It can be a major worry seeing black mould growing in your bathroom, and one of the trickiest places to clean away spores is on the silicone sealant around baths or showers. 

Silicone sealant tends to attract mould as while this sealing is completely waterproof its surface is constantly exposed to moisture and if not cleaned it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. 

It is often difficult to remove mould from silicone as it is highly water resistant which means most cleaning products will not be able to break down the spores easily. 

However, Georgia Nunn, an expert from Silicone Direct has shared there is a “natural remedy” to effectively get rid of mould and stop it from growing back. 

She said: “Vinegar is a natural mould killer that unlike other substances does not contain any harmful chemicals.”

It may seem odd but white vinegar you often put on chips can kill mould as it contains acetic acid which can deeply penetrate mould spores and break them down. 

Mould can only grow in a damp environment, but the acidity will alter the pH level of the silicone sealant surface and make it less likely that the mould spores will grow back. 

Vinegar also has antifungal properties which means it can kill mould at its source quickly so you do not have to keep scrubbing away at it. 

How to get rid of mould and stop it growing back using vinegar

All you need to do is mix two parts of vinegar with one part of water into an empty spray bottle, then put on a mask, gloves and goggles to protect yourself when cleaning mould. 

Apply a generous amount of the vinegar solution to the sealant mould, then leave it alone as it will need time to break down the spores. 

You should leave the vinegar solution to sit for at least 30 minutes but if it is a big area or particularly stubborn then leave it overnight. 

Once you are ready to clean, use a cloth or old toothbrush to gently scrub the sealant in a circular motion.

The mould should instantly come away from the sealant, then all you need to do is rinse it with water and then pay it dry with a clean cloth. 

However, if the mould is stubborn and still there then try mixing vinegar with baking soda as it is alkaline and will naturally dehydrate the spores to kill them. 

Mix water, vinegar and baking soda together into a paste and apply it to the silicone sealant mould, then leave the solution for at least an hour but preferably overnight. 

Your bathroom should now be sparkling clean without any unsightly mould stains around your bath, shower or sink. 

In the future, the best way to prevent mould from growing back is to keep the bathroom well ventilated and open a window after showing to prevent steam from building up in the room. 

Georgia said: “By opening a window straight after a bath or shower, you can quickly and effectively remove steam and humidity from your bathroom.”