Preventing slime and staining in your kitchen and bathroom

Top tips to keep slime and stain-free

Slime (black jelly like substance), stains and mould (various colours from pink, red to black) are caused by organisms that breed in damp, warm environments in your home. Generally conditions found in bathrooms and kitchens, their occurrence isn’t an indication of a problem with the water supply. It’s caused by the growth of common bacteria, other microorganisms, or airborne mould around the home; all worsened by poor ventilation.

Read below to find out how you can ensure the water you drink, cook with and wash in is of the very best quality.

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Look after your sink

Sinks need a lot of looking after as we use them all the time. Regularly wipe down in between uses, making sure that there’s no build-up of dirt and slime. Pay special attention to the tap spout and overflow hole at the back of the sink as this is where staining often occurs.

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Shower head

We don’t want to look up when we’re in the shower to see a dirty showerhead. Simply scrub with an old toothbrush dipped in water to remove any staining or grime, rinse and wipe with a clean cloth.

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Start at the top

Wet bathroom dust and a slimy build up will cling to surfaces. Use a mop to reach the top of your wall tiles to make the job much easier. Start at the top and work your way down.

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Look after your bathroom cleaning equipment

Not only do we need to clean the bathroom, but we also need to think what we are using to clean, such as cleaning cloths and toilet brushes! Use a separate cloth for the loo seat and pedestal, and keep your toilet brush germ free! Always use clean cloths and wash after using.  Make sure you’re not cleaning with dirty equipment or hanging them over your sink or taps.

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Keep it dry

Good ventilation really helps, turn on your extractor fan to get rid of any condensation, as bacteria loves damp places. Opening the window helps too, but not if it’s cold! Dry off areas with an adsorbent cloth instead.

One great piece of bathroom cleaning equipment (but not essential) is a window vac. This will help to remove condensation and water from shower screens, bathroom tiles and windows to reduce moisture and discourage a slimy build up.

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Tile grout

We often get pink and dark staining on grout and sealant that can be tricky to clean.  An old toothbrush with a mild bleach solution should do the trick, always remember to wear gloves and protect your clothes from bleach.

More about slime and staining

    • On the inside of cold water taps
    • Around the base of tap fittings
    • In shower heads and on shower curtains
    • On tiles in the bathroom/shower area
    • In and around drains and plugholes
    • In toilet cisterns and toilet bowls
    • In refrigerator drip trays
    • In dehumidifiers
    • In washing machines, particularly around the powder drawer and the rubber seals
    • Make sure affected areas are well ventilated.
    • Clean the inside of the tap or around the base of the tap with a small brush dipped in a mild solution of bleach.
    • After cleaning the tap, run the water for a few moments to remove any remaining disinfectant.
    • Use a squeegee to wipe water off walls and glass around your shower and bath to prevent mould or stain growth.
    • To keep your toilet in top condition – use bleach to get rid of any slime or mould in your loo, scrub with a toilet brush until sparkling.
    • Kitchen surfaces or bathroom fittings (tiles etc.) can be wiped with a household cleaner or mild bleach solution that will kill the bacteria or other microorganisms
    • Make sure you follow manufacturers cleaning instructions to ensure you don’t cause any damage.
    • To prevent possible contamination do not leave items such as flannels and dishcloths on the tap to dry and never allow food or animals to come into contact with taps.
    • Remove any residues left by cleaning products, soap, shampoo, hairspray or deodorants as they can provide a source of food which encourages growth of bacteria or other microorganisms.
    • Repair dripping taps to avoid staining on baths and basins.

Looking after the water in your kitchen

Looking after the water in your bathroom

Important Notice

Cold Weather

Due to the freezing weather conditions across the region a number of our customers are experiencing no water or reduced pressure, caused by frozen pipes in their home. There are a few things you can do to check if you have frozen pipes. If you are unable to complete these checks please reach out to your family, friends or neighbours to see if they can help:

  1. If there are no local issues check with your neighbours. If they have water, you may have a frozen pipe in your property.
  2. Here’s what to do. Turn off your stop tap by turning it clockwise, it’s usually found under your kitchen sink, but can be in your garage or cellar.
  3. Once you’ve turned your stop tap off, turn on your cold tap in the kitchen
  4. If you have no water, this could be due to a frozen pipe somewhere in your home. This may be the pipe which comes into your home near to where your stop tap is located.
  5. Carefully thaw the pipe using a warm towel, or if safe to do so a hairdryer in short bursts, ensuring you keep well away from water. If you can get water from a neighbour you could try a hot water bottle too. This could take a while, depending on how frozen and big your pipes are.
  6. Switch your stop tap back on to see if the water is running.

You can find more information at www.unitedutilities.com/frozenpipes.

If you have followed all of the advice provided and still want to talk to us, please give us a call. As we are experiencing really high call volumes at the moment, please bear with us as wait times will be longer than usual. 

Due to the freezing weather conditions across the region a number of our customers are experiencing no water or reduced pressure, caused by frozen pipes in their home. For more help and advice if you have a frozen pipe head to www.unitedutilities.com/frozenpipes.

Cold Weather

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