A £1 bathroom fix could stop stubborn mould in its tracks for good.
As temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors, experts say a common household complaint—black mould around bath sealant—could become more prevalent.
The issue worsens during colder months, with many homeowners relying on bleach and surface cleaning to tackle the problem, only to see it return.
Guy Chapman, a silicone manufacturing expert at United Silicones, said: "Standard bathroom sealant looks solid, but over time it shrinks, stiffens, and pulls away from the bath edge by fractions of a millimetre.
"Moisture gets trapped behind it, creating the perfect dark, damp environment for mould spores to grow.
"Once that happens, surface cleaning is pointless; the mould just keeps coming back."
The problem usually appears 6 to 12 months after installation. As bathrooms cool faster than other rooms, condensation builds up and speeds up the process.
Mr Chapman said: "This works because it doesn’t rely on chemical resistance.
"It physically seals over the vulnerable joint, preventing water from ever reaching the failing sealant underneath."
He recommends a self-adhesive silicone bath strip, which can cost as little as £1, as a long-term solution.
To apply the strip correctly, the bath edge must be left to dry for at least 12 hours after cleaning.
This ensures proper adhesion and prevents moisture from getting trapped underneath.
The strip should be applied directly over the existing sealant, forming a continuous waterproof cap.
Mr Chapman explained that silicone strips outperform sealant in durability and effectiveness.
He said: "Silicone sheet material behaves very differently from sealant compounds.
"It doesn’t shrink, crack, or become porous over time.
"Once applied, it creates a stable moisture barrier that mould simply can’t penetrate."
Read More
- Stephen Fry ‘not looking where he was going’ before horror stage fall, companies say
- James Buckley admits he dislikes spotlight while filming new Inbetweeners film
- I tried baking viral dot cakes and they came out better than a store-bought one
Unlike traditional sealant, which can degrade and lose effectiveness, silicone strips stay flexible and intact even with repeated exposure to hot water.
Mr Chapman said: "For less than the cost of a coffee, you’re stopping mould at the structural level.
"It’s one of the simplest preventative fixes in the home, and one of the most effective."
This simple, low-cost solution offers a permanent fix to a common winter problem, saving time, effort, and frustration for homeowners.
Share