# What's the best way to clean mildew out of a shower?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 13, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760 "2013-09-13T11:55:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/1 "2013-09-13T11:55:30Z")
Looking for suggestions on cleaners, methods, anything, thanks!
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/2 "2013-09-13T12:01:13Z")
I use some spray with bleach in it.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/3 "2013-09-13T13:01:57Z")
Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover. Spray it on and let it sit, then do it again. Don’t scrub it.
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### Author:  [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/4 "2013-09-13T13:11:41Z")
Um, the stuff you buy called “mildew remover” usually works just fine.
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### Author:  [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/5 "2013-09-13T15:28:35Z")
I have tried a lot of the mildew remover products, including ones recommended by the Home Depot salesperson, and about half seem to do nothing. I still get the best results with 50% bleach/water.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/6 "2013-09-13T15:34:50Z")
I have heard that baking soda mixed with warm water or vinegar does a good non-toxic job.
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### Author:  [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/7 "2013-09-13T15:45:57Z")
We always use “The Works” tub and tile cleaner. Nothing else works as well. It doesn’t specifically say mold/mildew, but it works like a champ.
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/8 "2013-09-13T20:51:12Z")
What kind of “mildew” is it? If it’s green or black, it’s probably a fungus. If it’s the pinkish-orange stuff, than it’s a [bacterium](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratia_marcescens). Make sure your cleaner is made for the right type/both.
Just don’t use bleach+ammonia! Spray it with something, you can use a soft old toothbrush if it needs scrubbing.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/9 "2013-09-13T22:09:01Z")
I use the aerosol can of [Scrubbing Bubbles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrubbing_Bubbles) cleaner. I spray enough that the foam covers the wall entirely and then just leave it there. As the stuff slides down, it leaves the wall really clean. In my case the concern was soap scum instead of mildew. It’s amazing how well the soap scum sticks to the surface. There’s a more expensive version of Scrubbing Bubbles that changes color when it’s time to wipe it off but I don’t bother with it. And I don’t really bother to scrub the cleaner off but just let it slide off on its own and then rinse off the shower.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/10 "2013-09-13T22:17:29Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover. Spray it on and let it sit, then do it again. Don’t scrub it.
Clorox makes a similar product as well. If you can’t find it at the supermarket or Target you can find it at a hardware store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. It works very very well.
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### Author:  [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/11 "2013-09-13T22:33:47Z")
> [@control-z](#):
>
> I have heard that baking soda mixed with [. . .] vinegar does a good non-toxic job.
This is called saltwater. I doubt it does anything useful.
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### Author:  [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-mildew-out-of-a-shower/668760/12 "2013-09-13T22:38:46Z")
My old wife told me that a solution of one part bleach, one part water and one part aren’t-I-a-grown-up patronising crap solves your problem.