Help! Mold/Mildew & Grout Paint - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums

SJohn · 03-08-2004, 08:52 AM

We built a glass shower stall about 6 months ago that is in the corner of the bathroom. The white grout we used on the walls in the shower is starting to get mold/mildew (not sure what the diff is). We did seal the grout but I suspect it may be happening because the shower stall is fairly closed-in (glass walls) with only a fairly small opening above the shower door.

Here's my questions:

1. What is the best thing I can use to remove the mold/mildew?
I tried a cleaner with bleach and it didn't work; believe it is a product made by Ajax.

2. Is it a good idea to remove the mold/mildew and then paint over the grout with an epoxy-based grout paint? Will this prevent more mold & mildew if the grout is painted and no longer porous?
Can someone recommend the best one?

Thanks in advance,

John.

Mike2 · 03-08-2004, 09:54 AM

Welcome to the Forum John.

I'm going to move your question over to our Tile and Stone Cleaning/Restoration section, just so it will get quicker attention. Sit tight, someone will be with you as soon as possible to get those tiles bright and shinny again.

phughes200 · 03-08-2004, 11:51 AM

You might need a better exhaust fan or run it longer.

I have the similar question. Once the mildow is removed, is it necessary to reseal? What cleaner is effective that doesn't affect the sealer (sealer choice 15 gold). I have very little mildow except on the clauking. What I do get is a orange coating on the grout that is easly rubbed off. Not sure what it is. I assume soap scum but it also appears in areas the shower doesn't hit much.

John Bridge · 03-08-2004, 05:55 PM

Hi John,

Dry the shower out each time it's used. Do that, and you won't have any problems. If the grout near the bottom of the shower stays wet all the time, you will have mildew, period.

If there is caulking down there, you have mold behind it. Remove the caulking, allow the floor to dry out a couple days and then grout it. I know, I know. S'posed to caulk it, but caulking is part of the problem if it's trapping moisture.

SJohn · 03-08-2004, 07:27 PM

Hi John,

No caulking in the shower.

Can you recommend anything to remove the mildew?

Also, I know you recommend drying the shower walls after use,
but I'm trying to avoid this. Is there anything we can apply to the grout to make it less porous such as an epoxy grout paint or a grout stain?

Thanks again.

doitright · 03-09-2004, 09:10 PM

Hi John, Welcome

Can you further describe, what is a glass shower stall?

Better yet, can you post a picture?

How were the shower walls built. You should not have any mildew after only 6 months, unless it is extremely damp and dark in the shower. I use products that are not available to the nonproffesional.

Perhaps Tim will assist with this situation. In the meanwhile can you address the questions above?

Now to address the sealer. Usually in the shower, you'll want to use a sealer that will "breathe". TYW Stone Armor is excellent. Before applying we need to address the mold/mildew issue first.

SJohn · 03-10-2004, 08:38 AM

Hi John,

The shower stall is a neo-angle one built in the corner of the bathroom; so 2 walls are cement board with ceramic tile.
The other walls of the shower are built from glass and the glass goes from the top of the curb all the way to the ceiling. The door is also glass but there is a small opening above the door (approx 16 inches) so that the door can open.

In retrospect, I should have put an exhaust fan right in the shower to help dry it out. Live and learn!! We do have a light in the shower.

The sealer I used was not water based and the water was beading when I was done.

The shower pan was built as recommended on this site, pre-slope, etc., however, the mold/mildew problem is worse on the floor than on the walls. The walls are just bugging me more because the grout is white.

Thanks again

doitright · 03-10-2004, 06:46 PM

Hi John

I honestly don't know why you're having such a mold/mildew problem. I checked with my Prosoco rep today and here is a product that will work. You will have to apply when the tile and grout is dry. This stuff works. Don't dilute.

http://www.prosoco.com/Product.asp?ID=219

Do you have a bathroom fan? Do you leave the shower door open until dry? Have you considered using a squeegee after using?

What kind of sealer did you use? (The name please)

Please don't mind the interrogation. Just looking for solutions!

kemguru · 03-11-2004, 08:29 AM

Yep…what’s the name of the sealer?

Certain sealers can contribute to the growth of mildew. Some shower & bath products can too.

SJohn · 03-11-2004, 11:34 AM

The sealer I used is called Super Impregnator 4210 made by a company called Dyna. Worked great on the granite tiles on the bathroom floor. The shower floor doesn't have granite, it has porcelain mosaics and ceramic tiles on the walls.

We do squeegee the walls (glass & ceramic ones) after every use. It's difficult to squeegee the ceramic walls because the water just seems to collect in the grout lines. The mildew
problem on the last grout line closest to the shower floor is the worst and the shower floor itself of course.

We do have a bathroom fan and let the fan run after showering for about 10 mins. It's just a foot or foot and a half outside the shower door. We've started to leave the shower door open also for about 10 mins while the fan is running. The fan was purchased at home depot and was the 2nd most expensive one they had. It's very quiet with a decent suction rating .

Thanks to 'doitright' for suggesting BioWash. I just sent an email to the company to see if it's sold in Canada. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone for responding & trying to help.

John Bridge · 03-11-2004, 08:54 PM

John, you lazy thing, start drying the shower out.

It could be that the liner is collecting water under the shower floor and causing it to stagnate. It certainly wouldn't be the first time. The only thing I can tell you to do is to use bleach to clean up the mold and try to keep it dry.

Sure Step · 03-27-2004, 07:29 PM

John, take the same towel you use on yourself and dry the walls.
Take the moisture out of the picture and you will get rid of your mold problem. I clean showers every day. This is the advice I give to my customers and it works every time. I am talking about some real moldy problem showers and tubs. See my before and after pictures at www.surestepnj.com. This will also will keep down the amount of soap scum build up if your water is hard and reduce staining due to what ever is in you water and left to sit on the grout joints. As far as grouting the bottom and not caulking it.
I don't think that is a good idea. Stepping in and out of the shower on the shower pan will crack the grout. You should remove the old caulk and grout on the bottom, regrout it and then recaulk it with 100% silicone caulk. I use GE II Silicone Caulk. Well this is my opinion. Good luck.

John Bridge · 03-27-2004, 08:39 PM

Hi Sure Step, Welcome.

I can't get your link to work. Also, please give us a first name.

The pan we are talking about in this case is the liner under the tile floor. This shower doesn't have a plastic base.

KChurch1 · 03-27-2004, 09:49 PM

We've been using a mildew stain removal product from MBStone with great results... it's safe to use on natural stone... we use it on tile/grout too.

Sure Step · 03-28-2004, 06:52 AM

Sorry, I misunderstood. My name is Mike. The website should be up and running. www.surestepnj.com. If you can't access it please let me know. Thank you.