If mold has begun to grow in your bathroom you need to remove it immediately. You can use a sponge, cloth or scrubbing brush to clean mold off most bathroom surfaces and an old toothbrush to get into hard to reach places where mold has begun to grow. You can use bleach, borax, vinegar or ammonia to kill mold in the bathroom. Once the mold has been removed, mold inhibiting solutions such as vinegar can be used to regularly clean the bathroom to prevent the mold’s return. If mold is growing in sealer and you cannot get rid of the mold then the sealer may need to be removed and replaced. Walls which you cannot seem to remove the mold from may also need to be cut out and replaced as a last resort.
Removing Mold From Tiles and Grout
Mold often grows on tiles or in the grout around them. You should be able to easily remove mold from tiles by scrubbing or wiping with a cloth. Mold growing in grout can be more difficult though. Bleach can often be useful for killing mold in grout and fading away mold stains. The grout may require a good scrubbing with a toothbrush or scrubbing brush. Applying sealer to the grout can also be helpful. If you can’t get all the mold off grout you can remove and replace the grout. Use a flat screwdriver to scrape out the old grout and then apply the new grout mixture. Causes – Why and How Mold Grows in the Bathroom
It’s very common for mold to be found in bathrooms. One obvious reason why is that there’s lots of water and humidity in the bathroom. Frequently running water in the bathroom basin, the bathtub and the shower creates wet surfaces and puddles of water. If you don’t dry this moisture out quickly it can easily lead to mold growth. On top of this, when the water in the bathroom does dry out it evaporates into the air and increases the humidity. Steam from the shower or a hot bath also makes the bathroom more humid. Since bathrooms are often not well ventilated the humidity tends to hang around and wet surfaces take a long time to dry out.
Mold in Shower and Bathtub
Mold can often be found in the shower and the bathtub. Grime from body oils and soap scum which is washed off and onto the shower or tub create a food source for mold to feed on. And of course there are abundant water sources for mold created by the running water and steam. To prevent mold growing in the shower or bathtub regularly clean both with a cleaning product of your choice. After cleaning, wipe the shower and tub dry to minimize left over moisture.
Reducing Humidity in the Bathroom
Ideally the humidity in the bathroom should be kept below 55% to prevent mold growth. You can maintain this by ventilating your bathroom well, especially after you’ve had a shower or bath. Turn on the bathroom fan while you shower and leave it on for about five minutes afterwards to remove the steam and dry out the air. If you don’t have a bathroom fan, or as well as using the fan, open the window to let steam out and circulate the air. Besides leaving the window and door of the bathroom open after having a shower or bath, if you are concerned about the moisture levels you can also wipe down wet surfaces so they dry faster.
