Dark stains on silicone sealants are most likely mould and can be caused by high moisture levels, poor ventilation, organic matter on the sealant surface (including soap, shower gel and shampoo), and high temperatures in bathrooms and kitchens. It can create nasty smells, damage fittings, and potentially spread across walls, ceilings, and floors.
Families are likely to spot mould appearing as dark marks on sealants around windows, sinks, baths and showers. It can be tricky to remove black mould from silicone sealants, given how persistent the growth is. However, one cleaning fan has shared on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page how they managed to tackle the issue with "no scrubbing and no cleaning", just white vinegar.
Sandra Gibson wrote: "I am by no means Mrs Hinch, but I do like a nice clean bathroom and have struggled with black spot marks on my sealant.
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"We saw a post where you place some vinegar on the affected area and place a cotton pad (can use kitchen roll too) over the top and leave. After forever trying different cleaning chemicals, I didn't have a great deal of hope, but I thought it was worth a try.
"Omg, thank you to the person who posted this hack! No scrubbing and no cleaning, just pick up the cotton pads the next morning and wipe them down. I'm in cleaning heaven. I hope this helps someone else."
Sandra posted pictures of three areas of black mould on the silicone sealant around her bath and shower, along with another three snaps showing the same spots during and after the cleaning process, reports the Express.

In the photos showcasing her results, there were no signs of mould left on the sealant. The cleaning post gathered more than 300 comments from fellow group members sharing their thoughts on this tip.
Claire Lucas commented, "I did the exact same, and wow, it really does work. No more black spots."
Brown Lottie penned: "Yeah, this works well. I use a kitchen roll as it covers a bigger area. Another good one is to use the Astonish Mould and Mildew spray. You spray and leave, it does the same, and the mould is also all gone overnight."
Francis Oliver suggested: "Just spray the area with vinegar once a week. It works fast and will keep mould away."
Many households might already have a bottle of vinegar stashed in their kitchen cupboards, but for those who don't, it's cheap to buy at supermarkets.
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