Keep Mold Out of Your Bathroom

No homeowner likes finding mold in their home. Not only is mold unsightly, but it can require expensive remediation, lower your home's resale value, and even damage your health. Because the bathroom is one of the most susceptible places for mold growth in your house, keeping the bathroom fresh and clean should be a priority.

Here are some tips to help you keep mold spores from putting roots down in your bathroom.

1. Encourage Air Circulation and Natural Light

Air circulation is mold's enemy for two reasons. First, air that moves around doesn't leave as much moisture on cool surfaces such as exterior walls, windows, and toilet tanks. Second, air that moves around doesn't cool down and make the area cold and damp, a condition that is ideal for mold growth.

Natural light is also mold's enemy. Sunlight (even indirect sunlight) has UV rays that fight against mold and mold growth. While sunlight isn't a guarantee against mold, the sun can make a difference in prevention.

Natural light and air circulation are two reasons why you'll hear that you should open your bathroom windows frequently to avoid mold. 

2. Remove and Control Humidity

Humidity is another reason you hear that you should open your bathroom window often. However, opening a window to control humidity is simply impractical and counterproductive occasionally. For example, what if the outdoor humidity levels are already hovering around 100 percent with no breeze?

In this situation, you should leave your windows closed and simply use the bathroom fan to remove steam. You can also leave the curtains open for maximum light. If your bathroom window doesn't have privacy glass, consider installing an inexpensive privacy film so you don't have to keep the curtains closed tight.

Another way you can remove humidity from the air is by using passive or powered humidity absorbers. Moisture absorbers that use calcium chloride are passive; these work best for small areas with little air circulation, such as the bathroom cabinet. Powered dehumidifier units are better for large areas because they can remove large amounts of water from the air.

One final way you can control humidity in the air is by sending water down the drain before it evaporates into the air. For example, you can use a squeegee or dry cloth to wipe down the wet shower curtain and the insides of the tub after your shower. Wring or sweep the excess moisture down the drain, and the moisture won't be able to add to your indoor humidity.

3. Use Mold-Killing Cleaning Products

Although home mold-killing chemicals aren't professional-strength, they can help you stop a mold infestation before it starts. Use a vinegar-based or bleach cleaner to help keep mold from popping up in your bathrooms.

However, don't mix cleaners (such as bleach and vinegar, or vinegar and hydrogen peroxide). Unpredictable and potentially hazardous results may occur, and the combination won't make your cleaning more effective or prevent mold better.

4. Replace Mold-Damaged Materials

In some cases, preventing a future mold infestation requires correctly remediating a past one. Mold-killing cleaning products aren't necessarily going to be able to control a mold infestation that's already taken root. Mold has a way of coming back after being cleaned off, and it can damage your health before you notice the mold has returned.

Instead of engaging in a protracted fight, simply engage a contractor to remove and replace any porous materials in which mold has taken root.

These tips will help you keep your bathroom fresh and mold-free. For more information on controlling or remediating mold and water damage, get in touch with American Services today. We'll provide you with an estimate for free for any of the wide range of damage remediation services we offer.