Top 5 Ways to Avoid Mold and Mildew in the Bathroom

Your bathroom will always be a fertile ground for mold to grow even when thoroughly cleaned. This is due to the high humidity in the bathroom. Therefore, the best way to avoid mold and mildew in the bathroom is to control the humidity levels.

Here are the top five ways to prevent mold in the bathroom:

Steps to Avoid Mold and Mildew in the Bathroom

1. Handle High Humidity and Poor Ventilation

Because humidity is the primary cause of mold, you should first check the ventilation. An important step is to ensure bathroom fans are installed.

Turn on the fans for up to half an hour after every shower. If you cannot afford the money to install fans, opening the windows and the door can still help.

Closing the bathroom door as you shower can lead to moisture buildup and mold growth. In case it is too cold for you to keep the door open, get a powerful exhaust fan to compensate for this. A mechanical exhaust will help to control and expel extra humidity brought about by showers.

In case you live in a humid climate, leaving the door and the windows open may not help as much as you would like. You will, therefore, have to depend on dehumidifiers to help to avoid mold and mildew. Ensure you get the dehumidifier right because mold can grow in humidity as little as 55%.

For more tips on how to reduce excess condensation on in your home, click here.

2. Remove Excess Water

After you finish your shower, be sure to remove as much water as you can to prevent it from lying around and allowing mold to grow. Do a quick wipe of the sink or tub as well as a quick squeegee. You can dry the corners and tile grout where mold tends to grow with a washcloth.

Clean your tub, shower, toilet, and sink every week to make sure you stay on top of any mold growth. Clean with the various supplies like washcloths and scrub brushes as well as commercial cleaners to avoid mold.

3. Clean your Shower, Bathtub and Towels

Mold can grow on the walls, bathtub, sink, and windows in your bathroom. Since every time you shower you increase the amount of moisture in the bathroom, this increases the likelihood of mold growth. Be sure to clean the bathtub and shower thoroughly, both inside and outside.

According to Australian cleaning professional Jane Wilson from Fantastic Cleaners, you should treat your bathroom at least twice to keep fungi and bacteria at bay.

Also, remember the towels. After using towels for some period, wash them in hot water and make sure that they are dry before storing. In the case of sensitive skin, you can use vinegar instead of fabric softeners.

If everything in your bathroom is dry, you will have the best chance to avoid mold and mildew buildup. Additionally, you may use towel warmers to dry your towels every time you use your towel.

4. Don’t Forget Shower Curtains and Floor Mats

If you use shower curtains in your shower, wash them in the washing machine if they are machine-washable. However, if you see that they have dark spots, the mold may have penetrated and damaged them, so it may be best to throw them out rather than attempting to clean them.

Because curtains get water on them every time you shower and may not have enough time to dry, they can easily attract a buildup of mold, so it is important to ensure that they are machine-washable. Nylon is a popular choice since they can easily be washed in hot water. Use the washing machine’s spin cycle to get rid of excess water and leave them outside to dry.

Check for mold signs on your bathroom mats. As these are constantly wet, wash them regularly in the machine and allow them to dry properly. Because bathmats are often thick and absorbent, they often need extra time to dry, so take special care to ensure they are 100% dry before storing. Always go for the absorbent mats to make sure the water that drips as you come out of the shower does not get on your tiled floor or grout.

5. Check the Grout and Tiles

Cracked grout and tiles are an ideal surface for the growth of mold and are easy to spot. Therefore, be sure to inspect and replace the shower grout and tiles regularly to avoid mold buildup. Also, remember to clean your grout and tiles every week using a pH-neutral cleaner to avoid mold invasion and development.

Every time you replace grout, ensure it is sealed with a sealer that is latex penetrating. The grout pores will absorb latex to create a barrier and protect it from the mold. Some sealers are costly, but they will protect your grout from the mold for more than half a year.

Conclusion

Because bathrooms are inherently a damp part of your house, it can be a challenging task to protect your bathroom from mold. And if you do not take some basic steps, it can be very easy for mold to take root and grow.

When you are exposed to mold, you can develop some adverse health conditions. Exposure to mold can lead to nasal congestion, wheezing or coughing, skin irritation, throat irritation, and eye irritation. If a person in your household is allergic to mold, the effects can be severe, similar to having asthma.

Therefore, for a clean, healthy, and mold-free environment, the best thing is to take some simple steps, like those mentioned above, to keep your bathroom dry as possible. This is the best way to minimize or avoid mold and mildew accumulating in your bathroom.