Prevent Bathroom Mold

The bathroom is one of the easiest places to get mold. Mold thrives on moisture and bathrooms tend to have a lot of it. If you notice mold is growing in your bathroom, it’s very important to take care of the mold problem right away before it gets worse. Better yet, you can restrict mold from taking up residence in your home’s bathroom by following these simple prevention tips.

Fix Those Leaks

Bathroom leaks can be common and a hidden leak is no fun at all. Mold thrives in moist, dark areas and a leaky pipe hidden from sight can become a big problem. Some signs that you have a hidden leak is when mold or mildew is present on non-shower walls and/or in other corners of the bathroom walls, if a wall has blistering paint or wallpaper, if a wall is warped or stained for no reason and if the bathroom floor is buckling, cracking or beginning to stain for no obvious reason.

Ventilation

Lack of ventilation is the most common cause attributed to bathroom mold.? So, it’s important to have a fan installed in every bathroom in the house. The moist air that fills the bathroom when someone is taking a shower, for example, can condense on the walls, ceiling and window surfaces allowing mold to grow. In some cases, the moisture can even penetrate into cracks and gaps in the building, around electrical outlets and into the molding. Having a properly installed working fan is very important. The fan should blow the moist air outside and not into another part of the house. Always use the fan when taking a shower or bath and leave it on until the moisture in the air has gone.

Tiles and Grout

It’s easy to get mold on the tile and grout in the bathroom. A simple way to remove mold from the bathroom tiles is to wipe them with a cloth. Cleaning tiles with bleach, borax, vinegar or ammonia can be helpful. If you have mold growing in the grout, it can me more difficult to remove. Using a scrub brush or toothbrush to clean the moldy grout works very well. You can also apply a sealer to it or simply replace the grout and/or use a mold-proof grout.

Dry It Out

Manually drying the wet surfaces in the bathroom after you take a shower or bath will help limit the moisture sources. Wipe down the tiles, glass, mirror, walls, window and all other wet surfaces with a towel. In addition, pay attention any bathroom rugs, towels, etc. that are wet and don’t allow them propagate moisture.

Household Humidity

Your household humidity should always be between 30 and 60 percent, as recommended by the EPA. Your local hardware store should sell moisture meters for you to test your home’s humidity. If the humidity is too high, purchasing a dehumidifier is a good idea.

Mold-Resistant Products

Nowadays, there are great products and building materials on the market that are mold-resistant. You can purchase mold-resistant drywall, mold inhibitors for paints, mold-resistant insulation and mold-resistant trim, caulk and sealant.

If you notice a mold problem in your bathroom,? call a experienced professional. Mold can be a tricky problem and it’s better to stop it in it’s tracks before it becomes a big problem.