Homestep

Bathroom

The shower sealant is moldy

Porous sealant holds moisture. Wiping the surface does not last. The repair that holds is to cut the bead out, dry the joint, and lay a new bead.

  1. Ventilate the bathroom. If there is no fan, leave the window open for the next day. A new bead mildews the same way if the joint never dries.
  2. Wear gloves. Cut the old bead out with a utility knife along the joint. Do not dig into the grout or the tile.
  3. Clean the residue with isopropyl alcohol or the remover named on the new sealant. Let it dry for a day. Using the shower in the middle of that dry time ruins the joint.
  4. Lay a continuous bead of bathroom sealant. Smooth it with a finger dipped in water with a drop of detergent, and pull the tape while the bead is wet.

If the drywall is soft, stained from the back, or smells strong away from the shower, the mold is not only in the sealant. A new bead will not dry the wall. Do not mix bleach with ammonia or with an acid cleaner.