MOULD is often found in bathrooms as warm, damp and humid conditions help it to thrive.
Mildew spores may appear on the ceilings and walls as black, white or green patches. They can also get into your grout. This is the filler used between tiles.
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Not only can dirty grout look unsightly, but if you ignore it and the mould problem gets worse, it can be harmful to your health.
The good news is, there are some simple and cost-effective ways to keep your tiles in tip-top condition, according to Paul Reid from Reid Building Cardiff.
The expert builder told The Sun: “If your grout gets cracked, water can seep in and cause damage, leading to mould and damp.
“Replacing your grout or tiles can be an expensive job. Keeping your bathroom well-maintained is the best way to prevent mould from appearing.”
According to Checkatrade, the average cost of regrouting a bathroom is around £380, while tiling both floor and walls could mean a bill of more than £700.
We asked Paul for his top budget-friendly tips on the best ways to reduce the risk of mould, and the steps to take to ensure your bathroom tiles stay sparkling white.
Scrub with baking soda paste
To stop mould from forming in hard-to-reach places, including on your grout, Paul recommends cleaning the gaps between your tiles every few weeks, or sooner if you notice these areas becoming dirty.
“A simple way to do this is with a baking soda paste, a toothbrush, and some elbow grease,” he said.
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“All you need to do is mix two parts of baking soda with one part water to make a paste.
“You can then use a toothbrush to spread this mixture onto your grout. Leave the mixture to settle for 20 minutes or so, clean away with the same toothbrush, and rinse off any residue.”
You can pick up a 200g pack of baking soda on Amazon from around £2, and at Tesco, you can buy a two-pack of ‘Essentials’ toothbrushes for just 25p.
Better still, use an old toothbrush, as this won’t cost you a penny.
The building whizz added: “Baking soda is great for any mishaps you may have around the home.
“As well as using it to clean your bathroom grout, it can also come in handy when you need to clean stains from carpets or eliminate odours from trainers.”
Try ‘gentle’ bleach
According to Paul, the alternative to baking soda paste is oxygen bleach.
On Amazon, a 500-g tub of Sodasan oxygen bleach is currently reduced to less than £10.
“To clean your grout, it’s best to try cleaning products in order of their ‘harshness,’” he said.
“Start with baking soda, and if that doesn’t get the results you want, move on to oxygen bleach. As a last resort, you could try chlorine bleach.”
Wipe down
Another easy way to keep mould at bay on a budget is by getting into the habit of wiping surfaces down.
“The bathroom is the most humid room in your house,” said Paul. “You need to remove excess moisture every time you take a bath or a shower.
“Most people try to get around this by opening a window, but often excess moisture is left on tiles. Over time, this can cause mould in your grout.”
A regular towel will do, according to Paul.
“Or, you could invest in a squeegee to wipe down your tiles and other surfaces,” he said.
“On Amazon, you can pick up a decent squeegee from around £4.”
Invest in a sealer and grout pen
After a deep clean, the trick is to re-seal your grout immediately with a high-quality grade sealer.
At Sainsbury’s, the Gorilla 80ml clear sealant tube is currently down from £7 to £5.60.
Paul adds that for most people, deep cleaning and wiping down excess moisture will be enough to keep tiles and grout mould-free.
“If you are still having problems, there’s one more trick you can try before going for a full re-grout,” said the tiling supremo.
“That’s a grout pen. These little products are cheap and easy-to-use. With just a bit of effort you can freshen up your bathroom.”
On Amazon, you can find grout pens for less than £4.
Paul added: “All you need to do is pump the pen until the ink can be seen on the nib. Then you can draw between the tiles. Once you’ve covered the grout, simply let it sit for two hours – or longer if you can – and then you’re done.”
Go for a re-grout
If you’ve tried all the steps Paul suggests but don’t have the results you want, you need to give some thought to re-grouting your tiles.
“If you do have to go down this route, think carefully about whether this is a job you can confidently do yourself,” he said.
“Removing grout is a simple job, but if you get it wrong, you could end up damaging tiles. This mistake could cost you hundreds of pounds if tiles need replacing.”
To remove your old grout, you will need a drill with a blade attachment and a Stanley knife.
“Be sure to wear safety goggles, as grout can fly into your eyes,” said Paul. “Slowly remove the grout with the tools until none remains.”
When choosing your new grout, consider an anti-fungal product.
“This will minimise the chance of mould forming,” said Paul. “But bear in mind this will be more expensive than your traditional grout.”
At Wickes, you can pick up a 5kg tub of Mapei anti-mould tile grout for £18.50.
Paul added: “Whichever grout you choose, make sure you mix it well. Apply it between your tiles, removing any excess as you work.”
You don’t need to worry about making too much mess on your tiles, as you can go back over them and clean them when the grout has dried, according to Paul.
He added: “Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines for grout drying times. Once dry, be sure to maintain your grout to keep it clean and mould-free.”
