How to Prevent Mould in your Bathroom? Open the For a more natural way to get rid of mold in the bathroom, you can use distilled vinegar. After using a towel a couple of times, wash it in hot water and ensure it is completely dry before you store it back. In addition, if you are able to open a window or door during your shower, that will help with the ventilation. For tips on increasing ventilation to reduce mold-causing moisture, read on! Spray the mold with vinegar and scrub away the mold spores. You can also buy a specialty grout scrubber, they usually sell them in hardware stores. Look for cotton, hemp or nylon as you can easily wash them in hot water. Mechanical exhaust is crucial in controlling and expelling excess humidity caused by showers. 4. Wallpaper alone does not cause mold or mildew to grow. Keep loofahs, bath toys, and bath products in a dry area. A simple squeegee should do the trick as well as a quick wipe of the tub or sink. Last but not least, deteriorating caulk is another common cause of bathroom mold. Virtual Assessment, Montreal, QC 1-877-566-6653 If this is the case, you will have to rely on dehumidifiers to prevent mold. This is to heat up the bathroom and prevent mold and mildew from thriving. [1] X Research source Start with the basics – make sure your windows are open regularly and fans turned on. Since humidity is actually the main cause of mold, the first thing to be concerned about is ventilation. 613-777-3637. Below are some suggestions on how to clean the mold and mildew, and how to keep it from showing up in the first place. I know it seems like a lot but trust me – mold prevention is worth your time. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can use various commercial cleaners and supplies such as scrub brushes and washcloths to clean your bathroom and prevent mold from invading it. This article was co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH. There are more ways to prevent mold in the bathroom and the home at Prevent Mold. Open a window if you have one and use the bathroom exhaust fan properly. Furthermore, they will provide insights into how to keep your bathroom mold-free. How to Prevent Mold in the Bathroom Older homes often have problem closets. Here are 6 ways to prevent mold in your bathroom. This article has been viewed 126,617 times. Dust your bathroom at least once per week. What causes mold in the toilet bowl? Disinfect the bathtub, sinks, and toilets using an all-purpose cleaner, and disinfect the mirrors and windows using a glass cleaner. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. The bath mat, bathroom rug, and towels are ideal mold growth spots, especially if you leave them unwashed for long periods of time. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can either mix 1:1 vinegar and water or you can use undiluted vinegar if you have a significant amount of mold build up. Arrange all your bathing essentials in a shower caddy which you can easily clean without any hassles. If you wish, you can use a baking soda solution for the same purpose. Leave excess borax on, as it will prevent future mold from growing. How to Prevent Mold in Your Shower & Bathroom 1) Fix Leaks in Your Bathroom, Tub, & Shower A leaky pipe, faucet, bathtub, or shower may not seem like a big deal. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016. ⦁ Keeping It Clean. 06 of 06 While mold in the bathroom is one of the most common places for it to develop, it can still be prevented by being aggressive. Mold thrives in the dark, so keeping your bathroom well lit can help keep mold at bay. If there is a need for them, add dehumidifiers to keep the level of humidity under control. Clean towels and rugs mean a cleaner, healthier bathroom. You’ll find all the answers you need on this "When you're done showering, keep the fan on for 30 minutes and open a bathroom window, if you have one.". Use a lightly dampened microfiber cloth to wipe all surfaces, starting high and working your way down to lower areas. 10. Check your bathroom mats for possible mold signs and wash them in the washing machine if you have the non-slip kind. A simple cleaning solution of water and soap is all that you need to keep the ceiling clean always and make it difficult for mold to grow. You can use a bleach solution or a vinegar solution (but do not mix bleach and vinegar) to scrub the mold off the ceiling. How to Prevent Mold Growth in Bathroom Invest in an effective fan for every bathroom at home. However, humidity is not the only cause of bathroom mold. If you spot any stubborn mold, contact professionals to ensure that that is the only moldy place, and to clean it properly before it spreads. For tips on increasing ventilation to reduce mold-causing moisture, read on! Published: August 20, 2018 Updated: January 31, 2020, Written by: John Ward Account Executive Mold Busters, Fact checked by: Charles Leduc CPI, CMI, CMR Mold Busters, Customer Service: Fortunately, you don’t have to live with a mildew problem. Make sure to do regular inspections of your bathroom pipes, faucets, and seals to check for leaks or wetness. Spray or brush on the … The key to mold prevention is to control moisture. Opening the door and windows will do the same trick if, for any reason, you cannot afford this investment right away. The most effective way to do this would be to spray bleach directly on to the caulking or problem area itself. When trying to prevent the growth of mold, time is always a critical factor. To prevent mold from returning, you need to increase the light in your shower, decrease the humidity in your bathroom, or better yet, both. Use a scrubbing brush to loosen the mold from the wall. Lastly, if you notice mold growth on your bathroom ceiling, you should immediately clean it off to prevent it from spreading. Mold in your bathroom does not only cause structural damage to your home, but can also harm your health! Wash your bathroom rug in the washing machine with cold water and a gentle laundry soap. In case you still do not want to shower with the bathroom door open, or it is too cold to open a window, you should opt for a strong and effective exhaust fan that will compensate for this. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. To keep moisture from building up, fix any leaks around your toilet or sinks and, once a year, reseal the grout lines in tile flooring. In addition, make sure your bathroom mats are washed regularly in case you have the non-slip kind. We have already mentioned that keeping the bathroom door closed while showering can increase the chances of mold growth in your bathroom. Do not forget the towels too! Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. If you notice mold growth on your bathroom walls, you can create a bleach/water or vinegar/water solution and scrub down all the walls and the ceiling. To increase light, you can open the blinds or shades on windows in your bathroom. The main problem with bathroom mold is that it can appear almost anywhere – from caulk to towels. Moisture can be caused by leaks and condensation, for example, from poor ventilation from a shower. It is recommended that you run the exhaust fan a few minutes after you use the shower. Use mold-resistant paint and grout that contains anti-fungal additives when repainting your kitchen or bathroom and installing new tiles. While you are at it, don’t forget to check the inside of the washing machine as well. Mold and mildew are created by moisture only. Throw your plastic liner in the washing machine along with a load of whites, detergent, and a dash of baking soda. An exhaust fan is a device that draws unwanted odor and moisture that are present in the air of the interior environment. Regularly check behind your washing machine to make sure everything is leak-free, and keep your washer slightly away from the wall so that there is plenty of space for air to flow and keep the wall dry. Use a spray bottle to saturate the moldy area with white vinegar Let it sit for 30 minutes Scrub with a brush You can use a washcloth to get to the tile grout and corners where mold has a tendency to start growing. Be sure to dry the walls after scrubbing. No matter how much you clean, your bathroom is always going to be heaven for mold to grow. Mildew thrives in damp places, which makes the notoriously wet bathroom a prime breeding ground. Does having wallpaper in a bathroom create mold and mildew? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 126,617 times. You can thank high humidity for that. 24/7 By doing this, they trap all the moisture-laden steam produced by a hot shower. How do you stop mold from growing in your bathroom? Keep your fan on for up to 30 minutes after each shower. Make sure the bathroom faucets and valves aren’t leaking, and the drains aren’t clogged. Use very absorbent floor mats that will help ensure the water splashed during showering doesn’t find its way onto your tiled floor. Having done that, you can simply run them through the spin cycle of your machine to remove excess water. If you still have questions about this topic, don’t worry. You may also want to invest in a dehumidifier, which can significantly reduce the amount of moisture in the air. Since humidity takes almost all the credit for bathroom mold, the best way to prevent mold growth is to control the level of humidity. You're most likely having mold problems in the toilet bowl because it's an area where moisture is inevitable. Towels are often overlooked, but they can easily cause many problems as well. You should opt for very absorbent floor mats to ensure the water splashed during showering doesn’t find its way to your tiled floor. If you usually reuse a towel for several showers, make sure you dry it well after each use before folding it. With that in mind, you should check this room as regularly as all the others. 514-667-3696 Tumble the rug dry on the coolest heat setting possible. Poor ventilation is another one. Periodically check for leaks How do I prevent mold on my bathroom ceiling? As soon as you are done showering, get rid of as much water as possible so that it doesn’t have time to evaporate and cause mold. Wipe them dry with the squeegee and reduce the possibility of moisture accumulation, and eventually, you will prevent mold from growing in the bathroom. References Remember – prevention is always easier than dealing with the consequences. Thoroughly clean your shower, tub, sink and toilet once a week to ensure no excess water has piled up. Inspection, Testing & Remediation: Cleaning regularly is definitely the best fix for this, so you're doing the right thing. Whether used for clothes, linens, towels or storage, these tiny rooms … For really severe infestations, your best bet may be to call in a professional cleaning service for safe and effective removal. The best solution to prevent mold is to a) kill any existing mold and then b) ensure that there is adequate ventilation to the room to prevent moisture from sitting on surfaces for long periods of time. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Prevent-Mold-in-a-Bathroom-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Prevent-Mold-in-a-Bathroom-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Prevent-Mold-in-a-Bathroom-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1558790-v4-728px-Prevent-Mold-in-a-Bathroom-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"