Your bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in a house.
Since moisture accumulates there, it’s susceptible to water-related issues such as mold and mildew.
The most common places to find mold are caulk, tile grout, and wallpapered or painted walls.
Mold in the bathroom is a grotesque and unhealthy problem that needs to be addressed as soon as you find it.
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to get rid of mold in the bathroom.
Causes of Mold Growth
Bathroom Moisture
One of the primary causes of mold growth in your bathroom is excessive moisture. When you take a shower or run hot water, the humidity levels in your bathroom rise, creating a breeding ground for mold.
Poor Ventilation
Poorly ventilated bathrooms can also lead to mold growth. Without proper airflow, moist air becomes trapped and creates a damp environment that encourages mold to thrive.
Leaks
Water leaks can significantly contribute to mold growth in your home. Leaking pipes, faucets, or showerheads can introduce moisture into hidden or hard-to-reach areas, creating ideal conditions for mold to develop.
Regularly inspect your bathroom for signs of leaks, such as discolored areas on walls and ceilings, musty smells, or water stains on floors. Promptly repair any plumbing issues you discover to prevent further mold growth.
Health Risks and Effects
Mold in your bathroom poses several health risks, especially if left untreated. Exposure to mold spores can lead to allergic reactions and various health issues, particularly for those with asthma, allergies, or compromised immune systems.
When you come into contact with mold, you may experience sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, skin rash, itching, watery eyes, and even asthma. In more severe cases, mold spores can result in chest tightness, dizziness, fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath.
Among different mold types, Stachybotrys, commonly known as black mold, is considered the most dangerous. It typically appears dark brown or green, and its presence in your bathroom can lead to severe health risks.
If you have a respiratory condition or compromised immune system, exposure to mold can worsen your symptoms, such as coughing and difficulty breathing. That’s why it’s crucial to address mold issues promptly and thoroughly.
When dealing with mold removal, protect yourself by wearing a mask to prevent mold spores from entering your respiratory system. This is especially important if you have asthma or allergies, as inhaling mold spores can exacerbate your symptoms.
Identifying and Assessing Mold
Types of mold found in bathrooms include black mold and mildew, both of which can be harmful if left untreated.
When inspecting your bathroom for mold, pay close attention to tile grout and caulk as these areas often trap moisture. Also, keep an eye out for mold on non-porous surfaces such as fixtures and countertops. Mold may appear as small black or green spots, fuzzy growths, or even a slimy texture.
To assess the extent of mold growth in your bathroom, use a flashlight to thoroughly examine all areas, including behind and under fixtures.
Remember to check any hidden spaces, such as under sinks and inside cabinets, as well as the corners of your shower and bathtub. Keep in mind that mold, including black mold, can be harmful to your health, so consider wearing gloves and a mask during your inspection.
Determining the type of mold present can help guide your cleaning and treatment efforts. Black mold is considered toxic and may require professional assistance, while mildew is a more common problem that can usually be treated using household products.
Regardless of the type, it is crucial to address the issue quickly to prevent further growth.
In addition to visual inspections, consider using your sense of smell to detect mold growth. A musty or earthy odor can be indicative of fungus presence.
How to Get Rid of Mold in the Bathroom?
Bathrooms typically have dark, damp, and warm interiors.
This makes mold growth a perpetual issue there.
Lack of adequate ventilation or regular towel drying after every use can cause mold to grow and thrive.
Here’s how you can eliminate mold for good from different places in your bathroom.
Cleaning Mold from Bathroom Ceilings
If you spot mold growth on your bathroom ceiling, you have to do a couple of things.
Firstly, try to find out the source of mold growth. For instance, there could be a leak above the bathroom.
If that’s the case, fix the leak before removing the mold from the ceiling.
Another reason behind mold growth can be the presence of moisture in your bathroom.
In that case, you should consider installing an exhaust fan or switching on a dehumidifier to minimize moisture and heat.
The next step entails removing the mold from the ceiling. For this, you will need a diluted vinegar solution inside a spray bottle.
Vinegar is a great ingredient to kill mold spores and prevent potential regrowth.
If your bathroom ceiling is painted or coated with a finish that can be scrubbed, you can simply spray the vinegar solution directly onto the mold.
Allow the solution to sit for 30 minutes and then scrub with a brush. Then, use a clean cloth to wipe away the residue.
However, if your bathroom ceiling cannot be scrubbed, you will have to scrape off and restore the impacted area of the ceiling.
Removing a textured ceiling affected by mold is a task best left to mold-removing professionals.
This is because this job requires special protective clothing and ventilation masks.
Cleaning Mold from Bathroom Walls
Removing mold from bathroom walls, you can use a mixture of soap and vinegar, and water in a spray bottle.
If you have painted walls that can be scrubbed, you can directly apply the solution onto the affected area and clean it away.
Wait for around 30 – 60 minutes to let the area dry up completely. Then cover up the site using stain-blocking paint.
If the mold has penetrated through the drywall, you might not be able to rectify the problem on your own.
Similarly, if mold has spread over the entire wall, you will need to seek professional help.
Removing such a massive amount of mold could present a health risk such as respiratory infections. Moreover, the tiny mold spores can even spread to other parts of your house.
Also read: Mushroom Growing In the Bathroom: Causes, Risks and Solutions
Alternative Technique to Remove Mold From Bathroom Walls
There is also another way to remove mold from bathroom walls. Mix ¼ white vinegar with two tablespoons of borax and two cups of hot water in a bowl.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray liberally on painted walls.
Next, scrub vigorously and wipe clean. Now respray the mixture and allow it to sit for 10 minutes before cleaning with a clean rag or cloth.
Cleaning Mold from Bathroom Tiles
Scouring with a borax or vinegar solution is an excellent method to remove mold from bathroom tiles.
For small areas, mix two tablespoons of borax with two cups of water and pour it into a spray bottle.
Then, spray the solution directly onto the tiles and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
You can even make the mold-removal solution in larger quantities. For instance, mix one cup of borax with one gallon of lukewarm water.
Then, clean away the mold with a sponge or mop. Whether you use borax or vinegar, you don’t have to rinse the solution.
However, you should dry the floor so that the moisture doesn’t allow the mold to come back.
To remove mold from bathroom grout, use the same vinegar or borax mixture as before. Spray the solution directly on the grout lines and allow it to sit.
Use a brush with small bristles or a toothbrush to remove mold from bathroom grout lines.
For stubborn stains, mix baking soda with vinegar in the ratio 2-1 to make a paste.
Apply the paste onto the grout and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing away and removing mold.
Also read: How to Clean Bathroom Tiles with Vinegar (Step-by-Step)
Alternative Technique to Clean Mold from Bathroom Tiles and Grout
Instead of a DIY cleaner, you can use an antifungal surface cleaner to remove mold. One such option is the Clorox Antifungal.
Apply the cleaner onto the affected area and use a cloth or sponge to remove mold off non-porous surfaces, such as porcelain and tile.
Then, properly rinse the area with water. This will help to remove the mold, even if there is some dark coloring left behind.
Now it’s time to get rid of the dark stains that mold leaves on non-porous surfaces such as grout.
Mix equal quantities of water and bleach in a spray bottle and spray it over the affected area. Allow the mixture to sit for some time.
Respray the area and scrub away any remaining discoloration using a scrub brush.
Bleach is quite effective in eliminating dark stains produced by mold.
However, it’s not the best way to get rid of mold spores.
Rather, you can spray vinegar on the affected area and let it dry. This way, you can effectively get rid of any left-behind mold spores.
Getting Rid of Mold Safely
If you have to eliminate mold from a place where there’s a strong, musty odor or where there has been extensive water damage, you need to take special safety precautions.
You need to take steps to prevent contaminating the rest of your home.
Plus, you also have to safeguard yourself from inhaling high amounts of mold spores.
Here are some safety precautions you need to follow while cleaning the mold.
- Wear old clothes and shoes that you can dispose off or launder after cleaning up the mold.
- Wear special P-100 or N-95 respirators, along with gloves and goggles.
- Set a cheap new fan or an old box one in the bathroom window to ventilate the area as you work. Trash it once you have completed cleaning as the mold spores are impossible to remove. Tape cardboard or plywood around the window openings to prevent mold spores from coming back inside.
- Dampen mold-infested areas using a garden sprayer as you work. This helps to control airborne mold spores.
- Switch off your air conditioner and furnace, close doors, and cover ducts to limit the spread of mold spores.
- Make sure to combine mix bleach with a cleaning agent that has ammonia. This can lead to the production of a poisonous gas that can be incredibly harmful.
How to Prevent Mold in Your Bathroom?
After you learn how to eliminate mold, you will perhaps want to know how to prevent mold in the future.
Tip #1 – Control Dampness
The best way to prevent mold in your bathroom is by controlling dampness.
The worst infestations generally occur in moist crawlspaces, in walls and ceilings where water has leaked in from the outside.
Ensuring good ventilation in bathrooms and preventing leaks are excellent techniques to prevent mold growth.
Open windows and doors when possible to allow for natural air circulation.
Tip #2 – Reduce the Humidity Levels
In case you don’t have one, you should install an exhaust fan in your bathroom. Switch it on each time you bathe or shower and for at least 30 minutes after you’re done.
Doing this helps to remove any remaining steam and dries out the air.
Consequently, it prevents the residual moisture from damaging the ceiling and walls and from encouraging mold growth.
Also read: How To Lower Humidity In House: A Complete Guide
Tip #3 – Make Sure to Have Vinegar on Hand
Keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar in your bathroom. Spray the vinegar and air-dry after every shower or bath.
You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil – peppermint, lavender, or tea tree.
This way, you can make the vinegar odorless pungent.
Tip #4 – Wipe Your Bathroom Dry After Each Use
Run a squeegee and then wipe away the tiles and glass doors to remove any moisture from those surfaces.
Taking a minute to clean your shower walls or bathtub with a squeegee right after a shower reduces moisture by up to 75 percent.
That’s a lot of moisture you can eliminate and plenty of mold you can prevent.
Tip #5 – Wash Towels and Rugs Regularly
The bathroom rug, towels, curtains, and bath mat are perfect spots for mold growth. This is especially true if you don’t wash them for long stretches at a time.
An easy way to prevent mold is to wash your bathroom rugs and towels weekly.
Clean rugs and towels mean a healthier, cleaner, and mold-free bathroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Removing mold from tiles
To remove mold from tiles, you can try using baking soda mixed with water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the mold, let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub it off with a brush. You can also clean tile floors with diluted distilled white vinegar for effective mold removal.
Eliminating mold on walls
To eliminate mold on bathroom walls, consider using distilled vinegar in a spray bottle to saturate the moldy area.
Alternatively, you can create a cleaning paste by stirring together 1/2 cup baking soda and several teaspoons of water, then apply the paste to the moldy grout and let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing it off.
Bathroom mold prevention tips
Prevent bathroom mold by controlling moisture levels in your home, properly ventilating the bathroom (use an exhaust fan or open a window), and routinely cleaning surfaces prone to mold growth.
Regularly wiping down surfaces and fixing any leaks can also help keep mold at bay.
Safe mold removal methods
For safe mold removal, avoid using harsh chemicals or bleach. Instead, opt for natural alternatives like baking soda, distilled white vinegar, or soap and water.
Always wear gloves and a mask when handling mold to protect yourself from potential health risks.
Assessing mold danger level
Determining the danger level of mold in your bathroom depends on its extent and type. Generally, mold becomes dangerous if it covers a large area, is hidden behind walls or underneath flooring, or if it’s a toxic variety, like black mold.
In such cases, consider contacting a professional mold remediation specialist.
Ceiling mold solutions
To remove mold from your bathroom ceiling, use similar methods as for walls – distilled white vinegar or a baking soda paste. Applying these solutions to a clean cloth or sponge and gently scrubbing the affected area should help eliminate the mold.
Once the mold is removed, monitor the ceiling for any recurring issues and promptly address moisture problems in your bathroom.
Last Few Words
We hope this article helped you get rid of mold in the bathroom.
However, keep in mind that prevention is better than cure.
And the best way to prevent mold is to prevent the conditions that cause it to grow in the first place. This means reducing moisture and preventing water build-ups.
Other articles you may also like:
