How to get rid of severe black mold on bathroom grout
Normal household cleaning products often fail to clear deep black mold on old bathroom grout, leaving tenants to figure out if they need to regrout or get the landlord to intervene. Left untreated, severe mold leads people to worry about structural damage and forces them to use dehumidifiers just to slow it down while trying to decide what needs to be replaced.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 16.7× more often in r/CleaningTips than across the site as a whole.
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.
- 1Using normal cleaning products provided by the landlordDid this help you?
- 2Using industrial strength peroxide or specialized mold and mildew removers like RMR-86Did this help you?
- 3Running a dehumidifier 24/7Did this help you?
- 4Destroying and replacing the affected drywallDid this help you?
- 5Adding ventilation or checking for hidden water leaksDid this help you?
- 6Using a pinpoint steam wandDid this help you?
- 7Scrubbing with an old toothbrushDid this help you?
- 8Making a paste out of dish soap, peroxide, baking soda, and water with a grout brushDid this help you?
- 9Using specialized commercial grout cleanersDid this help you?
- 10Using a dehumidifier to improve room humidity levelsDid this help you?
- 11Spraying moldicide products like ConcorbiumDid this help you?
- 12trying cleaning vinegar and baking sodaDid this help you?
- 13scraping the old caulk and re-caulkingDid this help you?
- 14Seal the meeting point of the tiles and bath with a silicone bead to prevent further damp issues.Did this help you?
- 15Remove the tiles and reapply them.Did this help you?
- 16Attempting to inspect and clean the area DIY-style with protective gearDid this help you?
- 17Checking if the issue is just dust and dirt buildupDid this help you?
- 18Replacing the fixture or hiring a professionalDid this help you?
- 19Using Laticrete Stonetech Tile and Grout CleanerDid this help you?
- 20Scrubbing with bleachDid this help you?
- 21Running the bathroom fan and wiping down wallsDid this help you?
- 22Using a bleach and water solution with a soaked towelDid this help you?
- 23Applying commercial products like Concrobium Mold Control SprayDid this help you?
- 24Using vinegar or boraxDid this help you?
- 25Contacting a landlord to address water infiltrationDid this help you?
- 26Using bleachDid this help you?
- 27Using ready-to-use mold and mildew removersDid this help you?
- 28Scrubbing and letting cleaners sit overnightDid this help you?
- 29Removing and redoing the groutDid this help you?
- 30Spraying with cleanersDid this help you?
- 31Scrubbing with a brushDid this help you?
- 32Pouring bleachDid this help you?
- 33Using baking sodaDid this help you?
- 34Using a bathroom fan after each showerDid this help you?
- 35Wiping down tiles with a rag after every useDid this help you?
- 36Scraping off old grout and caulk and recaulking with siliconeDid this help you?
- 37bleachingDid this help you?
- 38using a grout penDid this help you?
- 39removing and replacing old groutDid this help you?
- 40using Tilex instant Mold and Mildew removal spray and hot water rinseDid this help you?
- 41Replacing old caulk with high-quality anti-mold siliconeDid this help you?
- 42Ensuring the caulk is applied smoothly without water-trapping divotsDid this help you?
- 43Running the exhaust fan longer or adding a dehumidifierDid this help you?
- 44Wiping down the shower after every useDid this help you?
- 45Treating the spots with gel bleachDid 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.
“A couple of months after it was built, we got mold spots all over the caulking. The contractor came back and recaulked it. We’re now having the same issue.”source ↗
“I’ve done bleach and Dawn dish soap remedies (separately). It addresses about 80% of it, some of it doesn’t come off.”source ↗
“Recently, I discovered black mold growth on one of the bathroom floors. Could you please provide guidance on effective cleaning methods for this issue?”source ↗
“this black (mold??) is between the shower doors and between the tiles on the walls. Any advice on getting rid of this? I tried cleaning vinegar and baking soda but it won't come off 😭”source ↗
“I think there is mold growing underneath the bottom row of tiles. Any advice would be appreciated!!”source ↗
“pls reply with any materials i will need to look at this myself like do i need a mask and goggles to check ts out up close????”source ↗
“I’ve tried bleach and several ready-to-use mold/mildew removers (i tried scrubbing, letting it stay overnight and then scrub), but nothing seems to work.”source ↗
“How can I get rid of these stubborn mold stains on grout / hard water sediments on tile floor?”source ↗
“In some places, the grout turns yellow, how can I make it white ?”source ↗
“I'm moving out and trying to clean before inspection and I can't get this black stuff out.”source ↗
“So my shower is tiled, and the goute between is turning black. How can I clean this up? I've tried spraying it with cleaners, scrubbing at it, with a brush, and even pouring bleach on it.”source ↗
“Yikes, I really hope it doesn't come to breaking down the wall! 🙈 I'll definitely inspect everything I can first, thanks for the heads up!”source ↗
“Oh no, that sounds like a total nightmare 😭 I'm looking into getting a dehumidifier today to slow it down while I figure out what to replace. Thanks for the honest advice! 🙏”source ↗
“Everyone says peroxide, but I'm honestly at the point where I'm scraping up grout scrubbing so much. Hopefully you find a way. I fear I'll have to regrout which seems like a daunting, labor intensive task”source ↗
“When I read up on this in the past you'll need to scrape the old caulk and re caulk it. But I'm following for advise as well !”source ↗
“Water is getting under the tiles which means this wasnt sealed properly.”source ↗
“i just moved into an apartment with this issue and would love to know the answer. baking soda proved unsuccessful for me in addition to the things you tried.”source ↗
“Mold or mildew has been appearing the last couple years along the caulk at the bottom of the shower.”source ↗
“The mold on the bathroom grout is plenty and completely black.”source ↗
“I don’t think normal cleaning products will work but my landlord said that is what he purchased to fixed more than a week ago with no fix.”source ↗
“Should I try to regrout it? Is that a thing?”source ↗
“How can I make the grout look new again? Bleaching is not helping. Would a grout pen be enough or does the old grout need to be completly removed and replaced ?”source ↗
“We all of a sudden have been getting some black mold in various grout spots on the shower floor.”source ↗
“I cleaned it with Laticrete Stonetech Tile and Grout Cleaner which helped for a few weeks but now new areas are popping up.”source ↗
“We have a small bathroom with no window and poor ventilation, which has caused quite a lot of mold on the walls, ceiling, and grout.”source ↗
“Is this something we can DIY? What’s the correct order of steps, and what products would you recommend, especially ones available in Israel?”source ↗
“Also, should we clean the grout or replace it?”source ↗
“tried bleach but it came right back. the tile and grout cleaner worked but new places are popping up. I am afraid to reseal it even though I think its the issue becuase I dont want to trap mold under it.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 13How to clean mold on drywall or know when to cut it out
- 17How to fix white spots on a shower floor finish
- 14How to clean mold under water damaged flooring without DIY experience
- 4Dealing with severe mold in a rental when management won't act
- 2Water stains on marble floor spreading after leak
- 6Why does a white crust keep coming back on my bathroom sink?