Wet, gloomy places entice mold and mildew to thrive. Even if your restroom isn’t “damp and dark,” you’re probably not going to characterize it that way. Even in the most cheerful of restrooms, there are a surprising amount of little, gloomy places. With the sink, tub, shower, and toilet all containing water, bathrooms are a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Mold and mildew thrive in these kind of places.
In the long run, the more harm mold and mildew may do, the longer they must be dealt with. To top things off, you don’t want your family and pets to be near them.
Mold and mildew may grow in your bathroom if you don’t know where to look for them and how to get rid of them.
What you need to know about mold and mildew in your bathroom is covered in this article. We’ll also go through how to get rid of mold and mildew if you come across any of these problems.
5 Signs Your Bathroom Has Mold or Mildew
Moisture is required for mold and mildew to flourish. Both dangers are absent in a waterless environment. For this reason, it’s important to keep an eye out for any symptoms of water damage in addition to mold and mildew development in the immediate vicinity.
Here are five frequent signs that your bathroom is infested with mold, mildew, or water damage.
Mold Growth That Can Be Seen
Let’s start with the most apparent problem—mold that can be seen. Despite the fact that this may seem obvious, it’s critical for one simple reason.
Underneath the surface, mold normally starts to form. You’ll likely have a serious issue by the time you notice it.
Gray, black, or dark brown is the most prevalent color, and the mold often has a downy or wooly feel. While some molds in the home are brown or yellowish, others might seem fuzzy or slimy in color.
RELATED: Mold in the Home: Types and Effects
- The Smell of Must
It is common for mold and mildew to develop in dark, moist spots that are difficult to detect. As well as areas such as behind walls and inside of cupboards.
Before you can see it, you may be able to smell mold and mildew.
Mold spores release an odor as they decay. It has an earthy or stale taste. Mold, a concealed leak, or both may be to blame if your bathroom smells musty even when it’s clean and dry.
Insects
Residing on wet wood is favored by ants. Seeing ants in your bathroom might indicate that mold is developing under your floor tiles and decompose your floorboards.
Soft Spots on the Floor of Your Bathroom
Moisture and/or mold development may cause the subfloor of your bathroom to decay, making the floor feel mushy when you walk on it.
Who knows what’s behind it. Under your home, there might be a leak or other source of water damage. Even if the floor doesn’t seem soft, it’s essential to bring in an expert to inspect the area for any issues.
Damage to the Walls
Signs of water damage include crumbling plaster, cracked or loose tiles, discolouration, scorching paint, and holes in the caulk or grout. Any of these signs might point to the presence of mold development behind the drywall or tiles.
If your home has seen extensive water damage, the walls and tiles may seem twisted or loose enough to move when you touch them.
Getting Rid of Mildew
Because mildew develops just on the surface, it is much simpler to remove than mold. Common home cleansers are typically all that is needed to get rid of it.
Vinegar and Baking Soda are effective for removing mildew from surfaces.
It’s advisable to begin with a light cleanser since aggressive cleaning chemicals might harm surfaces or pose health dangers.
Using a spray bottle, add white vinegar to the mixture. 2. Shake well before using.
- Spray surfaces where mildew development may be seen.
For a few hours, let the vinegar sit on the surface.
Wipe it down with a damp towel after a few minutes. (To get into small spaces, try using an old toothbrush.)
- Rinse the surfaces with water to complete the cleaning process.
Apply a paste consisting of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water if the mildew persists. On top of that, spray additional vinegar. Rinse with water after scrubbing with a bristled brush.
Repeat this procedure until all the mildew has been removed.
Resolve Mildew Problems Permanently by Using Hydrogen Peroxide
To get rid of stubborn mildew, spray the area with hydrogen peroxide and then scrub it clean with baking soda and vinegar.
Mixing vinegar with hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, may be harmful. Before using any other cleaning agent, it is essential to completely rinse the surface with water after using vinegar.
Use different spray bottles for each ingredient, of course.
To remove the most stubborn mildew stains, use bleach.
You might try a mix of 75 percent water and 25 percent bleach if hydrogen peroxide fails to remove all the mildew from your carpet.
Don’t ever use cleaning products that have been mixed. Ensure that the surface has been properly washed before applying bleach if you’ve previously used hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or any other cleaning agent.
Rubber gloves and eye protection are also essential.
Mold Remediation
You may not be able to remove all of the mold entirely by yourself since it penetrates surfaces. It’s possible that the process of clearing mold may release spores into the air, which can then spread throughout the rest of your home.
Having a lot of mold in your bathroom may need the services of a professional. Protect yourself against mold spores by wearing gloves and a mask and working in a well-ventilated area while cleaning.
Borax is an effective mold-killing agent.
Small quantities of mold may be removed with soap and water. Mix one cup of borax with one gallon of warm water if that doesn’t work.
Douse the moldy areas with a borax solution. Remove the mold spots with a sponge, cloth, or scrub brush.
The borax solution may also be used to clean moldy vinyl and tile flooring.
Using Bleach to Remove Mold
When it comes to getting rid of mold spots, bleach is an excellent choice. Bleach, on the other hand, should be avoided if your bathroom does not have enough ventilation.
When using bleach, open a window or turn on the exhaust fan.
To clean nonporous surfaces including toilets, tubs, sinks, and showers, use 1 part bleach with 10 parts water. When cleaning the walls or the ceiling, avoid the use of bleach.
Cleaning Porous Surfaces with Vinegar
A vinegar solution may be applied to porous surfaces, such as walls or painted ceiling tiles, to remove stains.
Textured walls and ceilings, on the other hand, will have to be removed. It’s better to leave this to the professionals.
When in Doubt, Call a Professional
With a little elbow grease and a few ordinary home materials, mold and mildew may be cleaned up in a very short period of time. Always remember to prioritize your own safety. Avoid taking on a task you’re not confident in unless you can accomplish it slowly and with lots of fresh air.
If mold and mildew are recurring problems, or if your mold and mildew problem is extremely severe, you should get expert help. Also, if you notice any water leaks or problems, call a plumber right once.