Natural ingredient will lift brown silicone mould from bathroom tiles effortlessly

The cleaning aisle at the is filled with potions and sprays to tackle every cleaning issue that might arise in your home, but sometimes the simple methods your grandmother might have used or told you about are still the best, and often cheapest, option.

Mould is an issue many of us with deal with at some point, particularly in our moisture ridden bathrooms as the cools down and we're itching to crack the heating on and close the windows. Before you spend your hard earned cash on a series of products that may or may not work, or pour an entire bottle of corrosive bleach over your bathroom, try this expert-approved natural method first.

It's important to deal with mould as soon as possible, because it can lead to a variety of health problems, some of which can become serious over time and can even lead to hospitalisation. Breathing in spores from mould can damage your lungs by causing irritation - this is particularly a worry for anyone already suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Equally, touching mould can bring on an allergic reaction in some people, so it's best to try and remove it from your home quickly and efficiently when you notice it's appeared. A large amount of mould can signify that there's an underlying issue with your home, like a leak, and you should defer to a professional if that's the case to make sure the cause of the recurring mould is treated too and ensure the structural integrity of your home.

Cleaning expert Adriana Aziz, writing for - an Australian cleaning company - has one simple expert tip when it comes to dealing with some of the most pesky mould in your home that can be found around the edge of your bathroom tiles: vinegar. She recommends starting with this and environmentally friendly, natural remedy before reaching for the bleach or other corrosive cleaning products. Aziz advises that you grab some gloves, an empty spray bottle, some white vinegar, toilet paper, clean cloths, and, vitally, an old toothbrush before you begin to tackle the mould.

Empty your white vinegar into the spray bottle and then spray it all over the sealant and tiles, whether you can see mould on every spot or not. Let it soak onto the area for a few minutes before wiping it off with your clean cloth. When it comes to difficult corners and other hard to reach spots, this is where your old toothbrush comes in: she recommends spraying the vinegar directly onto the toothbrush and then gently cleaning the corners and other areas with it.

If that wasn't quite enough to deal with your stubborn mould, she's got another trick up her sleeve, "Tear off some toilet paper and spray it with vinegar until it is soaked. Place the paper over the mould that's left behind, and let it sit for a few hours." Once you've allowed it to soak, throw the toilet paper away and scrub the area with your old toothbrush. Finally, give the area you've been cleaning a really thorough rinse and then dry it with a cloth to protect your sealant.

If none of that works, then and only then it's time to reach for your bleach and mix it into a paste with baking soda, Aziz recommends sticking "to a 2:1 ratio as you will require more bleach than baking soda since the latter ingredient is simply used to add more powder to the mix to get the right pasty consistency. Putting a generous amount of this paste on an old, soft toothbrush, begin gently scrubbing the mixture into the mouldy sealant. Once brushed and applied, put a plastic wrap over the area to prevent the paste from drying out entirely. You must then allow it to sit for a few hours before scrubbing and wiping the mould off with a damp cloth."

Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.