How to make a natural mould remover for tile grout in the shower without harsh chemicals like bleach. If you notice any dark spots growing in your shower, this may be from mould and mildew. While this is really common, it’s not ideal to have mould growing in the bathroom for many health reasons, and it also makes the grout look a little dirty, too. While bleach and other cleaners may work to clean mould, they are really strong chemicals that can cause irritation if inhaled or if contact to the skin arises. Plus, as bleach is made up of about 90 percent water, spraying this chemical onto mould can produce more mould growth, especially on porous surfaces like grout. Luckily, there are a lot of ways to clean mould in shower grout naturally without the need for harsh chemicals. Here’s how.

I’ve been fighting a losing battle with mould in my bathroom of late.

It started a few months ago, during all the heavy rain we were having up here on the coast in northern Australia. That, mixed with my housemates leaving the door closed while the dryer was on (we have our laundry in our bathroom – gotta love that share house life), created a really humid environment in the bathroom where mould just started to thrive.

While all of this was going on, I was learning about the severe health impacts of mould in the home, particularly over the long-term, so I wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible to prevent any health problems that could have arose from breathing in the mould spores every time we showered.

Symptoms of Toxic Mould Exposure

Mould-induced symptoms are often misdiagnosed, with the most common mould-related symptoms being respiratory, like that of allergies and asthma.

Symptoms of mould exposure vary greatly from person to person because of individual genetics and how the body responds.

Exact symptoms really depend on a number of factors, such as the person, length of exposure, and type(s) of mould. Other chemical or toxin exposures may also be present alongside black mould (such as other fungi or bacteria, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and more), making it difficult to link every symptom to black mould in and of itself.

Some potential symptoms that may arise as a result of black mould exposure include:

• Respiratory symptoms like wheezing, coughing, a runny nose, congestion, hay fever, or shortness of breath.
• Memory problems, or conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia worsening.
• Neurological conditions like autism can be exacerbated.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Hypothyroidism and low-energy levels as a result of mould or mycotoxin exposure.
• Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and Candida overgrowth are some digestive symptoms linked with mycotoxin exposure.

Katie Wells, creator of the popular health and wellness website, Wellness Mama, shares in her article, How Toxic Mould Exposure Harms the Body, ways to test for toxic mould exposure at home:

Here are a few tests you can do yourself:

• ERMI test: This is the mother of all mold tests and can tell the mold history of a home. This will show the type of mold, including species (like Aspergillus), genus (Aspergillus alternate), and the number of spores. This information is helpful to know which treatment someone needs and what type of remediation needs to be done. An ERMI test identifies 36 different types of toxic mold.
• HERTSMI test: This is the cheaper version of an ERMI test. It will still give both mold genus and species, but it only tests for 5 of the most common toxic molds.
• Mold detection kit: These at-home kits will allow you to sample up to 9 different locations in the home. Results will report the type of mold growing in each area.

To help remove the mould growing in my bathroom, I tried and tested many different natural cleaners and found a couple that worked really well in cleaning mould from tile grout, which I’ll share below.

For more ideas and DIYs on natural household cleaners, see here.

Before we get started in learning how to remove mould naturally from the home – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!

DIY Natural Mould Remover for Tile Grout

A natural mould remover for tile grout in the bathroom. Mould growing in tile grout can be a challenge to get rid of if you don’t have the right tools. But, when armed with the knowledge of what to use and how to get rid of it, grimy mould or mildew can easily be treated with just a few simple ingredients. No need for bleach.

Please note that you should only be spraying vinegar onto sealed grout as vinegar can penetrate into the spaces of unsealed grout, which can cause deterioration over time. Spray the vinegar carefully onto the affected areas, but try not to get any spray on the tiles themselves, especially if they are natural stone.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 4 tsp water
• Glass spray bottle

To make:

1. To clean mould from tile grout, begin by wiping down the tiled area to remove any moisture or grime before starting.
2. Pour the vinegar into a glass bottle and spray the undiluted vinegar onto the mould.
3. Let the vinegar dry for approximately one hour, which will allow the vinegar to make the mould easier to remove later on. Once the shower tiles feel dry, rinse the surface of the tiles and grout with warm water. You can do this by either wetting a cloth with water and wiping down the surface, or if you have a removable shower head, you can use that to spray down the shower tiles and rinse away the mould.
4. The mould should easily lift away from the tile grout. If not, this grout and tile brush does the trick. Clean the entire surface of the shower until no more mould is visible between your tiles.
5. If using a grout brush or old toothbrush, apply gentle pressure and try to scrape the remaining mould off as best you can. Applying a little more vinegar to the mould may help to remove the most stubborn mould-affected areas.
6. To finish, spray the surfaces in the shower with vinegar again to prevent mould from growing in future. Keeping a spray bottle filled with the vinegar solution in your bathroom comes in handy. Apply an even layer of the vinegar to the surrounding tiles and grout, and allow it to dry completely.
7. Reapply the vinegar after each shower as a preventative measure.
8. If the vinegar didn’t do the trick, applying a paste of baking soda and water can prove effective.
9. To make, mix together the baking soda and water until it forms a spreadable paste. The consistency should be similar to toothpaste. Apply this paste directly onto the areas where mould is visible, and let it sit for around 30 minutes.
10. Use an old toothbrush or a grout brush to scrub away any remaining mould. To finish, rinse down the tiles with warm water.

Pre-Made Mould Remover Cleaning Options

If you’re not into the whole DIY thing, or don’t have time to make a natural homemade mould remover yourself, check out these ready-made natural mould cleaning options:

• Mould Buster Essentials Bundle
• Euclove Bathroom Cleaning Spray

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.

Have you made your own natural household mould cleaner before? Did the natural cleaner work in removing mould from your bathroom or home? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa