It’s a frustrating cycle: you notice black mould in your shower, you aggressively scrub it with bleach and harsh chemicals until it looks clean, and two weeks later, the black spots are back.
Why does this happen, and how can you stop it permanently?
Why Surface Cleaning Fails
The mould you see on the surface of your grout and silicone is only half the problem. Black mould (Stachybotrys chartarum) grows roots (mycelium) that penetrate deep into porous materials like cement grout and behind the edges of peeling silicone.
When you spray bleach, it only removes the surface colour (melanin) of the mould. It effectively "bleaches" the mould invisible, but it doesn't kill the deep roots. The roots survive, feed on the moisture in the porous grout, and inevitably grow back to the surface.
The Permanent Solution
To stop the mould permanently, you cannot rely on surface cleaners. You have to remove the environment where the mould lives.
1. Physical Removal: The infested, porous cement grout and degraded silicone must be physically scraped out and removed from the shower.
2. Professional Treatment: The exposed joints must be treated with commercial-grade anti-fungal treatments to eradicate any remaining spores.
3. Resealing with Anti-Microbial Products: Finally, the shower must be resealed. We use 100% sanitary-grade silicone containing powerful fungicides, and highly water-resistant or non-porous epoxy grouts.
By removing the porous material and sealing the joints with impenetrable products, the mould simply has nowhere to take root.
If you're sick of fighting a losing battle against shower mould, call Superfine Regrouting. We'll strip the old, mouldy materials out and reset your shower to a pristine, hygienic condition.