The first step to prevent bathroom mold is keeping tile dry
Introduction
Once established, mold around a bathtub or shower can be hard to get rid of, but using these techniques for eliminating bathroom moisture can help keep it under control.
Eliminating moisture from the bathroom
High moisture levels in your bathroom make mold nearly impossible to eliminate, no matter how much you clean. The key to preventing bathroom mold growth is to reduce dampness levels. “The bathroom has the highest humidity of any room in the living space,” Michael Sacenti from American Healthy Homes says. “If you can keep these humidity levels down, you’ll likely prevent mold from growing.” While it’s impossible to avoid any humidity in a bathroom — due to tubs, showers, faucets and toilets — there are ways to increase air circulation and reduce moisture. Ahead, learn more about how to prevent bathroom mold with tips from Sacenti.
Tools Required
- Scrub brush
- Sponge
- Squeegee
Materials Required
- Bleach
- Detergent
- Grout sealer
Project step-by-step (3)
Step 1
Squeegee after use
First, after a bath or a shower, squeegee water off the shower walls. That eliminates at least three-fourths of the moisture that supports mold and mildew growth. “If you don’t do this, those water droplets settle onto the walls and surfaces of the bathroom when they dry,” Sacenti says, where mold spores can take hold.
Step 2
Turn on the bath fan
Second, run your bath fans during your bath or shower and for a half hour after to flush out moisture and prevent mold and mildew. Consider adding a timer switch to make this step automatic. Fans are certified by the volume (cfm, or cubic feet per minute) of air “exhausted” out of the room. To find the recommended fan capacity for your bathroom, simply multiply the bathroom square footage by 1.1 (assuming an 8-ft. ceiling; for a 9-ft. ceiling, multiply by 1.5). Replace it with a larger model if it’s not clearing out most of the moisture in your bathroom after five to 10 minutes.
Also, if your bathroom has a window, keep it open during and after a shower. “By opening a window and running a bath fan, your bathroom will be almost dry after a shower,” Sacenti says.
Step 3
Seal the grout
Third, if you have tile, seal the grout lines annually with a standard grout sealer to waterproof them.
To get rid of existing bathroom mold, use undiluted white vinegar. Spray or brush it on the moldy area, let it sit for an hour, then rinse it off and let dry. Sacenti recommends against using bleach to remove mold. “Bleach is not good, because it is 80 per cent water and that is what mold spores are looking for,” he says.
FAQ
How urgent of a problem is mold in a bathroom?
You should address mold as soon as you notice it in your bathroom. If left untreated, mold can continue to spread. Any mold can pose serious health risks to those living in the home. Risks are higher for individuals with allergies, asthma or weakened immune systems.
Should I contact an expert if I spot mold in my bathroom?
This will depend on the size of the molded area and your sensitivity levels. “If you go into the bathroom and start sneezing, coughing or wheezing, then your respiratory system is bothered by the mold that could be there,” Sacenti says. If this is the case, you should call an expert to diagnose and remove the mold in your bathroom. Also, if the molded area is larger than 3×3 ft., call a mold remediation company.
About the Expert
- Michael Sacenti owns American Healthy Homes. He has 10 years of experience in the mold remediation industry and 40 years experience in real estate maintenance.
