Cleaning the shower with Kaboom... and a gas mask

leesonic

leesonic

Captured on security camera...
I have a walk-in shower, tiled from top to bottom. Before the pandemic, I used to use the foaming Scrubbing Bubbles, but you can't get it round here. What with this, and me being a bit lax with the cleaning, there is some nasty looking mold and mildew in places.

So tonight, I tried cleaning it with a product called Kaboom, made for mold and mildew (it says on the label). Holy crap! After about five minutes, the air became unbreathable and my eyes started watering. I went and got my respirator that I've used before when spraying paint, but even that didn't work too well. There are no warnings on the label about gases coming off it.

Lee.
 
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After an internet search found a few references about Easy Off oven cleaner in the blue can. Used it on a neglected gel coat shower. Worked great and no fumes
 
I don't even like using Scrubbing Bubbles. Those fumes bother me. (And this from someone who has breathed enough formaldehyde fumes, over the years, to pickle an elephant. :eek:)

I've resorted to using a mixture of industrial strength disinfectant, Dawn dish soap, water and a scrub brush.
 
I had the exact same experience with Kaboom. Wont use it ever again. The best cleaner I found is Zep Fast 505. It cleans EVERYTHING with no fumes. You can get it at your local HD. The only cleaner I will ever use.
 
I use the foaming Kaboom. If there is a bit of stubborn mildew in the caulking, I spray it on and let it sit over night.

Bleach fumes? Yup.

Rob
 
That stuff is really bad and, IMO, shouldn't be on the market. I think the manufacturer thought it was a good way to dispose of some hazardous waste they couldn't otherwise get rid of. Worst of all, it was expensive and I found it didn't work on bathtub soap deposits or anything else I tried it on. I'd give it minus ten stars and suggest they need to hire a new chemist.
 
I can't stand the fumes of most heavy cleaning products. I got a cheap steam cleaner to clean the bathroom. It takes a bit of work, but it's totally worth it not to have to deal with all the chemicals. Also we're on septic, and I try not to put too much crap down the drain as it just ends up in the back yard.
 
I've had good success with Kaboom. It works fast and get's the job done. Some of my rent houses need everything it has to offer. A fan in the window is a good thing.
Mask is a joke. Must ventilate. ALLWAYS VENTILATE.
Bleach is a no no. To much chance of discovering unknown ammonia.
 
I mix chlorox(70%) and simple green(30%) in a spray bottle and hose my shower stall down with it. you can also use mold and mildew removers that ServicePro and other house saver companies use.
 
The guys at work used to mix two different toilet cleaners until I made them stop. They thought the smoke/fumes did a great job of cleaning until I advised them that chlorine gas was used as a weapon in WWI. Didn't sound like such a great idea after that. Can't use anything that gives off fumes here, or my wife gets a migraine.
 
The fumes that you are reporting are very likely from phosphoric acid. Some cleaners like Zep, use hydrochloric acid in their tile cleaners. Apply it and walk away for 1/2 hour and your issues with the fumes may be easier to deal with.
 
Concentrated dish soap is my go to bath room cleaner. It's not going to remove rust stains but it will not remove my eyeballs either, lol.
 
Pool chlorine, straight, in a garden pump sprayer, sprayed into stall, with shower door part way closed to prevent over-spray. Also; ceiling vent on, and window open. Spray it and vacate it. The garden pump sprayer allows me to get in an out in under a minute.
Come back later, and the shower is spotless and looks new.
 
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