How To Clean Mold In A Shower
This article was co-authored by Mike Kapur. Mike Kapur is a home inspector and the owner of Sonic Home Inspections, a home inspection company in Westchester, New York. With over 15 years of experience in pre-inspecting properties, Mike specializes in mold, radon, asbestos, lead, water, and air quality testing as well as hazardous materials, pest, infrared, and general home inspections. Prior to founding Sonic Home Inspections, Mike worked pre-inspecting apartments. Mike holds a BS in Accounting from Queens College and is a Certified Mold Assessor in the state of New York. This article has been viewed 26,823 times.
To rid your shower of mold, first use a vinegar-borax solution to kill the mold. Alternatively, you can use a vinegar-hydrogen peroxide solution or straight peroxide to kill the mold. Mold stains may remain after ridding your shower of mold. If they do, then use a baking soda paste to remove the stains. Prevent future mold growth by keeping your bathroom well-ventilated and by spraying your shower with a water-vinegar solution after you finish showering three to five times a week.
Why To Avoid Using Bleach On Grout
Natural anti fungal solutions and dedicated mildewcides are effective because these substances penetrate into grout to kill mold under the surface. Household bleach is considered a surface disinfectant because chlorine does not get absorbed into the cement, sand and water that comprise grout or other porous materials.
Chlorine and oxygen bleach are harsher than the acetic acid in standard household or cleaning vinegar or sodium borate sold as Borax. Bleach and other harsh bathroom cleansers are also more likely to cause grout to crumble away, making re-grouting necessary.
If shower grout wears down, water may be able to work its way behind tiles where the presence of excessive moisture can cause a hidden mold problem. Mold growing behind walls is more likely to require professional residential mold removal services.
Will Mold Die If It Dries Out
Mold will not die if it dries out because mold is a living organism. However, if moldy items dry out, the wet parts evaporate, and theyll let off spores that can spread to new areas. In addition, when theres water moisture in the air, like, for example, in your bathroom or shower, all sorts of icky creatures will gravitate towards those areas. Yet another reason why you want your home dry when dealing with anything mold-related.
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Maintaining Your Shower Tiles
As long as shower tiles are exposed to water and regular use, scum and fungi like mold and mildew will always form on your shower tiles. However, you can prevent how fast they form and keep your tiles clean for longer periods with these tips:
- Switch to soap that leaves lesser residue on your shower tile. Alternatively, you can use liquid soap, which does not leave any residue or soap scum.
- Use water softeners to prevent calcium or magnesium buildup on your shower tiles.
- Spray the shower tiles with vinegar solution at least thrice in a week after your shower. Make sure to label the vinegar spray correctly and keep them away from children.
- Squeegee the walls and floor of the shower daily after showering to remove any dirt.
- Use a dedicated towel to give your shower a quick rub down at least once a day.
- Aerate your shower by opening the windows or doors often. The drier your shower tile is, the harder it is for it to form mold and mildews from dampness.
- Seal up your grout from often so it doesnt interfere with the glow of your shower tile.
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Shower Grout With Tea Tree Oil
If you have some tea tree oil at home, this recipe is an easy way to learn how to get rid of mold in shower grout. Do not rinse this recipe away quickly. It has to sit and kill the mold over a few hours.
- Old toothbrush
Mix this cleaning solution in a spray bottle and shake it up a bit. Before you spray it on the tile, make sure the grout is dry. You might want to run a dry cloth across it first to make sure.
Grab an old toothbrush, scrub away, and your mold problem will disappear. All it takes is some scrubbing of the grime on your grout. Thats how to remove mold from grout.
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How To Choose The Right Mold And Mildew Shower Cleaner
Consider the following factors before choosing the best shower cleaner for mold and mildew.
Tilex Mold Spray Product Features
- Kills 99.9% of household mold Clorox Bleach is the #1 ingredient in Tilex Mold Remover Spray with Bleach, killing mold and mildew on contact.
- Cleans without scrubbing The detergent-type surfactants penetrate and lift off soap scum with ease, allowing you to clean without scrubbing.
- Contains Clorox Bleach This bleach cleaner is safe to use on ceramic tile, fiberglass, grout, marble, and other nonporous surfaces.
- Tilex replaces multiple products with just one bottle!
- Smart Tube technology uses every drop.
- Customer Reviews: our favorite cleaner for mold in shower.
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How To Remove Mold From The Showerdrain
This is by far the easiest moldremoval task in the shower.
- Remove the shower drain cover if there is one. If not, skip to step two.
- Spray the drain cover and/or the drain rim, inside, and stopper with peroxide.
- Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
- Using a toothbrush or the like, scrub all the mold you can see off the drain and components.
- Rinse well, dry, and replace the drain cover.
- Spray the drain generously with EC3 Mold Solution Spray.
- Allow it to air dry.
And there you have it! Everything you need to know about black mold in the shower! Be sure to check out my post on how to prevent bathroom mold. Its important to take all the steps necessary to keep mold and mildew from sneaking up on you in the bathroom.
In this post I refer to EC3 products. They are one of the only two mold and mycotoxin removal products that I personally use and recommend. Please read my article outlining what makes EC3 superiorwhen it comes to killing mold and mycotoxins. It has been independently lab tested and proven to be 99% effective when used properly. I encourage you to purchase EC3 products directly through Micro Balance. If you prefer to shop on Amazon, Micro Balance has a presence there as well.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Clean Mold
Hydrogen peroxide a highly effective fungicide and whitening agent, may do the trick when all other mold removal methods fail.
You can make a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide and spray it on the affected area, but for better results you need to apply the peroxide directly over the grout:
- Mix hydrogen peroxide with white flour to create a thick paste. Apply the paste to the grout and allow it to work overnight before rinsing well with cold water
- Apply a thick baking soda paste to the moldy area . Pour hydrogen peroxide over the paste so that it begins to fizz this will help loosen the mold. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush, then rinse away with water. Repeat as needed.
Do you need help cleaning the tiles and grout in your home?
There is no doubt that the best way to clean mold from grout is to use natural cleaning agents. Sometimes, however, even hydrogen peroxide and bleach wont be powerful enough to kill the mold spores and remove the problem. In this case as well as when the mold is too much for you to handle on your own your best option is to use professional mold removal services.
RestorationMasterFinder is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
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Rmr 86 Mold Remover Additional Info
RMR-86 Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover Spray. It has a Scrub-Free Formula! Best cleaner for mold in shower, shower curtain mold, bathroom, kitchen, toilet, and mildew remover. Great for your kitchen to wipe countertops, sinks, stovetops, ovens, and more.
RMR 86 mold remover is the best mold remover spray on the market. RMR-86 has superior penetration into porous surfaces such as wood, concrete, drywall, tile and grout, and more.
This instant stain remover cleaner will remove stubborn stains left behind by black mold that are often deep below the surface of your walls or other surfaces. It also removes unwanted odors while leaving your home smelling clean.
All you have to do is spray the cleaner directly onto the surface you want to treat. For example, this cleaner will instantly target deeply embedded stains that linger between bathroom tiles, in grout lines, under the sink, and on shower doors.
Just spray this cleaner for mold in the shower on the affected area and watch as it works! Youll be amazed at how easy it is. This cleaner is incredibly effective at removing the mold and mildew stains that have been plaguing your bathroom for years.
RMR-86 mold remover spray has the formula to eliminate these stubborn stains without leaving behind any harmful residue. The formula is also safe on virtually all surfaces. The RMR 86 is a revolutionary mold remover with the ability to instantly clean surfaces without scrubbing.
Do You Have Mold In Your Bathroom Heres How To Clean It Up
Help! Theres mold in my bathroom shower that wont go away no matter how much I scrub at ithow do I get rid of it?!
We hear this question all the time and its nothing to be ashamed of. It is common to find mold growth in showers, sinks, and other high-moisture areas. Mold flourishes in certain environments, and your shower is most certainly one of them. Luckily, there are some things you can do to combat mold using basic household cleaning products.
No matter what you do, DONT scrape mold with your fingers or scrub it dry with a brush as this will cause living mold spores to fly up in the air where theyll find somewhere else to land, thrive, and give you additional headaches.
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Tips To Remove Mold From The Bathroom Ceiling
- Direct a UV lamp at the affected area for 24 hours after you have eliminated the mold. It will kill off any stubborn spores clinging to areas you may have overlooked, as well as remove leftover moisture.
- Fans can be used to circulate the air and rid the room of any odors from the cleaners or mold.
- Inspect exterior bathroom walls to ensure thereâs no mold growing on the outside wall.
- Never combine bleach and vinegar because it transforms into Chlorine Gas, which is fatal in high concentrations.
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.
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How To Prevent Mold In The Shower 11 Tips And Tricks
- Pete Ortiz
Mold is a dangerous substance to have around your home. It can trigger allergies, asthma, and a number of other unwanted scenarios. Unfortunately, its pretty easy for mold to build up in your shower, especially if you do not care for your bathroom area properly.
The only way to prevent mold from building up in your shower is to minimize moisture and keep your shower as clean as possible. With these 11 tips and tricks, you can begin to prevent mold in your shower for a safer and cleaner home.
What Are Some Symptoms Of Mold Posioning To Be Aware Of
Some symptoms of mold poisoning would be:
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Common Causes Of Bathroom Mold
As previously mentioned, bathroom mold is often caused by a high level of humidity, which happens when you take a shower. However, humidity is not the only cause of bathroom mold.
Poor ventilation is another one. Most people close their bathroom door when they are showering. By doing this, they trap all the moisture-laden steam produced by a hot shower.
Since there is no airflow during shower time, moisture then attaches itself to the floor, walls and plumbings, giving mold the perfect conditions to grow.
The fact is that bathrooms are the wettest areas in a house, except maybe the basement. Even if you ventilate your bathroom properly, all the dampness caused by the water in showers, sinks, and even toilets, will eventually cause mold to grow. There is, of course, some extra water in bathroom mats and towels, which can easily become small mold heaven.
Last but not least, deteriorating caulk is another common cause of bathroom mold. When grout begins to crack, moist air from a steamy shower can easily find its way into the sides and back of your tile. With paint as a source of food, darkness behind the tile and now moisture, you might have a new pet hiding.
How To Treat Mold With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an antifungal, antiviral, and anti-bacterial solution found in most medicine cabinets, and its an effective mold treatment. You can use it safely on a range of surfaces such as kitchen appliances and counters, bathroom fixtures and tubs, hard flooring, and even certain wall surfaces.
Pour a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Test an inconspicuous area of surfaces first to prevent discoloration or damage. Saturate the moldy surface and leave it for 10 minutes. Next, scrub the area with just enough force to remove black mold and mold stains. Once the surface is free of residual mold and stains, wipe dry.
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Why Shower Grout Gets Moldy
Most tile grout consists of a mixture of cement, sand and water. These substances are porous, which is why grout tends to accumulate dirt and grime. Grout in a shower area may be exposed to other substances from bath, body and personal care products. The combination of these products, moisture and food sources for fungi may lead to the development of mildew or mold.
Fungus that appears white, gray or yellow in color and has a fluffy or powdery texture is usually mildew. A simple test that can distinguish mildew from grime involves dabbing a paper towel dampened with chlorine bleach on a spot of the growth. If this area turns lighter in color, the contamination is mildew.
Mold may be any color, but the species most likely to grow in warm, moist environments may be dark green, brown or black. Fungus that appears black at a certain stage of the growth cycle may not necessarily be toxic black mold, also known as Stachybotrys chartarum. Mold inspection or testing may be helpful for determining the cause and species of the mold in your shower.
How To Remove Mold From Showercaulking
The ideal thing you can do to remove black mold in shower caulking is to remove the caulking altogether and apply new high-quality mold resistant caulking like this one. This is important because a good mold resistant caulk will help prevent water damage and mold from happening behind your tile and shower walls.
This is actually easier than itsounds. Even I can handle doing this. While it doesnt take long to actuallyremove and replace the shower caulk, it does require you to let it dry properlybefore using your shower again.
Dont want to remove and replace the shower caulk? You can try this mold removal method but it is time consuming and usually doesnt get more than 50-60% of the mold.
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