Black mould in the silicone around your bath or shower in Hornchurch? Why cleaning rarely works for long, and how it is replaced properly so it stays white.
Mould grows into the silicone, so surface cleaning only lightens it.
Old silicone is removed completely, not sealed over.
The joint is cleaned of mould and left fully dry before resealing.
A bathroom-grade silicone with a mould inhibitor lasts much longer.
An extractor fan and wiping the joint dry help keep it white.
Black spots in the silicone sealant around a bath, shower tray or sink are mould that has grown into the sealant itself. Because it grows inside the silicone rather than just on top, cleaning often lightens it for a while but rarely gets rid of it, and it comes back.
The lasting fix is to cut out the old silicone completely, clean and kill any mould underneath, let the joint dry fully, and reseal with a sanitary-grade silicone that contains a mould inhibitor. The joint also needs to be the right width and properly bonded at both edges, otherwise water gets behind it and the cycle starts again.
In the 1930s semis around Emerson Park, Ardleigh Green and Upminster, small bathrooms with limited ventilation are where we see it most. Good ventilation after showers and wiping the joint dry make a real difference to how long new silicone stays clean.
New silicone also needs time to cure before it gets wet, usually around 24 hours, so it is worth planning the job for a day you can manage without the shower. Choosing white or clear to match your grout keeps the finish neat, and a well-shaped bead is easier to keep clean than a wide, smeared one.
Send a photo or a quick video of the room on WhatsApp. Or ask for a free fixed quote with no obligation. We will tell you straight what it needs.
It can be lightened, but mould grows into it, so it usually returns. Replacing it is the lasting fix.
No. New silicone will not bond properly over old, and the mould stays underneath.
Years, if it is applied properly and the room is well ventilated.
It can be. If the seal has lifted, water may be getting behind it.