How to get rid of mold around shower pipes permanently
Surface cleaning often fails to fix mold around pipes because trapped moisture and poor fixture designs continue to fuel new growth. Without addressing the underlying dampness, scrubbing only removes the visible buildup temporarily while the mold keeps returning.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
- This comes up 14.7× 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.
- 1Spraying cleaner and scrubbing the surfaceDid this help you?
- 2Checking for moisture and leaks before cleaningDid this help you?
- 3Using bleach, toothpaste iodine, silicone nitrate, and a scrubberDid this help you?
- 4Using scrubbing bubbles and scrubbing like crazyDid this help you?
- 5Rinsing with hot waterDid this help you?
- 6Using liquid Lysol toilet bowl cleanerDid this help you?
- 7Replacing the caulkingDid this help you?
- 8Drilling holes into the concrete plug using a masonry bit slightly smaller than the pipe's inner diameter, then working it out in chunks with a small chisel and needlenose pliers.Did this help you?
- 9Getting quotes from professional remediation companiesDid this help you?
- 10Using household solutions like vinegar and bleachDid this help you?
- 11Applying specialized products like Concrobium, RMR-36, or Zinsser B-I-N primerDid this help you?
- 12Scrubbing the mold with 2 cups of vinegarDid this help you?
- 13Replacing the stained caulking completelyDid this help you?
- 14Coating the mold in body wash, covering it with Saran wrap for a day, and then scrubbing it offDid this help you?
- 15Using vinegar and an old toothbrushDid this help you?
- 16Leaving the door open after loads so it dries outDid this help you?
- 17Throwing away porous items like books and fabrics that cannot be safely cleanedDid this help you?
- 18Renting and running an ozone generator inside the cabin to exterminate spores and odorsDid this help you?
- 19Using specialized mold sprays like Concrobium or vinegar alongside a wet-vac extractorDid 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.
“Left this car sitting for a couple of months and came back to this in the trunk, not sure how bad this is or the right way to clean it.”source ↗
“Just noticed how bad this area has gotten and I’m not really sure what I’m looking at anymore.”source ↗
“I was going to just spray cleaner on everything and scrub it, but now I’m wondering if this is one of those things where cleaning the surface won’t really fix it.”source ↗
“This shower design in my apartment has a weird lip and it is a breeding ground for mold. I’m having a hard time getting it off.”source ↗
“I have a horrible stand up shower with similar spots.”source ↗
“Someone please let me know when they answer this 🙏”source ↗
“Just had the same thing. First thing is dry everything out, lift up the floor and expose the spare tire to see if there is water there.”source ↗
“I recently had a bad mold outbreak in my car and I threw away basically everything inside, sprayed the upholstery/interior with vinegar, then used a little green machine (water extractor) with detergent and spent HOURS doing that.”source ↗
“I freaked out thinking my car was permanently ruined since it was all over the upholstery but it actually freaking worked.”source ↗
“Best way to clean mold and mildew on washer gaskets inner seal?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 5How to clean mold off a bamboo drying rack
- 5How to get dried paint off plastic pipes
- 2How to remove stuck threaded pipes from an old boiler without breaking it
- 17How to get dark buildup off bathtub caulk
- 2How to clean mold off fiber cement siding without ruining it
- 12How to get rusted or tight exterior nails out when hammers don't fit