Cleaning joints and sealant edges: away with mold and dirt!

You step into the bathroom in the morning, and the first thing you see are black dots in the grout and a yellowed sealant edge along the bath. *Sigh.* My daughter recently asked if the black spots on mom's shower wall were 'new little animals' – oops! In a family with growing children and a husband who loves long, steamy showers, it is inevitable that mold and dirt appear here and there. But no panic, every mother can handle it! In this lighthearted blog, I share – as an experienced expert (read: mother of three with a constantly occupied bathroom) – how you can get grout and sealant edges in the kitchen and bathroom sparkling clean again, without aggressive bleach fumes.

Why do grout and sealant edges get dirty?

Before we put on the cleaning gloves, a quick note: why do those snow-white grout and sealant edges get dirty so quickly? Simple: moisture and soap. In the bathroom, after every shower, water droplets and soap residues remain, which together throw a party in your grout. Yellow or gray deposits and even black mold spots are unfortunately the result. In the kitchen, grout also suffers heavily from flying grease splatters and food residues (thank you, pasta bolognese!). And the sealant edges? They must constantly repel mold and moisture, but with constant steam and water, they too can show dark spots over time.

Good news: with the right approach, you don't have to scrub for hours or pinch your nose because of chlorine smell. We will clean grout without bleach, using smart tricks and a few powerful (but safe) cleaning aids.

Cleaning grout without bleach: how to do it

Bleach *can* kill mold, but let's be honest: it stinks, is bad for the environment, and can make your grout porous over time. Fortunately, there are mild, effective ways to get sparkling clean grout again. My favorite is an old-fashioned home remedy and a new miracle product from the cleaning cupboard:

• Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda): This kitchen ingredient is a true miracle for dirty grout. Make a paste of baking soda with a little water. Spread that paste on the dirty grout – I do it with an old toothbrush, so you get nicely into the corners. Let it sit for 15 minutes (time for a cup of coffee?) and then scrub away. You will see: the soda does the hard work for you and you scrub the dirt away without getting out of breath.
• The Pink Stuff cleaning paste: Don't feel like mixing yourself? This pink miracle paste is my secret weapon. It is a ready-made natural abrasive paste that effortlessly removes stains and deposits without harsh chemicals. I apply a little Pink Stuff on the tile grout with a damp sponge (my favorite is the Scrub Daddy sponge – that cheerful yellow smiley sponge from the videos). Rub it in a bit, let it sit, and then scrub with the same sponge or a brush. The combination of the paste and the Scrub Daddy (which becomes nice and soft in warm water and does not scratch) makes even years-old soap residues disappear like snow in the sun. Bonus: my children like that smiling sponge so much that they spontaneously want to help clean – every little bit helps!
• Vinegar spray: Cleaning vinegar is also a hero in grout land. Pour equal parts warm water and cleaning vinegar into a spray bottle, spray the grout, and let it soak for an hour. The vinegar bites into lime and mold. Then you can scrub away the loosened deposits with a brush. Don't forget to rinse well with clean water afterward, because vinegar smell in the bathroom is not so pleasant either. (Tip: light a scented candle or a nicely scented all-purpose cleaner afterward to dispel the vinegar smell.)

If you are dealing with extremely stubborn, black mold that remains despite all scrubbing, you can consider a little bleach as a last resort. Do this carefully: wear gloves and use, for example, a cotton swab to dab a very small amount of chlorine on the mold spots. Do not leave it on too long and rinse thoroughly. Bleach is never my first choice – I prefer to use environmentally friendly options or a powerhouse like The Pink Stuff that does the same without chlorine. Did you know that The Pink Stuff is made from natural ingredients and is biodegradable? So I clean with peace of mind, even with the children nearby.

Cleaning sealant edges without scraping

That elastic edge of sealant in the shower or countertop is indispensable to keep water out, but woe if mold gets in. A black sealant edge along the bath is a nightmare image for many people (it gives me the creeps myself). How can you clean such a sealant edge without having to cut it out immediately?

To be honest: prevention is better than cure. Motherly tip: after showering, pull a squeegee or dry cloth along the tiles and especially over the sealant edge, so most of the water is removed. This prevents a lot of mold formation. And ensure ventilation (open a window or turn on the extractor fan, even if only for fifteen minutes).

But well, if you are reading this, the calf is probably already drowned and you are stuck with those unwanted black spots. My approach to cleaning sealant edges:

1. Apply soda or Pink Stuff paste: Just like with grout, baking soda works wonderfully on sealant edges. Spread the soda-water paste on the sealant joint or use that The Pink Stuff paste again. Especially smear well in the corners and edges, where most dirt accumulates.
2. Let it work and wait: Patience is a virtue (ha!). Let the soda or Pink Stuff sit for at least half an hour. Meanwhile, you can clean something else in the kitchen or take a well-deserved coffee break.
3. Scrub carefully: Use an old toothbrush for the sealant edge. Work carefully; you don't want to damage the sealant itself. With light pressure and small movements, scrub the encrusted soap residues and mold loose from the sealant surface.
4. Rinse and dry: Take a spray bottle with clean water or a damp microfiber cloth and rinse the sealant edge thoroughly. All residues of soda or paste must be gone, otherwise they remain as new deposits. Then dry well with a cloth. Dry sealant edges = less new mold, remember that!
5. Disinfect and freshen up: As an extra step, I spray the sealant edge afterward with a little diluted Fabulosa disinfectant (a concentrated antibacterial spray with a lovely scent) to kill any remaining mold spores and make the bathroom smell nice. This is optional, but I find it a nice finishing touch. The “Winter Angel” scent from Fabulosa is a favorite here; then my bathroom smells as if an angel has cleaned!

If all goes well, your sealant edge now looks much better. Is it still dirty or do you see silicone sealant that just can't be made white anymore? Then it may be that the mold has crept into the sealant. In that case, there is no other option than to cut out the old sealant and apply a new sealant edge. (Don't worry, that's a topic for another blog!) But hopefully, after your thorough cleaning, you won't have to do that for a while.

Reference: how to keep everything cleaner longer

Now that your grout and sealant edges shine again, you naturally want to keep it that way. At home, I try to instill a few habits (with varying success, admittedly):

• Dry every day: After every shower, dry the walls and floor or wipe with a dry cloth – it takes a minute but greatly reduces soap residues and mold formation.
• Weekly mini-clean: Once a week a quick cleaning session. I spray the tiles and grout with a mild cleaner (for example, an all-purpose cleaner from Fabulosa or just soapy water with a splash of cleaning vinegar) and wipe everything with a sponge or cloth. This prevents dirt from accumulating.
• Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate: I always open a window or turn on the mechanical ventilation on high for 10 minutes after showering. Fresh air helps dry things faster and mold spores prefer to disappear outside rather than settle inside.
• Use the right tools: A good anti-scratch sponge like the Scrub Daddy or a soft brush prevents damage to the grout during cleaning. And with quality cleaning products (hello The Pink Stuff!) you need to scrub less hard for a great effect.

So, now my bathroom and kitchen shine again as if a professional cleaning team has been here – but secretly it was just me, armed with my pink sponge and a jar of cleaning paste. And the best part? I didn't have to use a drop of chlorine and my family can shower again without spotting creeps in the corners!

Cleaning dirty grout and moldy sealant edges is quite doable with some patience, a few household remedies, and the right helpers. Your bathroom and kitchen will improve enormously. So put on those cleaning gloves, play your favorite music, and before you know it, those annoying stains will be a thing of the past. Good luck!