Why Do I Have Mold In My Shower
Its very common for mold to be found in the shower. There is lots of water and humidity in the bathroom which mold just adores.
Frequently running water in the shower creates wet surfaces and puddles of water. If you dont dry this moisture out quickly it can easily lead to mold growth.
On top of this, when the water in the bathroom does dry out it evaporates into the air and increases the humidity. Steam from the shower or a hot bath also makes the bathroom more humid. Since bathrooms are often not well ventilated the humidity tends to hang around and wet surfaces take a long time to dry out. Enter mold.
Another reason mold grows in theshower is because grime from body oils and soap scum which is washed off andonto the shower or tub create a food source for mold to feed on.
Basically, if mold were to have achoice vacation destination it would be the shower. Soooo inviting.
Tips For Preventing Mold In Showers
We have looked at how to get rid of mold in shower grout and caulk, but thats not enough. Keeping them from flourishing in your shower is also a challenge. Lets take a look at some tips on how to prevent mold in shower grout and caulk.
1.Wash your Bathroom Rugs Frequently
As mentioned before, mold flourishes in a warm, moist environment with poor air circulation, and your bathroom rugs are one of their cozy hideouts. You may be one of I will wash them later people but to put an end to these icky organisms, then you have no choice but to wash your rugs frequently. This will help you get rid of any mold that may have grown on the rug and pose as an unsuitable environment for them to ever grow again.
2.Fix all the Leaks in your Shower
Moisture provides a suitable environment for mold to grow, so any leaking pipes or taps are a great opportunity for moisture to be around your shower. Regularly check for any leaking pipes or taps around your shower and make sure to fix them.
3.Declutter your Shower
For mold to grow, it needs a surface, right? Try as much as possible to remove any shampoo bottles, shower gel bottles, bathing toys inside the shower, to prevent any mold from growing on them.
Arrange all your bathing essentials in a shower caddy which you can easily clean without any hassles.
4.Use a Mildew-Resistant Shower Curtain
Shower Mold Symptoms: How To Know Its Really There
If you think you have a mold issue in your bathroom, there are some simple steps that you can take to find out for sure.
You just have to know the signs and smells that can alert you to the fact that you could have a mold issue.
- Look For Water Damage
One of the first things you want to look for is any sign of water damage.
This could be soft walls, peeling paint, loose wallpaper, discoloration on the walls, cracked or loose tiles falling from the shower wall.
Even gaps in the grout lines, if the bathroom surround looks warped, or you can see crumbling drywall around the shower.
- Checkout The Mold Prone Areas
The next thing you may want to look for is any signs of mold growth on ceilings, and around the base of the shower and toilet.
Often when you have a moisture problem or a leak, these areas will look discolored and feel soft to the touch.
Often you will be able to see visible mold on the grout between the tiles and the caulking within the shower compartment.
- Use Your Nose To Detect
A smelly musty odor in your bathroom is another way to find mold problems as well.
Sometimes you may mistake this smell for wet musty towels or damp clothing laying around in the bathroom.
Especially if there is a dirty laundry basket in that bathroom.
When you smell musty odors in the bathroom, find out where its coming from. This smell is a dead giveaway that some form of mold growth is taking place.
Dont make the mistake of not fixing the problem.
Also Check: How To Get Mold Off Grout In Shower
Black Mold In The Shower Heres How To Remove It
By Jennifer First published: . This post may contain affiliate links.
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Showers are notorious for their gunkand funk. Sure, there are some super sparkly perfect showers in this world butthey are few and far between. Life happens and cleaning the shower ends upfairly low on most peoples list.
Enter black mold in the shower. Uggg.
Dont worry. It happens to pretty muchall of us. Even me. Yes, you read that right. I fight the shower mold fightweekly. Whoever thought that natural stone tiles in the shower was a good ideathought wrong.
Trust me when I saw that I have tried EVERYTHING in the battle against black mold in the shower. Im a pretty savvy DIY cleaning guru as well as a certified mold inspector. Youd think I would have this down to a science. Ha. Yeah nope. Every shower is different which is why there is no one size fits all approach to how to get rid of mold in the shower.
But never fear I will give you ahandful of shower mold removal options that WILL work. You just have to playaround and find the one that works in your shower.
The Pros And Cons Of Choosing Black Grout
- Pin
Black grout can be seen in modern farmhouse bathrooms everywhere. The contrast dark black grout creates next to white subway tile is absolutely stunning and considerably elevates the look of plain white tile.
As we planned our master bathroom renovation, going with black grout and white subway tile for our shower was a no-brainer, but now, after living with it for over a year, I have some regrets.
Heres everything you wanted to know about black grout: the good, bad and the ugly.
This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.
Read Also: Best Way To Clean Mold Off Ceiling
How To Remove Mold From Grout
Fortunately, there are several cleaning agents that work to remove mold from the grout between tiles. When cleaning the grout between tiles, first check to make sure the cleaning agent you use won’t cause any damage to that specific kind of tile. Some tiles should not come into contact with bleach or abrasive agents like baking soda.
How To Remove Black Mold From Your Bathroom
Your first step before removing black mold from your bathroom is to test the mold to make sure its not the toxic version, Stachybotrys chartarum. To test the mold, get help from a professional mold remediator or use a home mold testing kit like a DIY Mold Test. Only professionals should safely remove this type of mold due to increased risk of lung irritation, skin issues, and more. However, most bathroom mold isnt toxic and you can remove it with store-bought cleaners or home remedies. Remove black mold from your bathroom in a few simple steps:
Step 1: Spray an antifungal cleaner, like one by Clorox, onto the mold. This cleaner uses a specific formula to kill types of fungus such as mildew and mold. Then scrub the mold away with a sponge or toothbrush.
Step 2: After cleaning the area, use a mixture of equal parts water and bleach in a spray bottle and apply it to any remaining stains to lift them. Let it soak for a few minutes and then use a toothbrush to scrub the stains until they are clean.
Step 3: To prevent mold from returning, spray distilled vinegar onto the surface of your shower to kill mold spores and slow down any regrowth. Let the vinegar dry before going on to the next step.
Step 4: Fully dry any remaining wet surfaces with a clean cloth towel. Ventilate the bathroom.
Also Check: How To Remove Mold On Ceiling
Why Mold Develops On Grout
One of the most common places to find mold is between tiles, because the porous nature of grout is highly susceptible to microscopic growth. Whether part of a kitchen backsplash or bathroom detail, tiles usually see a ton of moisture. Rarely do we take the time to dry tiles or the grout between them completely after we cook or wash. If a damp room has inadequate ventilation and you don’t run a fan or dehumidifier, it quickly becomes the right environment for mold. Removing mold from the grout between tiles can be tedious, but it’s well worth it to avoid mold-related illnesses.
Another Way To Get Rid Of Black Mold
You can combine Lysol, baking soda, and Borax to make another surefire way to eradicate your black mold.
- ¼ cup of Borax
Mix the ingredients in a suitable container. They shouldnt need much time to mix, and you neednt wait before applying them. Place the paste on the black mold areas and scrub.
The black mold should lift off instantly, and once it is gone, follow our tips on how to prevent it in the future. You wont even need any additional cleaning products.
Also Check: How To Clean Ceiling Mold Bathroom
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Shower Caulking
I wrote a whole post about removing black mold from shower caulking, though my bleach method has been critiqued for not actually doing more than removing the stain and color of the mold. And the mold did come back 6-9 months later.
You can see my video tutorial about how I did it though:
This is because bleach is no longer considered to be the best way to remove mold. It is only effective if the mold is on a non-porous material like tile, bathtubs, glass, and countertops. It doesnt reach the mold growing underneath the surface. Also, bleach can damage the materials it is used on as its a harsh, corrosive chemical. The fumes are strong and harsh and it must be handled with gloves.
But, it does do a great job at removing the mold stains, but the mold isnt truly killed.
You can instead use vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, oxygen bleach, borax or hydrogen peroxide.
I, however, have not been able to find many tutorials on how to use these products specifically for cleaning moldy caulking in bathrooms, so if anyone has tried using them, with success, Id love to know! I tried making a paste of water and OxiClean and slathered it onto the moldy caulking, but it did absolutely nothing. It dried out shortly after application and didnt remove the mold or the stains at all.
Our Tricks For The Best Way To Clean Mold From Grout
As long as you have the appropriate materials and a little time, you can take care of the mold you may find in the grout in your bathroom, kitchen, or floor tiles. Our solutions help you remove mold from basement walls or the tile in the cellar bathroom with ease. You dont have to worry about endangering the health of your family with our trusty mold remover recipes.
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Check Your Shower Tiles
Before you start scrubbing with strong chemicals, however, you need to check the type of tile in your bathroom and find out what chemicals are safe to use around it. Some cleaning agents will blur the pattern or destroy the patina of your shower tiles, so its important to know what finished you have in your shower and how the cleaning agent you plan to use will affect them.
Health Effects Of Mold Growth
Molds dont just make your shower visually annoying they can have adverse effects on your health as well.
Modern bathroom areas are constructed with materials without cellulose so that it less likely to have toxic mold in your shower, but common black mold can still be harmful.
People with asthma, allergies, sensitivities, or weak immune systems often experience symptoms like rashes, skin irritation, sneezing, yeast infection, itchy eyes and difficulty in breathing.
These reasons and the simple fact that they are nasty are enough to get rid of molds in your shower caulk, and we are happy to show you how.
Don’t Miss: Cleaning Mold Off Leather
Redo The Shower Grout
In some cases, the mold problem in a shower is so bad, so extensive, that you really have no choice but to rip out all the grout and begin again, starting from scratch. If this is your situation, youll need a grout removal tool with a triangular tip, as well as a Bosch multitool or a grout saw. You may want to protect your tiles by covering them with painters tape during this phase of the process.
Scrape out any grout that has been affected by the mold problem, going as deep and as far as necessary to rid your shower area of the mold completely. Discard all the crumbly pieces of grout and wipe away any remaining grout dust or residue. After that, pass over the area with a vacuum to remove even more excess.
Fill in the cracks between the tiles with fresh grout, using a grout float to ensure that the new grout mixture gets deeply inside those crevices. Wipe away excess and smooth out bumps or ridges until its all level and perfect. Let the grout dry undisturbed for a week or so before you seal it.
Check out
Getting Mold Out Of Grout Lines
How to get mold out of grout lines, especially black mold, can be challenging. Attack the black mold with this recipe.
- Hard bristled brush
Put on some gloves and goggles and some old clothes, mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and use the whole thing on the black mold. Do not give it a chance to survive. After 30 minutes, scrub it with a tool with hard bristles.
You can use a lot of force if necessary, as it needs to come off for your long term health. However, if you arent sure that it came off entirely, use a DIY tile grout cleaner for any remaining mold.
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Preventing Future Growth Of Black Mold On The Walls Or Floor Of Your Bathroom
There are certain things that you can do to help prevent mold from taking over your bathroom.
1. Use your bathroom fan when you are in the bathroom and especially when you are taking a shower or a bath.
2. Use your squeegee every time you finish taking a shower.
3. Keep to a regular cleaning schedule and use any of the methods we mentioned above to keep your shower grout and other areas of your bathroom clean.
4. Consider sealing grout lines. There are multiple products available for this purpose. Consult with the experts at your local hardware store.
Cleaning grout may seem like a small task, but it can be the difference between mold and freshness. Keep your shower clean by following our easy tips for cleaning your grout.
If you have any questions about getting rid of mold or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at . We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Best Mold Grout Cleaners
Whether you are looking for a natural way to clean the bathroom and kitchen or a commercial cleaner, you have options. Use vinegar, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide to clean between your tile naturally. Or you can purchase a variety of cleaners that contain bleach or use bleach and water to whiten and brighten the area.
Recommended Reading: Diy Mold Removal Basement
What Causes Mold In Shower Grout
According to recent statistics, more than half of all the homes in the United States have mold, which means you are not the only one struggling with the rampant growth of all that icky mold in your home.
These micro-organisms thrive best in places where there is warmth, moisture, and poor air circulation, making places like the kitchen, basement, attic, and the shower, especially in the grout, ideal places for it to grow. It usually takes less than two days to grow, and the more organic matter it feeds on, the faster it grows.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows the dangers that come with these mere living organisms, but the truth is, it can cause some serious health issues if it is not completely eradicated.
Disinfect Surfaces With A Baking Soda Solution
Baking soda is a great cleaner and disinfectant. You can make a baking soda paste for scrubbing grout or use baking soda to disinfect surfaces after removing the mold.
As a bonus, baking soda helps to get rid of odors.
To create a baking soda solution for use in a spray bottle, combine one to two tablespoons with two cups of water. This should dilute the baking soda enough for it to remain a liquid.
To create a paste for cleaning difficult areas, combine one part baking soda to one part water. Apply the paste to the surface and allow to dry before scrubbing.
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Would I Choose Black Grout Again
This dependsId be fine with black grout in a kitchen. But Id never choose to go with black grout in the shower again. Its a lot of maintenance and Im way too much of a perfectionist to be okay with jet black grout fading to gray.
Honestly, its not awful or even really bad, its just noticeable in one small spot where water really hits it, but it doesnt ruin the bathroom at all.
If you have your heart set on black grout, go for it just know what youre getting into and stay on top of cleaning and sealing it!
Interested in other grout colors? Heres a detailed post on how to choose the right tile and grout color combinations.
