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Recurring Mold and Mildew Tips: How to Keep Your Bathroom Cleaner

E. Klein | Jan 14, 2010 |

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Mold build up is a common problem in bathrooms with poor ventilation and showers that are used several times a day. Ironically, the better your hygiene and the more soap you use, the more likely your bathroom will suffer from mold and mildew. This is because bathroom mold feeds on soap scum and debris from skin and hair. There are two keys to eliminating bathroom mold and mildew in your home: (1) establish a cleaning regimen that makes it hard for mold to come back in full force, and (2) limit the conditions that favor its growth.

Cleaning to Prevent Recurring Mold Colonies

Once you have a mold infestation, the only way to get rid of it is to bring the heavy artillery: bleach and a scrub brush. Natural cleaning products are fine to maintain the cleanliness of your bathroom, but they won't cut it for an initial attack. If you are worried about the dangers of harsh fumes and skin irritants, use rubber gloves, face mask, and protective eyewear when cleaning.

Use a scrub brush or toothbrush (perhaps your enemy's) and work the bleach into the mold spots. You really do have to put some elbow grease into it, as merely wiping the surface won't kill the mold. If the project is too daunting to do all at once, you can eradicate the mold in stages, for example, clean the tile one week, the ceiling the next week, and the floor the following week.

After you clean away the mold with bleach, rinse the surface with clean water. To prevent the mold from recurring, clean the bathroom weekly using either bleach or a natural cleaning product. No need to spend hours scrubbing, but take care not to miss any surface.

Limiting Mold Growth Factors

Keeping soap off the surfaces in your bathroom will go a long way toward inhibiting mold growth. Close the caps on shampoo bottles and store them upright. Keep soap bars in sealable plastic containers, rather than leave the bars exposed in the shower. Remember to rinse the tub thoroughly after you bathe so that the residue goes down the drain. Practice doing little things that keep soap off of the walls, floors, and ceilings.

Another tip is to spray the shower surface and ceiling with a soap scum blocker. These are commercially available cleaning products that help inhibit mold growth. Whoever showers last in your home simply sprays the product around the tub and tile area.

For ventilation, your best bet is to get a built in exhaust fan in your ceiling. At the flip of a switch, the moist air is sucked out of the bathroom and a drier environment is restored after the shower. This is a powerful tool for fighting mold buildup, as mold cannot thrive without humidity. If don't have a ceiling exhaust and can't install one, the next best thing is to use an electric fan and an open window to air out the bathroom.