Often damp and humid, bathrooms provide the best environment for molds to thrive. This makes mold in the bathroom extremely common, no matter how often you clean. But no worries, mold removal is easy once you address its source as soon as you can. Mold grows where there is excess moisture. Lack of ventilation, damp places with cellulose (ex. Fabric, wood, rugs, paper products) and leaks are
usually the ingredients of mold growth. Unfortunately, bathrooms often satisfy these conditions. It doesn’t take long for mold to grow. As long as it gets humid enough and as long as there’s damp, mold will fight its way into your bathroom. That said, you should learn the signs of mold in your home so you can easily pinpoint the source and deal with it.
Detecting Mold Perhaps the most challenging part of mold prevention is finding the mold sources in your home. Typically, you only recognize mold when the overgrowth has grown in noticeable proportions, making early mold growths a bit hard to spot. You may need to have detective-like skills to find the ground zeros of mold in shower, toilet or anywhere in your home. Keep your eyes peeled and senses sharp for the following signs:
- Water damage. Observe for leaks in your bathroom or any water damage on your walls, floors or ceilings. You might want to watch out for cracks (tiles or grout), discoloration, paint blisters, loose tiles, rotting wood, and other similar signs. Mold loves to thrive on water-damaged materials especially wood; although it can also thrive in waterproof materials like tiles or vinyl as long as there’s enough moisture.
- Musty odor. An earthy, musty smell even if you’ve kept your toilet dry may be a sign of secret mold in the bathroom. If you think your bathroom smells earthy or like wet, decomposing wood, have it checked for possible water damage and mold growth.
- Presence of pests, like ants. These insects prefer to make their home on damp wood. If you notice ants in your toilet, it’s likely there’s mold damage to wood components in your bathroom.
- Unstable floors or floors that feel spongy, especially for wooden floors.Visible mold growth (no matter how small).
Get Rid of Mold in Shower
If you observe these signs and discover mold, make sure to get rid of the mold as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading. You can do so using the following steps:
- Clean mold problem areas using mold-killing solvents. These include vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, bleach or trisodium phosphate. Use these products separately.
- Remove and replace water and mold-damaged caulking and sealants.
- Keep the bathroom well-ventilated while you treat the moldy areas in your bathroom.
- For extensive mold damage, seek professional mold remediation services, as dealing with mold overgrowth can be hazardous to your health.
Tips to Prevent Bathroom Mold
It takes more effort to prevent bathroom mold than to get rid of it. However, as you’re able to cover the basics, you’ll definitely see good results! To get rid of mold in the bathroom permanently,
- Maintain a dry bathroom. Moisture is the key ingredient to a moldy bathroom. That said, a dry bathroom is a mold-resistant bathroom. Wipe off excess water on the bathroom floor, walls, sink or even the shower curtain after every bath. If you can, you may also install an air conditioner (or use a portable version) or use a dehumidifier for better humidity control.
- Make sure your bathroom is well-ventilated. Bathrooms with little to no ventilation are hard to dry, thus allowing excess moisture to accumulate. Assist your bathroom ventilation by opening your bathroom windows, adding an exhaust fan or adding a box fan.
- Consider waterproofing your walls. Use waterproof paint for your bathroom walls. For tiled walls, use a grout sealer to prevent moisture from seeping into them.
- Regularly check for water damage. Be wary of cracked or loose tiles and other signs of water damage. Identify the leak or the cause of excess moisture and have it fixed as soon as you’re able. Remember, water damage often precedes mold problems in the bathroom.
- Practice good cleaning habits. Cleaning regularly is a good way to make your bathroom mold-free. You can:
- Schedule a weekly cleaning routine, but if you can disinfect 2-3x a week, the better. Use all-purpose bathroom cleaners to disinfect all your bathroom surfaces.
- Replace your bathroom rugs and shower curtains as often as you can. If you can replace weekly or at least twice a month, it would help. Avoid getting your rugs or floor mats filthy enough before you replace them.
Kiss Your Moldy Bathroom Goodbye
It is possible to mold-proof your bathroom, as long as you keep it moisture-free and develop good cleaning habits. You can get rid of bathroom mold by yourself, but you can always seek professional help in case of advanced mold issues.