How to Prevent and Remove Bathroom Mould

It’s a well-known fact that mould tends to grow in homes and especially in the bathroom. The damp and low-light conditions in the bathroom allows mould to thrive if these conditions remain the same. The good news is that controlling the moisture in the bathroom and cleaning it frequently will greatly reduce mould growth. Below are several key tips for preventing and removing bathroom mould:

How to prevent mould:

• Keeping the humidity levels below 55%. Since mould thrives in moist conditions, it’s important to keep humidity under control.
• Ventilating the bathroom after a shower or bath by turning on a fan or by using the bathroom exhaust fan. Opening a window also helps let steam out.
• Drying wet surfaces, such as mirror, tiles, glass and walls, using a towel or squeegee, after every shower or bath.
• Cleaning the bathroom surfaces and items (such as the floor, ceiling and rugs) with an anti-fungal solution and/or detergent at least once a month.
• Spraying undiluted vinegar on the bath and shower once a month to prevent mould growth and remove odours.
• Using a mould-resistant shower curtain, as well as washing the curtain routinely, at least once a month.
• Removing objects, such as shampoo bottles, toys, or mugs from the shower. Moisture collected on these objects will provide a place for mould to grow.
• Removing unnecessary items from the bathroom to minimize the number of wet surfaces where mould can grow.

How to remove mould:

• Cleaning mould from grout requires a scrubbing brush and a cleaning product or a commercial grout cleaner. Borax, ammonia or baking soda can be used as grout cleaning alternatives, but also for cleaning tiles and drywall.

• Mould should be checked in these hidden areas: behind pipes, under the sink and behind the toilet, under the washing machine, etc. Those who clean mould should wear gloves and a mask when cleaning to reduce health risks.
• The bathroom drain is another place where mould can grow. To clean mould from the drain, the grate should be removed first, and then the mould in the drain pipe can be scrubbed off. Pouring drain cleaner or another mould inhibiting product into the drain also helps kill the mould.
• In situations where mould hides behind walls, it’s best to call a professional mould restoration company to get rid of the infestation.

More general tips to remove mould from homes are available here and information on how to prevent mould can be found here. The PuroClean team stands ready to provide professional restoration services to any property affected by fire, water or mould damage.

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