How to clean a really mouldy rental shower and fix the caulk
Neglected showers accumulate stubborn mould and grime that regular scrubbing cannot easily remove without causing physical fatigue. This makes it difficult to know whether to strip and replace old caulking or just clean what is already there, leading to confusion for people new to deep cleaning.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Spraying the shower with vinegar and scrubbing with a hard brushDid this help you?
- 2Planning to replace the shower curtainDid this help you?
- 3Attempting to ventilate the bathroom after showeringDid this help you?
- 4Using electric spin scrubbers to avoid manual arm fatigue and bendingDid this help you?
- 5Using battery-powered pressure washers for quick cleaningDid this help you?
- 6Using daily squeegees or towel drying to prevent buildupDid this help you?
- 7Keeping a soap-dispensing dish brush in the shower to clean in small chunks during routine showersDid this help you?
- 8Spraying commercial chemical cleaners like Wet & Forget to avoid scrubbing entirelyDid this help you?
- 9Using baking soda combined with dawn dish soap, bleach, and hot water with a Scotch Brite padDid this help you?
- 10Using toilet cleaner or a spray with bleachDid this help you?
- 11Using laundry stain removerDid this help you?
- 12Using a toothbrush for cracks and a water pick for rinsing gunk outDid this help you?
- 13Hiring a cleaning serviceDid this help you?
- 14Buying a replacement shower headDid this help you?
- 15Pouring bleach and letting it sit to work its way insideDid this help you?
- 16Using Zep tile and grout cleaner following instructionsDid this help you?
- 17Regrouting the surfaceDid this help you?
- 18Scrubbing hard surfaces with detergent and water while wearing safety gear, keeping the area dry, using ventilation fans or opening windows/curtains.Did this help you?
- 19Consulting a professional for widespread mold or potential leaks.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I have been in a serious funk since the holidays. I work from home and I let my apartment go completely. The bathroom was the worst victim.”source ↗
“I started scrubbing with a regular sponge but my arm was burning after five minutes. I almost gave up right there.”source ↗
“I don't have advice but from someone who has the same problem, I'm proud of you OP. Wish I could get that burst soon.”source ↗
“Sorry in advance, i know you guys probably get a million mouldy shower posts 😅. I'm just a little new to cleaning and want to get this right.”source ↗
“The one thing im confused on is is caulking. Ive seen posts where people recomend recaulking, but also im not sure the shower has caulk in the first place? Do i just remove the mould and then apply caulk?”source ↗
“How on earth do I get this grout clean ? No matter what it always looks like this ..”source ↗
“I’ve used baking soda , soap, dawn wash. So temped to just get a new shower.”source ↗
“Ugh let me know if you figure it out, this drives me crazy!!”source ↗
“their shower has mold all over the place (glass door, walls, shower head, weird crevices) and since they are leaving me home to watch the cat this weekend, i want to clean the house for them, so what would be the best way to clean it?”source ↗
“i have my own shower upstairs that my parents don't use so it hasn't been used for quite awhile, it has a curtain rather than a door and i don't know how to prevent it from getting gross.”source ↗
“Shower head is less than a year old. Is this dangerous mold?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 4How to clean the mold and gunk left under a removed shower door
- 3Shower finish peeling off when cleaning
- 3How to clear heavy bathroom steam without an exhaust fan
- 15How to clean decades of heavy buildup on bathroom hardware
- 3How to clean mold out of a smelly window AC unit