Black mould on silicone sealants can be banished overnight by covering the affected area with white vinegar, according to a cleaning fan. The simple method requires no scrubbing and no cleaning products, just a cotton pad or kitchen roll soaked in vinegar, left in place until the next morning.
What causes black mould on sealants
Black marks on silicone sealants are typically mould caused by increased moisture levels, poor air circulation, debris such as soap, shower gel and shampoo, and high temperatures in bathrooms and kitchens. It can create unpleasant smells, damage fixtures, and may spread to walls, ceilings, and floors. Homes are likely to spot mould developing as black patches on sealants around windows, sinks, baths and showers.
It can prove difficult to remove black mould from silicone sealants, considering how persistent the growth can be. However, one cleaning fan has shared on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page how they successfully tackled the issue with "no scrubbing and no cleaning", just white vinegar.
The vinegar method that worked
Sandra Gibson posted: "I am by no means Mrs Hinch, but I do like a nice clean bathroom and have struggled with black spot marks on my sealant."
She added: "We saw a post where you place some vinegar on the affected area and place a cotton pad (can use kitchen roll too) over the top and leave. After forever trying different cleaning chemicals, I didn't have a great deal of hope, but I thought it was worth a try."
"Omg, thank you to the person who posted this hack! No scrubbing and no cleaning, just pick up the cotton pads the next morning and wipe them down. I'm in cleaning heaven. I hope this helps someone else."
Sandra posted photographs of three patches of black mould on the silicone sealant around her bath and shower, alongside a further three images of the same areas during and after the cleaning process. In the pictures displaying her results, not a single trace of mould remained on the sealant.
Other readers share their results
The cleaning post garnered more than 300 comments from fellow group members sharing their thoughts on the technique. Claire Lucas said: "I did the exact same, and wow, it really does work. No more black spots."
Brown Lottie wrote: "Yeah, this works well. I use a kitchen roll as it covers a bigger area. Another good one is to use the Astonish Mould and Mildew spray. You spray and leave, it does the same, and the mould is also all gone overnight."
Francis Oliver advised: "Just spray the area with vinegar once a week. It works fast and will keep mould away." Many households may already have a bottle of vinegar sitting in their kitchen cupboards, but for those without any to hand, it is readily available at supermarkets at a very modest cost. Sainsbury's sells a bottle for 45p.
