Mold doesn’t live on your shower walls or the grout or caulk; it actually lives on the deposited skin cells and soap residues (which have your skin cells in them). So. Gross. So, yes, if you want to get rid of mold you gotta break out the cleaning bucket. There’s no way around it. But the good news is that you don’t need toxic cleaners. Soap and water works just fine with some elbow grease. But two warnings:
- Don’t bleach it. Online chat rooms and myriad websites might have you believe that bleach kills mold. Both professionals say it’s not true. Bleach or peroxide removes the stain, but they don’t kill the mold.
- Don’t scrape it. Remember, mold is alive (it’s ALIVE!) and reproduces through microscopic spores. If you brush [mold spores] with your hand, they just go into the air and look for new places to colonize.
What about those daily shower sprays? Will they work? They are of some benefit, in that they help push mold’s food sources down the drain. But as a solo act, no, they won’t keep your bathroom clean.
Dry It Out
How? Use your exhaust fan. Running the fan any time the bathroom is in use is a good idea. Then leave it on for 30 minutes after or at least as long as the shower ran.
But make sure your fan actually exhausts outside through the roof or a side soffit and not into the attic. If it’s going into the attic, you’re causing moisture to go into an unconditioned space, and you can cause mold growth there.
No exhaust fan? “Any movement of air will help dry out the bathroom,. Even a desk fan on the vanity will help.
After a shower, use a towel or squeegee to wipe down shower walls. Open the shower curtain to let it dry. Mop any water spills on the floor and counters. Avoid piling in too many shampoo and body wash bottles. They’re a perfect place for moisture and mold spores to hide.
Make It Stay Away
Here are a few more tips if your bathroom mold seems especially strong-willed:
Re-caulk. Mold adores crevices — probably because it knows you can’t reach it there. If lots of mold has built up on your caulking, it’s probably because it’s spread deep into unseen spaces behind it. If so, re-caulking may solve the problem. Just be sure to follow these tips to keep the problem from getting worse:
- Once you’ve removed the compromised caulk, be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the area before putting down new caulk.
- Use caulk labeled specifically for the bathroom, which means it will be mold resistant.
- Let it cure for at least 24 hours (or as long as it needs to) before taking a shower or bath. If it’s not dry, it’ll allow moisture to creep back in, undoing all your hard work.
Check everywhere for mold. If it keeps coming back, it may have a colony somewhere you haven’t found. Check behind the toilet and under the sink. Moist drywall and wallpaper are tasty treats for mold.
Install a humidity monitor. Affordable at around $10, they can let you know when moisture is building before it turns into an indoor rain forest.
Know when to get help. If it keeps coming back, or you see areas of mold the size of a quarter or bigger you want professional help. You’re dealing with excessive moisture or a food source that needs to be controlled.
How to Get Rid of Bathroom Mold
- Use soap and water, not bleach. Bleach only discolors it; it does not get rid of mold.
- Keep your bathroom as dry as possible. Use squeegees on shower walls and doors. Use an exhaust fan religiously. Wipe wet areas with dry towels.
- Recaulk your tile if necessary. Be sure to get caulk that is meant for humid and wet areas, like bathrooms.
- Get a humidity monitor to let you know when moisture is building up to mold-friendly levels.