The winner worked in 30 minutes and left my grout looking like new
If you’ve spotted mould creeping into your grout lines, you’re not alone. Grout is naturally porous, and when moisture lingers and ventilation is poor, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for mould to flourish.
Recently, I’ve noticed some mould appearing on my tile grout. While it’s not extensive, the dark marks are an eyesore and leave my entire bathroom looking grimy, even after a proper deep clean.
Getting rid of mould from tile grout is no easy feat. I’ve experimented with natural solutions such as white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, but found them largely ineffective.
I had a handful of mould-removal products lurking at the back of my cleaning cupboard and decided to test them out to discover which one performs best at tackling mould on tile grout. Having recently been won over by Astonish Limescale Blaster for banishing limescale from my shower head, I opted to try Astonish Mould Blast Stain Remover, setting it against HG Mould Remover and Mould Magic.
For removing mould from my shower sealant, I absolutely swear by Mould Magic. The mould-removal gel, available from Must Have Ideas, is currently priced at £12.99 for two tubes and claims to “eliminate 100% of the mould” with just one application.
Astonish Mould Remover can be picked up for £2 from Sainsbury’s and The Range or £2.99 from Lakeland, while HG Mould Remover is available for £4.29 from Savers or £6.50 from B&Q.
My tile grout mould ranged from black and brown in some areas to yellow in others, with the most stubborn stains concentrated near the shower. I chose to test all three products on separate areas of the grout to make sure the solutions didn’t interfere with one another.
Before applying each one, I put on gloves and made sure the surface was completely dry so the solutions wouldn’t be watered down.
I started by applying the Mould Magic gel to some of the mould spots in the corners. The gel has a thick consistency and glides effortlessly onto the surface, staying put rather than running down the tiles.
It also has a surprisingly mild scent compared to similar products on the market.
However, unlike the HG and Astonish sprays, Mould Magic requires patience, as it needs to be left on for two to three hours at a time. This wasn’t a problem for me personally, as I had other tasks to get on with, but it could be a drawback for anyone looking for a speedy fix.
Next up was the HG Mould Spray. The formula is particularly foamy, which helped it cling to the grout with ease, though it did start to trickle down the tiles after a few seconds.
That said, plenty of the bubbles remained on the grout, which gave me confidence it would do the job.
The HG Mould Spray takes 30 minutes to take effect, so I set a timer and left it to work. The one notable downside was the smell — it was by far the most overpowering of the three, with a strong bleach-like odour.
However, keeping your bathroom door and windows open should help to combat this. Next up was the Astonish mould spray.
This was the most watery of the three products, with a noticeably runny consistency. The instructions suggest leaving it on for a few minutes, or up to 10 minutes for particularly stubborn stains.
I opted for the full 10 minutes, watching as the formula trickled down the tiles after just a couple of sprays.
I wasn’t particularly confident it would deliver results, given that the thin formula didn’t appear to cling to the grout, but I gave it the full 10 minutes to do its thing. The Astonish spray didn’t carry as powerful a smell as the HG version, though it still produced a fairly strong scent that could prove overwhelming for those with a sensitive nose.
The results
The first product I wiped away was the Astonish spray. Given that it was the most affordable and least viscous formula, my expectations were low — but I was swiftly proved wrong.
Once I wiped away the solution with a damp cloth, the mould disappeared in a single swipe, leaving the grout looking clean and spotless. The grout could perhaps have been a fraction whiter, but that isn’t really what the product promises.
It was genuinely impressive just how quickly and effortlessly it performed, especially having only been left on for 10 minutes.
Next, I tackled the HG Mould Spray. This was equally straightforward to remove, though I gave the area a brief rinse with the showerhead to ensure all the residue was thoroughly washed away.
Even before wiping it off, it was plain to see the mould had already begun to dissolve. The brown stains appeared to have loosened, and with a single wipe of the cloth, they vanished completely.
I was equally impressed by how brilliantly white my grout looked afterwards, which was a welcome bonus.
Mould Magic was the final formula I tackled. Using a damp cloth, I carefully wiped it away, making sure to remove it thoroughly.
While I think this product is fantastic, it isn’t the easiest to clean off, as it can occasionally leave a gel-like residue on the tiles that can’t simply be rinsed away with the showerhead.
On the whole, Mould Magic delivered on its promises, shifting all the mould with ease and leaving no overpowering smell behind.
The verdict
All three products proved highly effective at eliminating mould from tile grout; however, my top pick is the HG Mould Spray.
It only required a 30-minute wait to get to work, and left my grout looking as good as new with a crisp white finish, which was a brilliant added bonus. It isn’t the most affordable of the three, but it’s far easier to get your hands on than Mould Magic, which can only be purchased directly from the retailer.
Astonish is a great shout if you’re after a quick mould fix, though I felt it didn’t penetrate as deeply as the HG Mould Spray, leaving the grout looking slightly discoloured. That said, at just £2 it’s outstanding value and will certainly get the job done.
Mould Magic remains a firm favourite of mine, and I’ll keep using it on sealant, as I’ve yet to come across another product that can effectively tackle mould within silicone sealant. However, it’s tricky to remove once applied, takes considerably longer to work, and isn’t quite as convenient to buy.
Prices are accurate at the time of publication.
