Mumsnet Talk

Is it mould? Mildew?
My cleaner wants to use bleach but I don't know if a) that would work and b) that would damage the tiles or shower tray.
The bathroom is only 6 months old, it's depressing how quickly it has started to look manky despite regular cleaning and good ventilation.
Thanks in advance for any tips.

It's pink mould, of course. Vim ( I think that's "Cif" in the UK?)

It is soap scum. If I don't wash the shower tray out after a few uses I get a pinkish film. If it is on grout I would just scrub at it with an old toothbrush and it will come away. If it doesn't then buy some Dettox antinacterial mould and mildew remover and follow the instructions. The stuff really does work and it won't damage the tiles or grout.

I think it might be limescale. It seems to come off with limescale remover and scrubbing with an old toothbrush.

Soap scum. Possibly some limescale involved too. Or in my case red hair dye. Disappears a treat with bleach, just spray on, no need to scrub.

I'd say mildew and yes to bleach or bleach-containing cleaner. You shouldn't use bleach on a plastic shower tray but on grout and tile it's fine.

It is pre-mould caused by soap/shampoo mixed with skin and hair particles splattering on the tiles (sorry ) but it is easily removed with normal bathroom cleaner and a green scrubby sponge, no need to risk bleach on it. Bleach is so foul and toxic and poisonous! I hate that people splash it around everywhere without a thought for the environment, and indeed the fumes inside the house. When I took on my cleaner I made it clear in the interview that I didn't allow bleach in the home, just so she knew where we stood.

I agree to a certain extent about bleach. However, it does kill mould, and since mould sets of DD's asthma, I do use it where necessary - for example in the shower. What I usually do is scrub at the grouting with an old toothbrush and wash it off with water before it actually gets to the mould stage.

Lakeland have a grout scrubbing brush. Its like a big toothbrush with very stiff bristles and gets the job done much quicker - gwan, treat yourself.

Afraid to say we have this and it's not actually soap scum or mildew, it's a bacteria. When the house was being constructed it threw up 'Serratia marcescens', from the ground, which, once airborne, seeks moist environments to proliferate.

Afraid you can never entirely get rid of it, just have a cycle of cleaning/scrubbing to keep it under control. If you google 'pink film bathroom' or 'pink mould bathroom' etc there are tons of websites and info about it.