How To Easily Remove Mold Or Mildew From Tile Grout
Moisture evaporates rapidly from the hard, slick tile surfaces in your bathroom. Not so, however, from the grout joining those tiles together. The composition of tile grout, usually grainy and porous, tends to retain moisture and bacteria. This makes it an ideal breeding ground for mildew and mold, especially in a warm, humid environment like a bathroom. That fact becomes very conspicuous when white or gray grout gradually turns ugly brown or black due to contamination.
The appearance of mildew or moldboth are types of funguspresent both aesthetic issues as well as health concerns.; Here are some ways to remove it from tile grout:
Pre-treatment:
- Wet a large sponge with water and wash down the areas of grout affected by mold or mildew. This is necessary to remove any layer of grime such as soap scum that may shield the fungus from the cleaning process.
- Using a small brush with stiff bristlesa retired toothbrush may work, tooscrub the grout briskly. Even though the grout lines are typically horizontal and vertical, add a circular motion to the brushing process to ensure that you get into all the tiny crevices and cracks in the grout.
- Rinse down the grout with warm water from a sprayer, then pat the surfaces dry with a cloth.
For minor mold or mildew:
For long-standing contamination:
Grout Is A Highly Porous Material & Susceptible To Mold Growth
In addition to having an environment that is ideal for mold growth, grout is naturally a very porous material. When water sits on the surface of the grout for extended periods of time, mold quickly begins to form. Certain types of grout are made to be mold-resistant. Unless you build your home or remodel your bathroom, however, you are unlikely to have this type of grout in your shower.
What Causes Mold In Showers
If youre the type who prides yourself on a meticulously maintained home, you might blame yourself for the organic invader. You shouldnt. The fact is, most bathrooms are hospitable environments for mold growth .
You see, mold isnt a type of bacteria its a type of fungus. Specific fungi produce mold spores that travel in air. These spores settle and grow in areas that have everything they need to thrive.
All mold spores need to survive is a food source, moisture and appropriate temperatures. Unfortunately, the ideal temperature range for mold is pretty broad. This means you cant freeze or heat it to death easily .
As for food, were not talking about the same things we eat. Some species can consume wood, paper, soap residue and even oil residue from your skin to grow .
Now that you know the fundamentals of mold, you can probably hazard a guess at why your shower is playing host. Here are the possible reasons:
Also Check: How To Clean Mold From Boat Seats
Is Shower Mold Toxic
Due to the way bathrooms and showers are constructed today, the black mold you see in your shower is less likely to be the really hazardous type of mold. This is because your shower areas and surfaces dont have cellulose which is required for most of the really hazardous types of mold to grow.
That isnot to say that one of the more toxic molds cant ever grow in your shower. Theycan. If you have a bigger issue in your bathroom or home and THOSE spores haveinfiltrated your shower then your shower can become a breeding ground for somereally bad mold. But regular ol mold in the shower usually more allergenicthan anything.
Keep Doors And Windows Open
To keep your bathrooms and kitchens dry, it is important to keep doors and windows open for ventilation. After taking a shower, leave the bathroom door and window open for at least 15 minutes so all the humidity can leave instead of condensing on tiles and reaching tile grout.
Keep the kitchen windows open when cooking or doing the dishes so all the moisture and steam can leave instead of staying indoors. Ventilate all areas, including the laundry room and basement, as often as possible.
You May Like: What To Do With Black Mold On Drywall
What Is Black Mould And Why Does It Form
Mould is a fungus that grows in damp, warm conditions, such as a bathroom, where there is very little airflow. It can start as mildew, a white form of fungus found on a flat surface.
The growth of black mould on bathroom walls and ceilings is due to excess moisture, which may start with condensation building up over time following a shower or bath. The warm, moist air meets a cold surface and clings to it, like windows.
Mould can build-up for many reasons, apart from a lack of ventilation in your bathroom; these include leaking pipes, poor insulation or if condensation has not been removed following a shower.
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.
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Mold From Blankets
How To Remove Black Mold In Shower Drain
Shower drains contain cellulose materials via soap scum, body hairs, and oils and lots of moisture so they can be a breeding ground for black mold growth!
Its important to keep drains open and clear of cellulose materials. Treat the drain with vinegar and/or baking soda and water solution periodically to keep it clean and prevent mold spores from developing.
You can then follow the tutorial found on this page for a good method of removing black mold from a shower drain, or you can try;this simpler method.
The important thing is to NOT pour bleach down your drain, and to take your time with the process.
What Causes Black Mold In Shower
Mold loves to grow in warm, damp and humid places, which is most certainly the conditions that happen in showers!
If there is a mold problem in your home, you need to clean up the mold AND fix the water problem that is causing the mold to grow. Thats why its important to control humidity in your home, always use the bathroom ventilation fan, leave the bathroom door open , and/or open the bathroom window.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Mold On Bathroom Walls
Use Bathroom Exhaust Fan And Dehumidifier
Use a high-performance exhaust fan like theBroan-NuTone 671 Ventilation Fan in your bathroom. It can draw out 70 cubic feet of damp air per minute, and the best thing is, you will not even notice that it is running at full throttle, thanks to its super-quiet fan rotation mechanism.
Keep the fan on for at least a quarter of an hour after every shower.
You can also consider buying a dehumidifier for the bathroom. If you purchase theTCL 50 Pint Smart dehumidifier, you can move it in and out of the bathroom whenever you want. Drag it in after taking a shower, and let it work its magic for a while to absorb the extra humidity.
Ensure Proper Ventilation While Using Cleaning Products
Proper ventilation is of the utmost importance when dealing with mold or strong cleaning agents. If you are able, open any windows and doors in the bathroom to ensure ventilation. Always use the exhaust fan during and after your cleaning process. If the bathroom does not have an exhaust fan, it may be wise to use a small fan to direct airflow out of the bathroom.
You May Like: How To Get Mold Smell Out Of Basement
How To Get Rid Of And Prevent Bathroom Mold
Learn how to remove and prevent mold from growing in your bathroom in the future.
Mold is infamous for producing spores that, when inhaled, can cause anything from rashes to headaches to respiratory problems. At-risk groups such as the very young or old and people with compromised immune systems, mold sensitivities and allergies, or asthma can have serious reactions to mold.
My Shower Door Has Been Leaking Under The Frame For Months I Have A Fiber Glass Shower Pan Can Mold Be Under The Shower Door Frame
Yes, it is quite possible for mold growth to occur beneath a shower door frame .; ;However, this should be primarily viewed as a structural issue rather than a health concern.; The leak will eventually lead to rot and compromise the structural integrity of the subfloor.
The mold growth itself is contained by the shower door frame and therefore not affecting the indoor air quality.; ;Keep in mind that when you replace the shower door or pan youll expose the mold growth.; Setting up containment can prevent the spread of mold spores.
Read Also: How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In Your Body
Thoroughly Clean & Disinfect Bathroom Once A Week
Of course, the best way to prevent mold from growing on the grout in your bathroom is to establish a weekly cleaning routine. When you clean your bathroom, be sure to disinfect the surfaces. Dont neglect the shower or grout! By spraying the grout weekly with one of the natural solutions listed above, you can prevent mold growth once and for all.;
Diagnosing Hidden Mold And Rot Behind Shower Surrounds
Assessing a shower for hidden mold is difficult. Moisture meters, the most important tool in a mold inspectors kit, is of limited value on shower surrounds. ;Tile and stone often;provide false positives due to the conductivity of the material. Fortunately, well trained mold inspectors have other avenues to identify moisture issues.
- Investigate the crawlspace or room below. ;If the leak is significant, often the materials below the shower will show signs of water damage.
- Investigate the adjacent wall. ;If the shower shares a common wall with a bedroom or closet, an inspector can use a moisture meter to check for elevated water content. ;Additionally, a small hole can be cut in the sheetrock to provide a visual inspection. ;A boroscope can then be used to look within the wall cavity. ; This type of inspection is much less invasive than removing tile and can often be performed without drywall repair.
Also Check: Do It Swing Jig Mold
Moldy Grout Makes Your Bathroom Look Dirty
Quite frankly, moldy grout instantly makes your bathroom look dirty. While this may be something that you can overlook day after day, your visitors are likely to notice it instantly. Additionally, it is always easier to clean your grout regularly as opposed to waiting until the mold becomes a serious problem requiring professional intervention.
Black Mold In Shower Health Risks
Thankfully, due to the way bathrooms and showers are constructed today, the black mold you see in your shower is less likely to be the really bad stuff the toxic mold or deadly mold known as Stachybotrys chartarum. This is because your shower areas and surfaces dont have cellulose which is required for the really bad type of mold to grow. Tile, ceramics, and cement-fiber backer board all make Stachybotrys less likely to grow.
But, it doesnt mean the black mold you see in your shower issafe for you either!
You can request some laboratory testing for it, but it isnt really that necessary and it can be very expensive.
Many people experience no physical symptoms from being exposed to black mold in showers, but those who have asthma, weakened immune systems, or sensitivities or allergies to mold can experience some physical symptoms from the exposure. These include things like:
- sneezing
- depression
Even if you dont show symptoms now, repeated;and prolonged exposure can lead to a mold sensitivity over time and affect your health.
For many people though, simply the sight of mold in their shower makes them annoyed! It isnt pretty to see and it isnt healthy.
Anytime you encounter a mold growing in your home, it is best practice to just get rid of it as soon as possible.
Just be aware that mold damages what it grows on, so the sooner you attack the mold the better!
So lets get rid of it!
Recommended Reading: Will An Ozone Machine Kill Mold
Ways To Prevent Shower Mold
How To Prevent Mold In Grout
The drier the tiles, the smaller the chance of mold developing in the grout lines.
As you certainly know, prevention is the best cure. And indeed, why spend so much time and effort cleaning mold from grout, when you can simply prevent it from appearing altogether? All you need to do in order to keep mold under control is to deprive it of the main prerequisite for its growth moisture. Just keep the tiles dry and youll never have to worry about the harmful microorganisms.
But how can you remove moisture from a room that is designed to be wet such as the bathroom, for example? It sounds absurd.
You cant, of course, but you can reduce the dampness there is a big difference between getting wet and staying permanently wet.
Here are some simple, yet highly efficient measures you can take to lower the humidity in your bathroom, kitchen, and other wet areas of your home and prevent mold growth:
1. Keep doors and windows open for as long as possible to ensure proper air flow within the home:
- Let the bathroom window stay open for at least 15 minutes after you turn the shower off, so that excess moisture can move out of the room rather than condense on the walls and tiles;
- Leave the shower door open when the shower is not in use;
- Keep the kitchen windows open while cooking to allow the steam to escape;
- Ventilate the laundry room, basement, and attic as often as possible.
8. Fix leaky faucets and showerheads to remove the source of excess moisture in your bathroom and kitchen;
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Shower Tile Grout Mold
Your Complete Guide To Getting Rid Of Bathroom Mold
Mold is an ugly four-letter word that is found all too often in bathrooms.;Learn the best ways to remove bathroom mold and prevent it from coming back.
With warm, humid conditions, the bathroom is the perfect place for mold, and it can grow on just about every surface. Once you find it, cleaning mold in the bathroom can be a big chore. Follow our tips for cleaning moldincluding products to use, instructions for specific surfaces, and key prevention tacticsto refresh your bathroom. You’ll want to make sure you get it all so you arent constantly fighting mold in the bathroom. ;
Editor’s Tip: If you suspect your bathroom has black mold, known as;Stachybotrys chartarum,;seek a professional to test it, as you may have a larger problem at hand. If the results indicate other common household molds, move forward with our cleaning tips.
How To Get Rid Of Bathroom Mildew
Bathroom surfaces, especially tile and grout located in or near your shower or tub, are common breeding grounds for mildew. This is largely because these surfaces;are warm, moist and exposed to
;light often. While you may want to treat mildew quickly because its unsightly, its important to treat mildew fast because it can spread and cause mold to grow on your bathrooms surfaces.
Like its grown-up counterpart, mold, mildew can cause allergies, respiratory problems and more serious health issues that have the potential to affect your nervous system. If you suspect a mold issue, please contact the leasing office right away.
Don’t Miss: Can Black Mold Be Removed From Wood
