How To Get Mold Off Of Ceiling In Bathroom

Tip 6 Insulate The Ceiling

How To Remove Black Mold From Your Bathroom Ceiling

The mold on your bathroom ceiling is most often caused by changes in temperature. The cooler parts of the ceiling encourage condensation, especially metal fasteners, ceiling beams, crown molding, and edge trim. Adding layers of insulation makes the ceiling surface warmer. This reduces the surface area available for condensation, which reduces mold as a result.

You can insulate the bathroom as a DIY project if you have the skills for it. Fiberglass is a good option, or you can insulate the bathroom ceiling with sheetrock, green board, or purple board. You can also introduce natural light by enlarging your bathroom windows or installing skylights. Mold prefers dark, dank spaces, so raising your sunlight levels will lower your mold issues.

How To Remove Mold From Painted Wood

Just because a wooden surface has been painted doesnt mean its immune to mold. Interior doors, window frames, and baseboards can all get moldy. The good news is the paint can form a protective barrier that prevents mold from getting into the wood, making cleanup faster and easier.

Youll need:

Paper towels

Method:

Step 1: Use damp paper towels to wipe away the visible mold. A soft-bristled brush will help dislodge any stubborn parts.

Step 2: Make a solution of 1 teaspoon dish soap to 2 cups water and use the spray bottle to apply it to the wood.

Step 3: Scrub the surface gently with the soft-bristled brush to remove any remaining stains. Wipe clean with paper towels.

Step 4: Combine one part white vinegar with one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spritz the surface. Do not soak the wood, just get it damp. Allow to air dry.

Mold is rarely a big problem on painted wooden surfaces, because of the protective barrier the paint creates. Vinegar and peroxide will prevent it from returning, but make sure to address the underlying cause. Painted wood isnt molds first choice for a home, so its likely theres an issue with damp in that area.

Put On Protective Gear

When removing mold, it is best to wear old clothes that you won’t mind being splattered with bleach and that can be washed in hot water to remove any mold spores that might scatter. Put on a face mask, protective eyewear, and gloves.

To improve ventilation in the bathroom while you are cleaning, open windows or add a circulating fan. Turn on the bathroom ventilation fan, as well.

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How To Get Rid Of Mould On The Bathroom Ceiling

The first step to cleaning mould from a bathroom ceiling is to find a product that really works, like Domestos Thick Bleach.

Before using any new product, make sure you test it on a small area first. Then it’s time to learn how to remove mould from the ceiling:

Create a mixture of Domestos Thick Bleach and water, using a spray or sponge to apply it to the mould patches in your bathroom.

Wash down the area with water.

Apply white vinegar with a spray bottle .

Wait 1 hour before cleaning the area with water.

Leave to dry thoroughly – ventilate the room to help remove fumes too. You can also use a fan or hairdryer to speed up the process.

What Happened & Where Did The Mold Come From

How to remove mold off your bathroom ceiling

The primary reason as to why mold issues appear in ones bathroom is primarily due to poor ventilation of high levels of moisture. Keep in mind that bathrooms are the perfect setting for mold spores to grow. There is always plenty of water and unless you live in an upscale home there is typically not so much air space. This makes it very difficult for humidity levels to regulate after a normal shower let alone a ten plus minute shower. Thats why its very important for your bathroom to have proper venting both during and after bathing. Sometimes contractors will skimp on a window and install a bathroom fan that is supposed to exhaust outside the home. In my case, it does not exhaust outside the home but rather into the attic which is why its so difficult to keep the humidity down.

In most cases mold is found in places like under the sink, behind the refrigerator, dirty air conditioner vents, and other crowded space with high moisture levels. The key is to make sure that areas where there is greater chances for increased levels of moisture get vented properly. The ventilation allows for the moisture to escape and leaves the space dry even where high levels of moisture exist.

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What Not To Use Bleach

The goal of mold cleaning is not to kill mold, or even to disinfect a surface or material, but rather to remove mold from a surface. Think of mold more like dirt. If you had a wall with dirt on it, would you simply spray it with bleach and consider it cleaned? Of course not.

Bleach is a combination of chemicals used to kill bacteria and whiten clothes, floors, and walls. Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite which is toxic to bacteria, fish, and human beings. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency discourages the use of bleach and biocides for mold cleaning.3

Of course, there are more reasons to avoid bleach. Bleach is designed to kill bacteria, and will not completely remove a mold problem. Molds are fungi and they can, and will, grow back after bleaching.

How Do You Prevent Mold On The Bathroom Ceiling

Bathrooms are usually the most humid areas in the house. No one wants to give up hot showers, but there are several ways to control moisture in the air. These ideas reduce the chances of mold growing on your bathroom ceilings.

Upgrade the bathrooms exhaust ventilation system.

Use mildew-resistant shower curtains and bath mats.

Let fresh air circulate around things stored on shower caddies.

Regularly inspect fixtures to head off bathroom flooding mishaps.

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Increase The Air Flow In Your Bathroom

Keep the window in your bathroom open or at least cracked at all times, especially while showering and for 10 to 15 minutes after each shower. This releases water vapor from the room and lowers the humidity in the shower. If your bathroom doesn’t have a window, run the room’s exhaust fan during and after showering. Leave the bathroom door open whenever possible to increase ventilation and lower humidity.

Preventing Condensation On The Toilet

How to Remove Black Mold from a Bathroom Ceiling

In all three cases described above, condensation is the primary cause of mold growth. Thus, prevention must hinge upon preventing or lowering the condensation. If you have a working bathroom fan already installed, the solution is simple. Run the fan. If necessary, a push button timer with 20, 40, 60 minute increments can help ensure proper ventilation occurs. Bathroom fans often lack sufficient power. Youll know this if youre still seeing condensation even when running the fan for 60 minutes after each shower usage. Time for an upgrade.

If your bathroom does not have a fan currently installed, your options are much more limited. Opening the window can help, but this isnt comfortable in January. And realistically, most people wont keep the window open long enough to achieve proper ventilation rates.

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Bathroom Mold Prevention And Remediation

After you learn how to remove mold, youll want to prevent mold in the future. The key to stopping most mold is to control dampness. The worst infestations usually occur in damp crawlspaces, in attics and walls where water has leaked in from the outside, and in basements with poor foundation drainage. Stopping leaks, ensuring good ventilation in attics, keeping crawlspaces dry and routing water away from the foundation are the best defenses on how to get rid of mold.

Almost every home gets mold, and that means theres a need for mold remediation. Well show you how to remove major mold infestations.

Mildewcide in paint is usually effective for controlling surface mold in damp rooms like bathrooms and outside in shady areas. Many paints already have mildewcide in them. Check with your paint dealer to be sure of mold removal products. You can add mildewcide, although you might void the paint warranty.

Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Types Of Household Molds

Mold health problems include minor breathing problems, as well as serious respiratory issues for seniors, small children or those with compromised immune systems. Typical household mold includes the common yellow mold that loves wood and dirt. Aspergillus is commonly found in the home, but isnt harmful to healthy adults and is considered an unavoidable airborne fungus by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alternaria can make you wheeze and sneeze, but it is otherwise common to find in a home. On the other hand, the black, slowly creeping mold, Cladosporium, is a potent fungus that can cause serious respiratory issues.

Stachybotrys is the most toxic mold and can be found in truly wet and humid surfaces. You may want to hire a professional for this type of black mold removal if you find it in your home.

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How To Prevent Black Mold In Bathroom Ceiling

There are a couple of ways to prevent the black mold growth on your bathroom ceiling. Check these following steps out:

Spray the bathroom ceiling and wall regularly with the combination of water and hydrogen peroxide. If you find them dirty, scrub with the brush and clean up with water.

If you have a shower curtain, make sure to wash it with hot water and distilled white vinegar. Once its dry and ready to use, spread the curtain fully so that the moisture can evaporate easily.

While taking a hot shower, let your bathroom window open all the times. This helps the water vapor release and brings the level of humidity down.

If you have no window, install the dehumidifier in your bathroom.

The black mold in bathroom ceiling might affect your health and ruin the rooms interior design. Hence, recognizing the mold, getting rid of it quickly, and preventing its growth are indeed best things to do.

What Causes Black Mold On A Bathroom Ceiling

How to Get Rid of Mold on Bathroom Ceiling

Mold on the ceiling is caused by moisture that has no where to go. Mold loves moisture. Steam from hot showers and bathtubs rises to the ceiling, and without proper ventilation it can settle there. If the moisture remains too long, mold spores begin to grow. In addition to being unsightly, mold can also cause health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mold can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritationor skin irritation. And even more alarming, serious lung infections can occur in people with weak immune systems.

Is black mold deadly? Find out common mold myths.

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To Remove Black Mold From Hard Surfaces Follow These Steps:

Combine 1 part bleach with 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spritz the affected area.

Let the solution sit for 10 minutes. The mold should start to fade away on its own, but if areas of stubborn mold remain, use a coarse brush or old toothbrush to scrub the mold away.

Rinse the surface thoroughly with water afterward.

If youd rather not use bleach, white vinegar or baking soda are good natural substitutes that kill black mold. Vinegar can be used just like the bleach.

Vinegar And Baking Soda

Material

Scrub brush

Instructions:

Using the combination of white vinegar and baking soda is an excellent way to get rid of black mold in the bathroom. Add small amounts of vinegar in baking soda until getting a paste. Apply it over the mold with a scrub brush.

Cover the surface with the plastic wrap and leave it sits there for about two hours. Then, you can spray the caulk with EC3 mold solution spray to kill spores and mycotoxins left after cleaning.

Read Also: Mold Pros

How To Remove Mould From Ceilings

If you already have mould on your bathroom ceiling, you cant do anything about preventing further mould before cleaning whats already there. The best way to remove mould from bathroom ceilings is to use a simple solution of warm water with detergent or a homemade cleaning solution of diluted bleach or white vinegar.Before you start cleaning the area, be sure to wear a protective mask and gloves so that you dont touch or inhale the mould spores. Wash the area with mild detergent and warm water and then let the area dry.If youre using diluted bleach or white vinegar to get rid of the mould, the process is a little different. To use the bleach solution, mix one-part bleach to one-part water and apply the solution with a cloth. To use vinegar, pour it into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the mould. Leave it for an hour or so, and then wipe the area clean with water and wait for it to dry.

Making A Mold Removal Solution

How to Prevent and Remove Bathroom Ceiling Mildew

1Create a vinegar solution for a safe, non-toxic mold killer. White vinegar is a great way to remove mold from a variety of different surfaces. Pour the vinegar directly into a spray bottle to use it. It doesnt need to be diluted at all, as it is the most effective when it isnt watered down. You dont need to rinse away the vinegar after you have used it.XResearch source

Although the smell can be unpleasant, it usually clears within 1-2 hours. You can open a window or turn on a fan to help the smell disappear faster.

2Use a Borax solution for a natural mold remover. Borax is a natural insecticide and fungicide. Mix together 1 cup of Borax with 1 US gal of water and then pour the solution into a spray bottle. Simply spray the solution directly on the surface you want to clean. Borax doesnt need to be rinsed off, as it can prevent more mold from growing in the future.XResearch source

You can find Borax in the laundry section of grocery stores. It is a white mineral powder.

Borax is dangerous to consume, but unlike bleach, it doesn’t release toxic fumes.

Always wear gloves when working with bleach and keep the area well-ventilated to avoid inhaling the fumes.

Bleach can cause eye, lung, and skin irritations.XResearch source

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Why Does Mold Grow On My Bathroom Ceiling

Bathrooms are excellent places to grow some of your homes worst enemies: mold and mildew. Excess moisture in your bathroom causes mold and mildew to grow. Mold and mildew only need oxygen, a food source, and moisture to grow. Mold and mildew can damage the fixtures of the bathroom such as the drywall, trim, paint, doors, ceilings, and more because for the mold and mildew, these fixtures are a food source.

Most building codes now require a fan in every bathroom. Why? Because fans help ventilate the room, remove bad smells, and remove moisture. The most important function of the fan being to remove moisture. Even if the bathroom has a window, a fan is the best way to prevent moisture buildup.

Keeping your bathroom dry, well ventilated, and consistently using an exhaust fan is critical to preventing mold and mildew growth.

To learn more check out our post: Bathroom Exhaust Fans All You Need To Know to learn all the details, and to determine how to choose the best fan for your bathroom.

Mold Growth On The Wall Behind The Toilet

The same interactions that cause moisture and mold growth on toilets can also lead to mold growth on the adjacent wall. Typically this occurs when the cold surface temperature of the toilet cools the temperature of the wall directly behind the toilet. Once the wall temperature drops below the dew point, moisture condenses and mold growth ensues.

Cleanup?

Not easy. If mold growth occurs on the wall, it is because the distance between the wall and the toilet is very small. Often the distance is less than 1, leaving little room to insert a scrub brush, rag or other cleaning utensil. A tooth brush can work well, but as one can imagine, the work is tedious. In cases with severe mold, the toilet must be removed to provide access.

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Permanent Removal Of Mould

The DIY approach is generally only a temporary fix at best. At worst you could miss the signs of a serious leak or plumbing issue that could result in very expensive repair bills.

Those leaks can cause major structural damage without obvious outward signs except for the mould.

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The best way to get rid of mould permanently is to call the professionals. Mould Cleaning Australia are experts in mould inspection, prevention and removal. We get rid of mould the right way.

Check Your Bathroom Regularly

The best way to pay attention to the condition of the bathroom is by checking it regularly. Regular cleaning is one of the prevention measures that you can use to keep everything clean. Regular cleaning includes checking if theres a leak of the plumb or drain. Once you spot this leak, try to fix it as soon as possible.

Before cleaning the mold, please make sure of some things that you should NOT do during the process:

Turning on the exhaust fan might help spores to spread out.
Touching the mold with bare hands.

Removing the mold with a dry cloth. Please make sure to use a damp one.
If you use chemical products, open the window to get better airflow while cleaning.

Once youre ready with the preparation, the steps to do are:

Put on the gloves and mask to prevent irritation that comes from the bleach.

Mix 1 part of bleach and 2 parts of water in a spray bottle.

Apply the mixture to the affected area, let it sit, and dry.

Once its dry, wipe it away with a damp cloth or rinse with water.

The other way to make bleach dilute is by mixing it in a bowl and dip one end of the cloth.

If you still see the mold, you can repeat the steps until youre satisfied with the result.

Scrubbing brush

The steps that you have to do are quite similar to the previous steps:

Move the white vinegar to the spray bottle without mixing it with water because it might decrease its acidics quality.

After an hour, you can wipe it away by using a damp cloth after soaking it in plain water.

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