Preventing Bathroom Mold

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

    If mold accumulates with time and moisture, it’s easy to understand that the bathroom is one of the more susceptible places in your home.  Mold is unpleasant and unhealthy, but there are plenty of precautions to take to avoid the unsightly, icky, toxins in one of the most common areas of your home.
    Since toiletries are breeding grounds for mold spores, you might want to consider minimizing the bottles on the counter and shelves.  Shampoos, perfumes, unused soaps—eliminate what you do not absolutely need.  It’s easy to overlook the same almost-empty bottle of gel or body wash that’s been sitting in the bathroom forever, but important to rid yourself of what you don’t use.  Do you need that plastic cup for your toothbrush?  The reason is, the more things that are there, the longer it takes for your tub, shower, and counter to dry.  Get rid of unnecessary products before the spores start to develop.  It’s wise to invest in a hanging shower shelf so products air dry and do not sit in accumulated water.
    Clean, clean, clean.  Invest in high-quality cleansers and get all the cracks and crevasses—behind the toilet, the corners of the shower, the underside of the faucet.  Use a sponge and maybe an old toothbrush to get to the small areas.  If mold is starting to accumulate, you can create a mild bleach solution to kill it and discourage future growth.  Remember to never mix bleach with other cleaning solutions, as this can be toxic.  Don’t forget to clean the bottles of beauty products, even with the bleach solution.
    Are the plumbing systems in your bathroom draining properly?  Standing water in the sink or tub is breeding grounds for mold spores.  Use a top-notch drain-clearing product and follow the directions carefully.  For bad clogs, call a professional.  It’s a worthwhile preventative measure.  Poor drainage is one of the most common causes of bathroom mold.
    Ventilation is key.  Keep the windows open in the bathroom when you can, especially after a shower.  Let the steam escape instead of dripping down the walls and hanging on the ceiling, places where you just might see spores form.
    Unfortunately, black mold is a common bathroom growth—and the most toxic.  It is tough to kill, infamous for its resilience.  Black mold begins as dark specks, normally running inside of grout and silicon sealer between tiles.  It spreads very fast.  Normally, affected tiles and areas of the bathroom must be cut out and replaced.  If you are doing this yourself, don’t forget to inspect your bathroom’s insides, on the underside of the walls and ceiling, because mold has a way of lurking.  Kill all mold if you are remodeling the bathroom, inside and out.  If you miss one spot, it may eventually lurk back and take over again.


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