Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Mildew and Caulk advice needed

I completed my bathroom renovation earlier this year. Already though, I'm having trouble with mildew stains in the caulk of the soap/shampoo alcove.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/jschmal/IMG_8869.jpg

I'm worried that this is a problem so soon after finishing the renovation. Obviously, I'm going to need to address the issue.

1)should I move where I keep the soap, if that's aggravating the problem?

2)if I remove the caulk and clean and recaulk, what can I do to make it more impervious to stain the second time around?

Thanks for any advice, good people!

What kind of caulk are you using? Tub and bath caulks have more mildewcide in them than regular caulking does.

That doesn't look like silicone it looks like Kwikseal or some other latex based caulk.If you recaulk use white silicone bath caulk,any brand,and I think you'll get better results.

Can I ask how you constructed the shower as well?

Hey guys - thanks and sorry for the delay in my response.

I did use regular vinyl caulk there. Above it (not shown) where I have glass mosaic tile, I used transparent silicon caulk, and that hasn't been a problem. I'll give it a go with a more appropriate caulk in the problem areas.

OKC - I put a plastic barrier over the studs and paneled the shower alcove with Hardibacker, then thinset the tile. The shampoo/soap nook however, was a prefab foam. Fastened that into a cutout between the studs and then tiled it with mastik.

Oh - and it's a tub shower, so I didn't have to do any pan/drain work.