Wet areas silicone

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Bung

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#2041356 20-Jun-2018 21:07

eph:
That's good to know - list of BZK cleaners would be really helpful if anybody knows any...

You've probably already got disinfectants or toilet cleaners at home that use benzalkonium chloride.

neb

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#2041413 20-Jun-2018 21:51

eph:
That's good to know - list of BZK cleaners would be really helpful if anybody knows any...

Your best source is "30 Seconds Spray & Walk Away", this stuff, (the green one), Bunnings have it in RTU form, but I just get the bulk containers and refill the RTU spray bottle.

Note that this contains one of the polyethylene glycol surfactants that's a bit pungent, so use in a ventilated area and/or don't stand too close and breathe the fumes.

neb

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#2041416 20-Jun-2018 21:54

Bung:
eph:
That's good to know - list of BZK cleaners would be really helpful if anybody knows any...

You've probably already got disinfectants or toilet cleaners at home that use benzalkonium chloride.

You'd be surprised. Most are bleach (see my earlier post), you have to specifically look for BZK products. I ended up buying a 5L bulk lot because it was so hard to find otherwise, and with 5L I won't have to worry about getting more for quite awhile.

Bung

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#2041424 20-Jun-2018 22:17

Not surprised at all. Harpic toilet cleaner 0.3%, Dettol disinfectant 1.5%, New World house brand disinfectant 1.0%. For a large brick patio I use a swimming pool algecide from Bunnings 2l 25%.

neb

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#2041766 21-Jun-2018 15:36

Bung: Not surprised at all. Harpic toilet cleaner 0.3%, Dettol disinfectant 1.5%, New World house brand disinfectant 1.0%. For a large brick patio I use a swimming pool algecide from Bunnings 2l 25%.

I'm not sure how suitable the cleaners are vs. pure mould killers, the 30 Seconds is BZK and surfactants, once they've evaporated they leave a surface impregnated with BZK and nothing else. With more general cleaners you've got assorted detergents and oils in there as well, I don't know how that'd affect the silicone going over it in terms of adhesion/watertighness. For example looking at the Dettol MSDS it's up to 10% terpineol and 5% castor oil, which is probably the last thing you want to soak into an area that you're trying to put waterproof silicone over.

Yoban

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#2041806 21-Jun-2018 16:31

neb:
eph:

That's good to know - list of BZK cleaners would be really helpful if anybody knows any...

Your best source is "30 Seconds Spray & Walk Away", this stuff, (the green one), Bunnings have it in RTU form, but I just get the bulk containers and refill the RTU spray bottle. Note that this contains one of the polyethylene glycol surfactants that's a bit pungent, so use in a ventilated area and/or don't stand too close and breathe the fumes.

And not their Mould Off product?

neb

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#2041843 21-Jun-2018 16:50

Yoban:
neb:
eph:

That's good to know - list of BZK cleaners would be really helpful if anybody knows any...

Your best source is "30 Seconds Spray & Walk Away", this stuff, (the green one), Bunnings have it in RTU form, but I just get the bulk containers and refill the RTU spray bottle. Note that this contains one of the polyethylene glycol surfactants that's a bit pungent, so use in a ventilated area and/or don't stand too close and breathe the fumes.

And not their Mould Off product?

Nope, that's expensive bleach.

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SepticSceptic

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#2041864 21-Jun-2018 17:51

MikeAqua:

Disposable glove and dip the finger to be used in solvent (check compatibility with glove first).

Or:

neb

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#2041865 21-Jun-2018 17:56

SepticSceptic:
Or:

Those actually do such a crappy job that I went back to the wet finger, you end up with smears of sealant along the wall because it sticks to the scraper. There's a German-made one that that's a copy of that does a better job, but overall a finger covered in glad wrap with water as a lubricant, while crude, still seems like the best choice.

neb

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#2041866 21-Jun-2018 18:01

neb: Those actually do such a crappy job that I went back to the wet finger, you end up with smears of sealant along the wall because it sticks to the scraper. There's a German-made one that that's a copy of that does a better job, but overall a finger covered in glad wrap with water as a lubricant, while crude, still seems like the best choice.

As a general gripe about the Paint Partner branded stuff, it's mostly incredibly cheap, but for a reason, a lot of it is junk, e.g. the PP sandpaper which is crappy Chinese glasspaper on backing sheets so flimsy they tear after a few minutes of use and gum up something awful, assuming the abrasive doens't just flake off first. It's OK for throwaway home use when you need something in a hurry, but I wouldn't use it where you're trying to do a proper job.

dolsen

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#2042023 21-Jun-2018 21:42

neb: I'm not sure how suitable the cleaners are vs. pure mould killers, the 30 Seconds is BZK and surfactants, once they've evaporated they leave a surface impregnated with BZK and nothing else. With more general cleaners you've got assorted detergents and oils in there as well, I don't know how that'd affect the silicone going over it in terms of adhesion/watertighness. For example looking at the Dettol MSDS it's up to 10% terpineol and 5% castor oil, which is probably the last thing you want to soak into an area that you're trying to put waterproof silicone over.

So, can we add 30 Seconds with BZK with Bleach to hide the (now dead due to BZK) mould and apply in one go, or, is that likely to cause some bad chemical reaction resulting in mustard and/or chlorine gas?
Anyone know?

mdf

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#2042110 22-Jun-2018 07:32

Are you using clear or coloured silicone? I've found the clear stuff much more resistant to mould.

MikeAqua

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#2042507 22-Jun-2018 16:02

mdf: Are you using clear or coloured silicone? I've found the clear stuff much more resistant to mould.

Possibly because it's acetic acid (vinegar) cure. Vinegar is generally hostile to microbes.

Mike

Fred99

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#2042938 23-Jun-2018 18:57

nickb800:

Having a mug of water and dishwashing liquid on hand to wet your finger (gloved or otherwise) will help with smoothing it out

Don't use your (ungloved) finger, and I'd suggest absolute minimum detergent concentration. If you use bare fingers you're putting both spores and traces of body fat (food for fungi) into the silicone.

The "bathroom grade" RTV silicones contain biocides that are reasonably effective, but they don't last forever - and there's no biocide that's going to work against all mould / fungal organisms forever anyway.

Keep your bathroom as dry as possible. Rinse shower walls off after use. Fungus thrive on traces of body fat/oils, soap residues etc.

Fred99

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#2042942 23-Jun-2018 19:04

MikeAqua:

mdf: Are you using clear or coloured silicone? I've found the clear stuff much more resistant to mould.

Possibly because it's acetic acid (vinegar) cure. Vinegar is generally hostile to microbes.

Microbes make vinegar!

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