Sugar Bend Farm

HELP!! Mold, Mildew and other mysteries

I have a problem!  Mold and Mildew!  Does anyone have a natural, less toxic way to rid tile showers of mold and mildew?  I currently use tilex, which is probably killing brain cells and causing cancer every time I use it.  So I try not to use it much.  Which means I have mold and mildew on my shower tiles.  Yeck!  We all know how gross that is. 

 Another problem:  The house we currently live is a 1960's ranch and the toilets are original to the house.  So as you can imagine, one is a nasty yellow/gold color and the other one is...Purple?  I will spare you the photo's!  Anyway, I have never experienced this problem before, but both toilets within a day or so of scrubbing, start growing...something in them.  It looks like it could be mildew or mold, I try not to get my face to close to really see WHAT it is.  But sometimes, and this is an embarrasing confession, sometimes I don't scrub my toilets EVERY week...sometimes I may go two weeks without scrubbing them... I know, I am a bad housekeeper!  But by that point the whole bowl is covered in this nasty gray-black substance.  Like I said, I have never seen this in toilets before, even the nastiest of toilets...So what does that say? 

 Does anyone know what this is and why it is happening?  What less toxic way I can rid myself of this plague?  I know, you say, just scrub your toilets more often...but can't there be another solution?  I have tried the "in the tank cleaning tablets" and they work for a week or so, but after that, it begins to grow again. 

Anyway, if someone has a solution to this rather gross problem, please let me know.  Because it is really embarrassing when my daughter unexpectantly brings company by and they need to go to the bathroom.  I am sure they have never seen such nastiness either and probably think I NEVER clean the toilets.  Which just isn't true.  I promise!

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11:35 AM, 2008-Mar-3 .. Posted by fultoncountymommie

My father went through the same thing. He had hard water and could not keep the toilet clean. He finally got to the point where he would put 1/2 cup of baking soda and a good "glug" of cheap white vinegar. He then let it sit all night. It worked like a charm.
As for the shower, I make a solution of 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup borax, and just enough dish soap to make a good paste. Then rub. Works pretty good for us. Hope this helps.

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1:41 PM, 2008-Mar-3 .. Posted by gabbie427

Wish I knew what to tell you for the solution!!!! (Still wonderfing what those people were thinking with a purple toliet! LOL) Hope you get it figured out soon!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

Here is what we use..

7:57 PM, 2008-Mar-3 .. Posted by glenda

Mildew and Mold Killer
1 cup peroxide
1 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp baking soda
Mix and store in a spray bottle. Now be careful when you are mixing this as it will bubble over.. Make sure you shake it up a little before you use it each time..

Also i use this recipe for daily use.

mildew and mold cleaner
2 tsp tea tree oil
2 cups water
put in a spray bottle and spray on area. again make sure that you shake up before you use. And do not rinse off. Just allow to sit after you shower.. Later come back and wipe down.

Hope that will help
glenda