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How to clean the seams between tiles from dirt and mold with a paraffin candle

I recently updated the bath without spending a dime. Used an ordinary candle that survived when moving. Who would know that the seams between the tiles are so easy to clean with an ordinary paraffin candle! This method was suggested to me by a friend. I got rid of dirt, mold, and other nasty things that grow in the bathroom at once. And while everything is clean - so I can safely recommend the method with a candle.

Paraffin Properties

Conventional household candles are made from paraffin. It is a hydrocarbon, and it is obtained from petroleum products. Highly refined paraffin is white or translucent. This substance is used not only for candles. For example, in cosmetology, it also goes, in medicine - for hot wrapping (for example, the legs are straightened so for children).

Conventional household candles

Why is paraffin so good? I think the key properties are as follows:

  • solid but easy to melt;
  • keeps heat for a long time (which is used in hot wraps and applications);
  • flavourless, and easily accepts various fragrances (which is valuable in cosmetology);
  • insoluble neither in water, nor in alcohol, nor in alkali - it’s directly indestructible;
  • it is quite easy (if the layer is not too thick) to be erased mechanically - so there are no problems to remove it, it does not adhere tightly to any surfaces;
  • fatty oils in the composition do not dry the skin (but for the seams in the bathroom it does not matter).

So paraffin is a very valuable material, and candles are good not only for lighting (for romance or when the lights were cut down). How else are paraffin candles used in everyday life:

  • to protect shoes from getting wet (after all, paraffin repels water);
  • impregnation of packaging paper (although this method is already very ancient - it is easier to buy vacuum bags);
  • lubrication of hinges, hinges and other moving parts and mechanisms, as well as “lightning” locks, etc. (since it glides well).

paraffin candles

Important
Here we are talking about paraffin candles. As it turned out, modern ones are mostly made of stearin. It is much less effective, although it also works: increases glide, repels water, etc.

The nature of mold and the benefits of paraffin

Tile is the best material for the walls in the bathroom, no one will argue here. It is easy to clean, not afraid of damp and durable. The only weak point is the seams. Now they are closed with silicone, less often with epoxy putty.

For information
Masters insist that only an epoxy putty is suitable for the bathroom. But in operation, I personally like silicone more. It is elastic and is not afraid that the walls are a little "walk".

But both silicone and old cement seams collect dirt and mold the same way: even with putty, the level of the seam is slightly lower, a gap is obtained, dirt particles get stuck and accumulate there, etc. Over time, joints made of white or gray become black - this is very bad.

Of course, you can’t start it and you need to adjust the hood so that the damp does not stagnate, but over time, even in an ideal bath, a coating appears. It is well removed by fungicides - but it is a terrible stench. The available acids do well: citric or acetic. “Chlorhexidine” is not bad.

Chlorhexidine

Why a candle is the best way:

  1. Removes all dirt.
  2. Safe for putty, and for tiles, and for hands. This is not a caustic alkali or powder that destroys the glazing on the tile.
  3. Odorless - no threat to children or adults lungs.
  4. Seals micropores of cement putty and does not allow the fungus to creep inside.
  5. Covers seams with a water-repellent film that is environmentally friendly, safe and effective. Paraffin melts at temperatures above 50 ° C, so that spray from the shower is not a problem for him, you can safely take a shower.

How to clean the seams with a candle

Cleaning the joints between the tiles with a paraffin candle turned out to be a fairly simple matter. Of course, ideally, you first need to sprinkle the seams with a solution of citric acid, then clean with a sponge or soft brush - but this is not necessary. A candle will remove dirt like Velcro, and invisible mold residues will suffocate and die under a paraffin shell.

Mold in the bathroom between the seams

What do we have to do:

  1. Take a candle, preferably paraffin white, not stearic.
  2. Flip closed end up.
  3. Wipe all the seams. The more carefully the joints are rubbed with a candle, the more paraffin will get there and the more reliable the protection will be, and the color will be whiter.

If you do not skip a bit and walk along all the seams, moisture will no longer penetrate there, and mold will not form.

How to clean the seams between tiles from dirt and mold with a paraffin candle

The main condition for long cleanliness is to dry the seams before filling with paraffin. Otherwise, the mold under the paraffin will be in a closed airless bag and will gladly go deeper. It quickly dries the porous structure of a household or building hair dryer. Silicone can also be dried with a hairdryer, it is advisable to choose the minimum for heating.

A very good solution is to heat the seams with air and apply paraffin to the hot joints. It will melt a little and better fill the pores that are not always visible with the eyes.

I easily cleaned the seams between the tiles from dirt and mold with an ordinary paraffin candle. Try it, and your bathroom will sparkle with cleanliness, and even be safer.

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  1. Bonya
    09/20/2019 at 10:05 Reply

    And I periodically lubricate the dried seams with a remedy for nail fungus.

  2. Boris
    09/20/2019 at 10:03 Reply

    Firstly, how is it possible to wipe the tile joints with silicone?
    Secondly, silicone is not afraid of heating almost at all, a building hair dryer will not harm it.
    Thirdly, this method is suitable for white grout, but it changes the tone of colored grouts, which is not always suitable. And it was necessary to write about this.

    • housewife
      09/22/2019 at 17:22

      First of all, I thought about the color grout. How to deal with color?

    • Sergey
      10/01/2019 at 11:30

      With a hair dryer, you can easily burn silicone.

  3. Victoria
    09/20/2019 at 14:47 Reply

    And I liked the idea. Thanks, I will try)

  4. Sergey
    09/20/2019 at 17:36 Reply

    If you initially lubricate still “healthy” joints without mold, then maybe this will protect you .. But to clean the already appeared fungus and mold will not work.

    • Anise
      10/14/2019 at 20:00

      I use an old toothbrush to brush the seams in the bathroom, soak the brush in white. perfectly cleans. No mold and mildew. I do this cleaning once or twice a year.

  5. Lyudmila
    09/21/2019 at 14:28 Reply

    Whiteness is a remedy that kills all fungi and mold on the spot. It must be applied to the damaged surface and wait 20 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water.

    • Nr
      09/23/2019 at 16:15

      I confirm. I also use White.

    • Yuri
      10/03/2019 at 11:27

      Acids and alkalis are enemies of mold and fungi, give a lasting effect on their destruction. The thing is that you cannot constantly use these pH-contrast substances because of the danger of their harmful effects on contacting objects. But a solution of chlorhexidine bigluconate can be used regularly and do not rinse. The period of its fungicidal action is short, but if the intervals of use are correctly selected, then it is quite appropriate and safe.

  6. Galina
    09/27/2019 at 16:33 Reply

    Thank you so much.

  7. Novel
    09/29/2019 at 12:53 Reply

    Class. Check it out for yourself

  8. Dirty
    09/29/2019 at 14:42 Reply

    A candle from dirt? !!! Do not tell - do not wipe the dirt with any candle !!!!

    • Irina
      10/09/2019 at 21:11

      I, too, have such an opinion. Dirty seams will never go away from grouting with a candle. Yes, and in the video I did not see any sense from such grouting.

  9. Fairy
    09/30/2019 at 13:57 Reply

    It is good to wash mold in the bathroom with Domestos - for a long time there is enough cleanliness. True stink terrible chlorine .. well, but there is no trace of mold!

  10. Sergey
    10/01/2019 at 11:24 Reply

    Housewife: take a candle and melt in a saucepan and then little by little add food coloring to the color of your seams and then pour the melted candle into some kind of cylinder to give shape and everything, you can smear the seams with any color.

  11. Tamara
    10/01/2019 at 12:49 Reply

    But did you clean the seams? You just smeared them.

  12. Olga
    10/03/2019 at 21:00 Reply

    It was smeared and not cleaned !!! First you need to clean, dry and then putty

  13. Andrey
    10/09/2019 at 22:51 Reply

    This is some nonsense. A candle does not clean anything.

  14. Oleg
    10/10/2019 at 07:41 Reply

    Andrei, is the candle made of paraffin? And then they took a candle made of stearin - and say that it does not work. And it is the paraffin candle that works!

  15. Natalie
    10/10/2019 at 09:15 Reply

    and where is the promised white color of the seams?

  16. Sveta
    10/11/2019 at 09:20 Reply

    I don’t see the point in this grout.

  17. Hope
    10/11/2019 at 20:12 Reply

    thanks for the advice

  18. Tatyana
    10/14/2019 at 08:21 Reply

    If hot water will pour on the paraffin seams, does the paraffin not melt?

  19. Natalya
    10/14/2019 at 19:11 Reply

    Photo where the black corner is not cleaned. The video does not show what to do after spreading a candle. I suppose it's a mask of dirt with white paraffin.

  20. Valentine
    10/14/2019 at 20:37 Reply

    clean the seams with sanelite, and not only. to seams and bathtub, sink, etc.

  21. Lyudmila
    10/15/2019 at 11:47 Reply

    I also clean the seams with whiteness .. But with a candle, you can try to fill

  22. Love
    10/15/2019 at 13:56 Reply

    I read and pay. Steam cleaner !!!!!!!! cleans Everything !!!!! Without troubles, without detergents, in a couple of minutes. Before steam no mold and bacteria stand up. You can’t live forever in the earth, use the benefits of civilization

  23. Hedgehog
    10/17/2019 at 17:28 Reply

    Love left the most sensible comment. The author can shove a candle .... in a candlestick.

  24. Irene
    10/18/2019 at 21:19 Reply

    And who knows how to clean the seams of nicotine?

  25. Kira
    10/19/2019 at 01:57 Reply

    With a candle, you can slightly seal micropores in the grout from future dirt, although there is a Fuga solution for this. But how will the paraffin dissolve the dirt, hair dye, tobacco coating? On the video, not even the difference is even visible, is the author himself happy with the result?

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