Wondering how to prevent and identify mold growth in your bathroom? Read on to find out!
Bathrooms, with their humid environments, are the ideal places for mold growth. This is because mold flourishes in damp and humid environments. Moreover, leaky pipes also promote water damage and mold growth. Mold growth can be pretty difficult to detect early on if you don’t know the right signs.
Here’s how you can identify and prevent mold growth in your bathroom:
Allow Air to Circulate Freely
- Let the exhaust fans run in your bathroom. They will effectively reduce steam and prevent moisture from accumulating in your bathroom during a shower. They will also speed up the drying process.
- Once finished showering, open your bathroom door and/or windows. This will allow fresh air and natural light to enter your bathroom and speed up the drying process.
Remove Water from the Bathroom
- Use a towel to wipe down the floor and walls of your bathroom as necessary.
- Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier to control the humidity in your bathroom.
Waterproof the Walls
- For tiled walls, use a grout sealer to waterproof the grout lines. This will prevent mold from growing on them.
- For painted walls, use semi-gloss paint as it’s easy to clean and forms a smooth and hard surface that will inhibit mold growth.
Clean Regularly
- Disinfect your bathroom regularly with an all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Make sure to clean all the frequently touched surfaces such as toilets, bathtubs, shower and sink faucets, sinks, cabinets, etc. Don’t forget to clean the floors and walls as well. Rinse the surfaces and dry them thoroughly.
- Wash your bathroom rugs at least every month as mold can grow on the underside of them. Wash your shower curtains regularly as well. Make sure to dry them completely by stretching them out fully on the curtain rod.
Inspect Your Plumbing System
- Investigate and fix any leaks immediately to prevent water damage and mold growth. Check under your sink and around the base of your toilet for leaks and moisture accumulation. Replace all broken and rusty pipes.
- Unclog your drains so that water runs freely through them.
- Make sure to turn off the faucets completely as dripping faucets can increase water consumption.
How to Identify Mold in the Bathroom
Musty Smell
A persistent musty and damp smell is the ultimate telltale sign of mold growth. Mold spores decompose organic materials and give off this unpleasant stale smell. So, if your washroom is apparently clean and dry, but the smell is still there, then there’s probably mold growing somewhere in your bathroom.
Damaged walls
Discolored walls, blistering paint, crumbling plaster, cracked or loose tiles, and gaps in the grout can be signs of water damage and mold growth.
Soft and Spongy Floors
If your bathroom floor feels soft and spongy, then you should check for suspected water damage that can lead to wood rot or mold.
Visible Mold
If you see any of these signs of mold growth, then contact a restoration and mold removal company right away.
