knife and scrape it back off!!


I mean, really, the worst that can happen is that I don't get everything totally sealed and my downstairs neighbor again ends up with water pouring through her ceiling, and she again starts screaming at ME that I did this to her. She is.... a challenging person to live near. That's right, I *personally* made that pipe leak the last time she had this issue, just to screw with her! But, if it actually WAS my fault that she ends up flooded again because I didn't caulk properly.... ugh.

This makes me really nervous. But thank you for that very clear explanation of how to do it.

nereo

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #20 on: August 07, 2019, 08:03:24 AM »

I mean, really, the worst that can happen is that I don't get everything totally sealed and my downstairs neighbor again ends up with water pouring through her ceiling, and she again starts screaming at ME that I did this to her. She is.... a challenging person to live near. That's right, I *personally* made that pipe leak the last time she had this issue, just to screw with her! But, if it actually WAS my fault that she ends up flooded again because I didn't caulk properly.... ugh.

This makes me really nervous. But thank you for that very clear explanation of how to do it.

That's not going to happen.  Water isn't going to 'pour down' even if you remove the caulk entirely and don't replace it at all (which would be dumb, but we're talking worst-case scenario here).  It won't even drip.  99.9% of the water goes down the drain regardless of the caulk line.  What caulk does is prevent moisture (not running water) form seeping behind the grout and up into the surrounding spaces, where - over time - it can foster mold and degrade the wallboard.  People go years with improperly sealed or completely unsealed tubs before anyone notices. 
The caulk is NOT what prevents the water from going where it isn't intended to go... it's really an additional layer of water management

I can't stress this enough - caulking a tub is simple.  I'd let my 10 year old niece caulk my tub (with supervision of course). Others have explained it well, but you just make sure it's one continuous layer.  you can use your finger (or an old credit card) to smooth it out.  You can SEE whether the caulk has any gaps, and if it does you just add some more or wipe it off and start over.  Practice once or twice on the edges of a shallow cardboard box.

couponvan

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #21 on: August 07, 2019, 08:07:01 AM »
You have actually met me-it’s not that hard. It’s cheap to replace caulking. My one suggestion extra is to fill the tub with water before you caulk (like you are taking a bath). The weight will allow you to get a better caulk seal so you don’t have to worry about the neighbors getting wet. Don’t get the actual caulk joint wet though.

1) take final shower
2) remove old caulk (razor/hot blow dryer)
3) clean where old caulk was with a mold removal product.
4)  Dry thoroughly- bust out the blow dryer again
5) fill tub with water
6) apply new caulk
8) wait 2 days before showering- you can empty the tub after 24 hours.
9) repeat every 4-5 years.

Frankly replacing the caulk is WAY easier and overall cheaper than the cleaning battle. Even if your job is not perfect, it’s better than mildew. I’ve done 3 tubs and showers now. You can do it! I bought the caulking tool, and it helps, but I still end up using my fingers a bit.

https://www.amazon.com/Outus-Sealant-Caulking-Bathroom-Kitchen/dp/B071XNWRQ6/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=caulking+tool+kit&qid=1565186748&s=gateway&sprefix=caulking+tool&sr=8-11

couponvan

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #22 on: August 07, 2019, 08:10:27 AM »
This will take you less than 2 actual hours of work-order from Amazon and do Friday night after showering-you will be good to go by Sunday night for work. ;-)

zygote

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #23 on: August 07, 2019, 09:01:29 AM »
I promise, this issue has nothing to do with your bathroom cleaning habits. Caulk is not permanent; it degrades over time. As it degrades, more and more moisture sticks around and fosters mold, which stains it dark. Even cleaning your bathroom daily (lol who does that, not me) wouldn't prevent it. There's just going to be moisture in a shower. Especially if you're unlucky like us and have no fan or ventilation system in the bathroom.

I am also Not Handy, and I just replaced our caulk a few months ago because it was gross, stained, and peeling off, and our super/landlord ignored all our requests to fix it. It really wasn't that bad. It took a full day because of all the steps where you have to wait, but it wasn't that much actual work.

1) I found it useful to get a caulk softener. If you're worried about scratching the tub, this is a way to go. I put it on all the old caulk, left it for two hours, and it was much easier to scrape off the old caulk.

2) Once the old caulk was gone, I used a bleach mold/mildew spray and a toothbrush to thoroughly clean the edges and kill any remaining mold/mildew. Then I let it dry thoroughly, another few hours.

3) Then I went for it. There are a lot of youtube videos and howtos if you google the process. Just pick the one that seems most doable and give it a shot. I didn't do any testing on a cardboard box first, though that would have helped. My first attempt looked ridiculous, but I just wiped it off while it was still wet and tried again. Even if it dries messy, you could always scrape it off and redo it. The one tip I would say is to cut open the caulk gun with a much smaller opening than you'll think you need. It spread out a lot when I smoothed it with my finger.

It doesn't look quite the same as it would if a professional did it, but it's certainly an upgrade from the old caulk. It's not stained, it's not peeling, and it's actually moisture tight now.

You honestly can't screw it up. Even if there is a small gap somewhere, it's not going to let through enough water to get into your neighbor's apartment. Worst case, it would just let moisture stick around and foster mold - exactly the situation you're in now. You can do it!

If you're still nervous, you could try asking your landlord. He should know that it has nothing to do with cleaning habits. This is just a necessary part of bathroom maintenance sometimes. Just clean the bathroom right before he comes over to do it to make yourself feel more comfortable about it. (Or am I the only one who cleans for my super so I won't get judged....?)

Tris Prior

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #24 on: August 07, 2019, 09:09:22 AM »
coup, why would I fill the tub with water when the caulk is where the top of the tub meets the wall? It is above where the water line of a completely full tub would be. Is there some benefit to doing that regardless?

  It won't even drip.  99.9% of the water goes down the drain regardless of the caulk line. 

I feel like I'm explaining this badly. The caulk line is along where the top of the tub meets the wall.  When the shower runs, it hits the caulk area directly. The top of the tub is kind of flat there, so water sits there, where the caulk is, unless I dry it off with a towel. It does not go down the drain, it sits there until it evaporates or I dry it. Same with the stained caulk on the sill of the window that's in the shower. Water just sits there. Which is probably why it ended up stained; I should have been diligent about drying it every single time after every shower.

So, if water sits there, wouldn't it eventually seep downward into her unit? Why would it go upward? I admit I am not handy but I feel like I'm missing something here, like some law of physics that I'm not aware of, haha.

I really appreciate everyone's advice. I'm just really terrified of the neighbor trying to make trouble for me again and this time it actually being my fault. :) She is not an easy person to deal with.

SunnyDays

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #25 on: August 07, 2019, 09:15:51 AM »
You fill the tub first so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the new caulk away from the wall.

ReadySetMillionaire

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #26 on: August 07, 2019, 09:20:08 AM »
OP, I am a moron when it comes to repairing things, and re-caulking is stupid easy. You are way over-thinking this. Go buy a razor blade, caulk, and one of the little edgers that allows you to leave a nice clean line. If you do a shitty job just peel it off from the shitty part and start over.

It will cost you ten bucks and take you 30 minutes. Stop worrying about it.

couponvan

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #27 on: August 07, 2019, 09:26:11 AM »
You fill the tub first so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the new caulk away from the wall.

+1

In our new house, they didn't do this, so when I get in the tub for a bath, I can see the caulk lifted away from the wall.  They're coming to fix it on Friday.  It was fresh in my mind that this needed to be done.

Same thing if you are going to caulk around your sink area....You fill the sink with water to weight it down before applying the caulk. Otherwise, when you fill the sink with soapy water to wash dishes after the caulk dries it will pull away from the wall. :-)

mm1970

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #28 on: August 07, 2019, 09:55:47 AM »
Caulk is not permanent.  We periodically remove the old caulk, scrub down the corner with bleach, and replace with new caulk.

Jon Bon

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #29 on: August 07, 2019, 11:07:09 AM »
You fill the tub first so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the new caulk away from the wall.

Ive never heard this. Ive installed maybe 10 bathtubs?

It might be true, but a property installed bathtub shoudl not really move at all. And even if it is true. if you full it up with 200#s of water, and caulk it, wont it just move again when you let the water out?

Caulk is flexible, that is why we use it in areas that might move instead of grout.

*Edit I could have been doing it wrong for 10 years.... But I dont think I will start, no way I can fill a tub without getting water all over where I need to caulk!

« Last Edit: August 07, 2019, 11:20:19 AM by Jon Bon »

couponvan

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #30 on: August 07, 2019, 11:21:24 AM »
You fill the tub first so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the new caulk away from the wall.

Ive never heard this. Ive installed maybe 10 bathtubs?

It might be true, but a property installed bathtub shoudl not really move at all. And even if it is true. if you full it up with 200#s of water, and caulk it, wont it just move again when you let the water out?

Caulk is flexible, that is why we use it in areas that might move instead of grout.
Depends on whether it’s a cast iron tub, but compression is less likely to make leaks than tension. Yes, it will compress when empty, but when you fill it again it has room to go back to where it was installed. The other way, it pulls down and over time rips away from the wall allowing moisture and mold. If you don’t take baths very often it won’t matter as much. I like baths.

Jon Bon

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #31 on: August 07, 2019, 11:24:41 AM »
coup, why would I fill the tub with water when the caulk is where the top of the tub meets the wall? It is above where the water line of a completely full tub would be. Is there some benefit to doing that regardless?

  It won't even drip.  99.9% of the water goes down the drain regardless of the caulk line. 

I feel like I'm explaining this badly. The caulk line is along where the top of the tub meets the wall.  When the shower runs, it hits the caulk area directly. The top of the tub is kind of flat there, so water sits there, where the caulk is, unless I dry it off with a towel. It does not go down the drain, it sits there until it evaporates or I dry it. Same with the stained caulk on the sill of the window that's in the shower. Water just sits there. Which is probably why it ended up stained; I should have been diligent about drying it every single time after every shower.

So, if water sits there, wouldn't it eventually seep downward into her unit? Why would it go upward? I admit I am not handy but I feel like I'm missing something here, like some law of physics that I'm not aware of, haha.

I really appreciate everyone's advice. I'm just really terrified of the neighbor trying to make trouble for me again and this time it actually being my fault. :) She is not an easy person to deal with.

Sorry fighting about if we should fill the tub first. I missed the important part...

Tubs don't end there, it actually does and 90 degree tun and has a 3/4 inch lip all the way around. The tub is actually behind your tile.  So even IF you had zero caulk it still would not leak out of the tub itself. It might collect water there and start to stink and mold, but the water cannot get out of the tub.  See the lip in the picture.

Jon Bon

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #32 on: August 07, 2019, 11:26:37 AM »
You fill the tub first so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the new caulk away from the wall.

Ive never heard this. Ive installed maybe 10 bathtubs?

It might be true, but a property installed bathtub should not really move at all. And even if it is true. if you full it up with 200#s of water, and caulk it, wont it just move again when you let the water out?

Caulk is flexible, that is why we use it in areas that might move instead of grout.
Depends on whether it’s a cast iron tub, but compression is less likely to make leaks than tension. Yes, it will compress when empty, but when you fill it again it has room to go back to where it was installed. The other way, it pulls down and over time rips away from the wall allowing moisture and mold. If you don’t take baths very often it won’t matter as much. I like baths.

That sounds correct enough, probably could be fixed by better/more structure underneath but that is a horse of a different color......

meghan88

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #33 on: August 07, 2019, 02:26:26 PM »
One more vote for DIY on this.  You can't screw it up.  One super-helpful tip that another poster mentioned is the painters tape.  Just make sure that you're only using the tape to prevent a big mess.  You don't want any amount of caulk buildup at the edge of the tape - in fact, you want no caulk at all at the edge of the tape if possible.  Otherwise, at best, you'll have a little ledge at the edge of the caulk or - worse still - you won't be able to get the tape off without tearing it or cutting at the caulk if the tape is behind it after the caulk has hardened.

Work as quickly as you can, and smooth out the caulk bead with a wet finger.  The goal is to have a smooth caulk line without pits, lumps and bumps, as they attract dirt and mildew.

Nederstash

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #34 on: August 07, 2019, 03:38:24 PM »
Caulk should be renewed every 3-5 years! It can get leaky and then you're in trouble.
 
Also, my trick for super white caulk: roll up a length of toilet paper (along the long side, so you get a long thin roll), lay it over your caulk lines and douse it in bleach. The toilet paper will keep it from drying out too fast and keeps it in place. Leave it for AT LEAST 12 hours. Remove and enjoy.

Jon Bon

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #35 on: August 07, 2019, 07:33:58 PM »

FireAnt

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #36 on: August 08, 2019, 02:07:05 PM »
Just want to say thanks for posting this question. We had our tub re-caulked two years ago and looks is in great condition, but getting mold/mildew that we can't get rid of. Going to try some of these suggestions (because it's too early to re-caulk).

LongtimeLurker

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #37 on: August 08, 2019, 04:35:10 PM »
Have you tried Kaboom? You just spray it on and then let it do its thing. Has worked well for me. Of course, the best thing is to just clean the bathroom regularly... but I'm sure you already know that.

If that does not... you will have to re-caulk, even if it means hiring a local handyman.

trix76

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Re: Getting mildew stains out of bathroom caulk
« Reply #38 on: August 08, 2019, 07:03:04 PM »
I had great results on moldy/mildewed caulk with this gel: Skylarlife Home Mold & Mildew Remover Gel Stain Remover Cleaner Wall Mold Cleaner for Tiles Grout Sealant Bath Sinks Showers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076KS1VYQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gymtDbMFC05CZ


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