Mildew keeps showing up wherever I replaced the caulking in the shower. The original caulking is translucent and stretchy, so I figured it was silicone and that’s what I bought. Removed the mildew with a strong bleach solution before proceeding, but in a matter of weeks, the new caulking got mildew underneath and discolored all the way through. In comparison, the original caulking is still clean (except for a few spots where the grout eroded and let the mildew in under the edge of the seal). It is between six and seventeen years old still performing like a champ: Adhering perfectly and looks new. Am I using the wrong kind/brand of caulking, or did I apply it incorrectly? One DIY book said that silicone caulking dries in an hour but takes a month to cure. Maybe we need to wait a month before using the shower? Janet
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I don't have a good answer for you--I have had similar problems with caulk and mildew. Try posting your question at Breaktime (in the green box at the top of this page, click on "Breaktime" right after "Other Taunton Sites:" and that'll get you there. Seems like if we can put a man on the moon we could develop caulking that won't mildew! ;-)
I found an article, "Maintaining Ceramic Tile," at the This Old House website:http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/repair/article/0,16417,217076-1,00.htmlJanet