Mold in Bathroom: How to Get Rid of Mold in Your Bathroom

Mold is a type of unavoidable fungus that occurs everywhere. It propagates by spreading lightweight spores through the air and fulfills an indispensable role in our ecosystem by decomposing dead leaves, plants, and trees in nature. No matter if they’re black, green, orange, green, or purple, mold organisms thrive in places with moisture, darkness, and stagnant air.

To prevent mold, professional regular cleaning or thorough one-time cleaning every now and then are recommended.

If you’re struggling with black mold in the bathroom, then be sure to follow our preventative tactics and cleaning tips. From mold on bathroom ceilings to walls and in-between grouting, EuroMaids will help you understand how to get rid of mold in the house.

What Is the Main Cause of Mold in the Bathroom?

The primary culprit behind bathroom mold is excessive moisture. Hot showers and baths create a steamy environment, saturating the air with humidity. This invisible moisture then condenses on surfaces, especially in poorly ventilated areas. These damp conditions provide a perfect breeding ground for mold spores, which are always present in small amounts but can quickly multiply when they find the right environment. Grout lines, shower curtains, and even hidden areas behind the toilet or under the sink become prime targets for mold growth if left damp.

How Dangerous Is Black Mold in My House?

Did you know that there are many types of mold found in houses? Black mold, or Stachybotrys, is particularly dangerous, although all types of mold pose health threats to the household. If you find any type of mold in your bathroom, regardless of its classification, make sure to take action immediately to remove it from your home.

When inspecting your bathroom, make sure to take a close look at the tile grout, the area around the drains, and the walls. We’ve outlined some removal products below to help get you started.

How Do I Get Rid of Black Mold in My Bathroom?

What kills mold permanently? Black mold removal products like DIY remedies and shelf-bought cleaners can tackle growing spores in your bathroom. As soon as you discover mold, you should remove it, along with the stains it leaves behind. Below are some of the best bathroom mold removal products that can be applied throughout your home.

1. Bleach

Using bleach to kill mold is only effective on hard, impermeable tub and tile surfaces. The chlorine in bleach can’t penetrate porous surfaces like drywall or wood. So, when the porous material absorbs the water component of the bleach, it achieves the opposite of what’s intended and merely provides additional moisture for mold roots to feed on.

This causes a cycle of continuous bleaching, where in some cases, the bleach drains the mold of its color, misleading homeowners to believe they have solved the problem. If you want to bleach mold, you should only do so if it’s absolutely necessary on small surface areas, as it’s not endorsed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If the mold in the bathroom returns, then rather use borax or vinegar.

2. Borax

Also called Sodium Tetraborate, Borax is a natural white mineral and salt powder compound used to kill mold. Mixed with water, this fungicide is effective on all surfaces, including wood and metal. While toxic if ingested, Borax doesn’t emit any harmful chemicals or fumes like other chemical mold killers.

Mold tends to grow in acidic environments with a pH range of 3.5 - 8.0. Borax contains a pH level of 9.13, which completely kills mold and prevents the germination of its spores. You can purchase borax for mold removal for a few dollars at the laundry section in most supermarkets.

3. Vinegar

The antifungal and antibacterial properties of white vinegar make it an effective black mold killer on nonporous surfaces. However, using vinegar for mold eradication on soft surfaces will likely be ineffective. Applying vinegar to clean mold that’s persistent on floor coverings or other malleable surfaces is almost impossible — it’s safer and more effective to replace the surface.

Both white distilled vinegar with 5% acidity and cleaning vinegar with 6% acidity are equally effective black mold removal products. When using vinegar to kill mold, it’s advisable to avoid natural stone, waxed wood, aluminum, and cast iron as its acidity can damage these surfaces.

Before cleaning mold, it’s important to address the source of moisture that enabled growth to occur, otherwise, it will return. Any mold in your bathroom traversing an area of 10 square feet or larger should be removed by a specialist, especially if it has penetrated your heating, air conditioning, or ventilation system.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

Another mold cleaner for the bathroom is hydrogen peroxide. This substance naturally has antifungal and antibacterial properties, which makes it perfect for treating mold. It works by breaking down the microorganisms’ essential components.

It is generally safe to use on solid surfaces in addition to the majority of most synthetic fabrics, although it can potentially bleach natural fabrics such as wool. Make sure to wipe down the hydrogen peroxide when you’re finished cleaning the mold.

5. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another way to kill mold in the bathroom, although it is typically the most effective when it’s mixed with vinegar. Take two parts baking soda and mix it with one part water and one part white vinegar.

The volume of cleaning products that you use will depend on the size of the treatment area. Carefully spread the thick paste onto the mold and let it dry. Once it’s hardened, scrub the area thoroughly, and make sure to wear gloves. You can repeat this process until the mold is gone.

Tools and Materials

To successfully get rid of mold in your bathroom, you need to have the right tools:

Safety Precautions for Cleaning Mold

Mold contains harmful toxins. For maximum health and safety, we recommend the following:

How to Get Rid of Mold on the Bathroom Ceiling?

As long as you follow the steps below, you can eliminate mold effectively and safely.

1. Seal off the Moldy Area

When killing mold, you want to seal off affected areas to prevent spores from spreading:

• Keep the bathroom sealed off from the rest of the house.
• Cover doorways with plastic sheets and tape from the wall to the floor.
• Cover all air ducts with plastic and secure them with tape.

2. Remove the Mold from the Ceiling

Depending on the severity and the location of the mold, you may need to set one hour or two aside to complete the job. Here’s how to clean mold from your bathroom:

1. Once you have selected your cleaner, close doors leading to the rest of the house.
2. Put on gloves, goggles, and a face mask. While this may seem excessive, black mold, known as Stachybotrys, can be harmful to your health, causing flu-like symptoms like diarrhea, headaches, memory loss, and respiratory damage.
3. Scrape away paint in the moldy area to expose fungus growing beneath the surface.
4. Apply your chosen cleaner. Make sure you scrub the cleaner into the surface, regularly rinsing your brush or scourer.
5. Dry the area thoroughly when finished. Leaving a wet surface will just encourage more mold to grow.
6. Repaint if necessary.

3. Clean Up After Mold Removal

The cleanup process is just as important to prevent spores from spreading throughout your house. We recommend:

• Double bag and seal mold materials, like carpets.
• Bag and seal all rags used for mold removal and throw them away.
• Immediately wash hands and skin.
• Deeply wash clothes using hot water or dispose of them.

How to Remove Mold from Bathroom Walls

Mold on bathroom walls can be tricky to remove because homeowners don’t always notice it until it discolors the paint. If your home produces a persistent earthy, musty odor, and stains or dampness on the wall, then you may have mold. If this mold is inside the walls, you can follow the same removal process for getting rid of ceiling mold or get professionals to remove it as part of a deep cleaning.

In some cases, when mold attaches itself to drywall, it’s best to take down the entire wall or a section of it to prevent spores from multiplying, especially if the wall is damp. If your drywall feels soft, it’s almost impossible to salvage. Then it’s no longer a question of how to clean mold in bathroom walls, but rather when to replace the section of wall.

How to Remove Mold from Painted or Wallpapered Walls

To tackle mold growth there, fill a spray bottle with 2 tablespoons of borax, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and 2 cups of hot water. Spray the damaged area and immediately scrub it with a clean cloth or brush to remove the surface layer of mold. Lightly respray the area afterward, wait for ten minutes, and then wipe it clean. Let it dry overnight without rinsing to kill lingering mold.

How to Remove Mold from Bathroom Tiles

Getting rid of mold on bathroom tiles is best accomplished with a vinegar or borax solution. If there is only a small area of mold, you won’t need to make as much mixture. Take two tablespoons of borax and mix it with two cups of warm water, funneling the solution into a spray bottle. If needed, you can make a larger batch by combining one cup of borax with one gallon of warm water and using a mop to apply it.

Once the solution is made, soak the tiles and let the area sit for a few minutes. Regardless of the solution that you used, you won’t need to mix the solution. Instead, make sure you’ve fully dried the floor to ensure the moisture doesn’t continue to develop.

What about how to get rid of mold on bathroom tiles? Use the same solution of borax or vinegar. Apply it directly to the tile grout lines and allow it to sit. You can opt for an old toothbrush or another small bristle brush to scrub away the mold. Make sure you properly dispose of the brush that you used, as it will have mold on it that can still cause health issues.

How to Prevent Bathroom Mold

Regardless of the type of mold, there is one consistent: it thrives in moisture-heavy environments. This is why the bathroom is particularly at risk for mold development. The sink, the bathroom, and the shower can make for an incredibly wet and humid environment. Now that we know that mold thrives in damp environments, it’s important that you do what you can to take control of the moisture in your bathroom.

Utilize the following tips to keep mold and moisture at bay:

• Always leave the bathroom door and window open once you’ve finished showering or bathing for at least twenty minutes to allow humidity to diminish. If you have a ventilation fan, then keep it running for the same amount of time to control moisture.
• Fix plumbing leaks as soon as possible as they can slowly but steadily cause serious damage to your bathroom.
• Place a moisture-absorbing desiccant in the corner of your bathroom, or run a dehumidifier if you live in a humid climate.
• Always spread towels out to dry or hang them on the line.
• If possible, use mold-resistant paint in your bathroom.
• Clean your bathroom weekly with a strong disinfectant product to stop mold from developing in the first place.

Conclusion

Mold removal is an intricate process, but vital for your health and your home’s longevity. Using the right materials and methods to remove mold in your bathroom is paramount to ensure it doesn’t return and cause further damage. An important step in preventing mold accumulation is to make sure it's thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Our experienced team at EuroMaids is happy to help keep your home in Naperville, IL, spic and span. Give us a call at (630) 737-1080 or get a free estimate online today.