That black, deep digging, fungus that gets into silicone caulk in showers–anyone know a long term solution?
We have just been ask to deal with a shower that has silicone instead of grout — a system used in the 70’s I think. The 4×4 tile came in sheets of 12 (siliconed) and the remaining joints were filled in with silicone. It’s a mess.
With the right approach, you can restore old hardware—whether through soaking, scrubbing, or polishing—giving it a fresh look while preserving its original charm.
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Replies
Digging out and replacing the caulk is the longest-term solution. The better quality bathtub caulks contain more mildewcides and will resist the fungus longer, though they all suffer the problem eventually.
Keeping the caulk clean to keep off mildew-promoting soap scum will help. Treating with bleach will eliminate existing mildew temporarily, but it generally leaves the surface softer and more prone to "re-infection".
Thanks. That is the only solution we have come up with so far.
Sorry about the double post--it's a long 'prospero story'