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Clear bathroom silicone that does not stay clear by magic

Updated: 2026-10-23

You are resealing a bath, a shower or a basin because the last clear bead has gone black, and you want the new line to disappear against the glass. Clear bathroom silicone can do that only if it is a sanitary sealant, the joint is bare and dry, and the room extracts moisture. A fungicide does not keep the bead clear if soap film covers it, and it does not replace the fan. The [Silicone clear comparison](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/silicone-clear) is the product table. Prices are the 19 October 2026 amazon.co.uk snapshot. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

You are resealing a bath, a shower or a basin because the last clear bead has gone black, and you want the new line to disappear against the glass.

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Clear bathroom silicone is a sanitary bead, not any clear cartridge

On a shower you want a fungicide. Tank keepers should use the aquarium silicone guide instead. Stay Clear is £7.91, 4.5 from 587 reviews: acetoxy, fungicide, ±25%, BS EN 15651-3:2012. It is not for aquariums and it should not be submerged. EVO-STIK 1 Hour, £6.49, says the shower is ready in one hour. The title says 290 ml and the unit count says 310 ml. One hour is not a full cure of a deep bead. Everbuild general-purpose clear, £6.00, 4.5 from 7,669 reviews, has a fungicide, class 1 on the EN 15651-3 paperwork, and ±12.5%. Class 1 is that test result. The sheet bans aquarium manufacture, paint, natural stone, a double-glazed edge and a uPVC perimeter. A plastic bath that shifts when filled is the reason to prefer 25%.

Stays clear still needs a clean bead

Stay Clear’s bullets say the silicone will not stain, blacken or yellow. The stays-clear-for-life line is a claim about the sealant, not a mould-proof bathroom. Clear for Life and Stay Fresh are different products. What blackens a clear bead is often growing on the soap film. The Stay Clear page says that film can stop the fungicide touching the mould, and it suggests a dilute bleach wipe about once a month. That is the maker’s suggestion, not a mix ratio this page will invent. Keep bleach off carpet, natural stone and any fish tank. Stay Clear, Everbuild and Soudal Trade Multi-Purpose are not overpaintable. Cut the failed bead out rather than painting it.

The bathroom still has to extract moisture

Approved Document F gives intermittent bathroom extract in England as 15 litres per second in Table 1.1. That is guidance for the fan, not a test of the cartridge. A fan that runs only with the light leaves the bead wet for hours. The Drinking Water Inspectorate notes that people replace bath sealant after mould damage. That describes what households do. If the bead is black only on the face, cleaning and ventilation come first. If the board behind the tray is soft, the bead is no longer the problem. Acetoxy silicone also needs ventilation while it cures, because of the vinegar smell. Stay Clear’s safety sheet carries H412, harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects, which is why the technical sheet keeps it out of aquariums.

What not to use on the bath

Bond It HA6 is specified without fungicides that might leach. It suits aquarium glass and it is the wrong cartridge for a mould-prone shower, even though the three-pack leads the score. Pack size and ±12.5% versus ±25% sit on the buying guide. Keep these acetoxy cartridges off natural stone, bitumen and lead. Keep Everbuild general purpose off a double-glazed edge and a uPVC perimeter. Call a professional if the floor behind the tray is rotten, if scraping scratches the tile, or if you are on that glazing edge.

Common questions

What clear bathroom silicone should you use on a shower or bath?
EVO-STIK Stay Clear at £7.91 is the sanitary cartridge with ±25% and a fungicide on the sheet. Everbuild general-purpose clear at £6.00 is the fungicidal everyday cartridge at ±12.5%. EVO-STIK 1 Hour at £6.49 is the listing that claims the shower after one hour. HA6 is for glass tanks.
Does clear silicone stay clear, or does it go black?
The silicone can be formulated not to stain or yellow, which is what Stay Clear claims, and the surface can still go black when soap film and a damp room let mould sit on top. A stays-clear-for-life line on a sheet is not a mould-proof bathroom. Clean the bead. A weak extractor will undo a careful reseal.
Will a fungicide stop mould if the extractor is weak?
No. The fungicide is in the sealant. It does not dry the room. Approved Document F’s guidance for an intermittent bathroom fan is 15 litres per second. If the fan barely runs, expect mould on the bead whether the tube said anti-mould. Class 1 microbiological growth on an Everbuild declaration is a lab class, not a promise for your flat.
Why is there mould on a sealant that claimed to resist it?
Often because soap film is covering the fungicide, which is the point EVO-STIK makes on the Stay Clear page. The maker suggests a dilute bleach wipe about once a month. That is not a mix recipe, and it will not help if the new silicone is sitting on the old bead.
Can you use the same clear cartridge in a fish tank?
Not if it is a bathroom anti-mould silicone. Stay Clear’s sheet says not for aquariums and not for submersion, and the safety sheet carries H412. Everbuild general purpose says not for aquarium manufacture. Bond It HA6 is the fungicide-free marine silicone in this comparison. Use that for glass tanks, and keep it off the shower if mould resistance is what you came for.
When is a black bead a leak into the floor rather than a cleaning job?
When the floor, the chipboard or the board behind the tray is soft, stained or rotten. Cleaning the face of the silicone will not dry that void. Cut nothing else until someone has seen the structure. A double-glazed edge or a uPVC perimeter is also outside a DIY clear bead, because Everbuild general purpose forbids both.

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Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 19 October 2026.

  1. Everbuild General Purpose Silicone product data sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. UKCA declaration BS EN 15651-1, Everbuild general purpose silicone (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. Bond It HA6 technical data sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Bond It HA6 aquarium guidance (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. EVO-STIK Stay Clear sanitary silicone technical data sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. EVO-STIK Stay Clear product page (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. Soudal Trade Multi-Purpose Silicone technical data sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Approved Document F, ventilation (retrieved 19 October 2026)