If you’ve come across some bathroom mold, don’t be too surprised.It’s very common for mold to be found in bathrooms.
And one obvious reason is that there’s lots of water and humidity in the bathroom.
Think about it. There is frequently running water in the bathroom basin, the bathtub and the shower; which creates wet surfaces and puddles of water. If you don’t dry this moisture out quickly it can easily lead to mold growth.
On top of this, when the water in the bathroom does dry out it evaporates into the air and increases the humidity. You can’t win, right? Steam from the shower or a hot bath also makes the bathroom more humid. Since bathrooms are often not well ventilated the humidity tends to hang around, thus leading wet surfaces to take a long time to dry out.
Reducing Humidity in the Bathroom
Ideally the humidity in the bathroom should be kept below 55% to prevent mold growth. You can maintain this by ventilating your bathroom well, especially after you’ve had a shower or bath. Turn on the bathroom fan while you shower and leave it on for about five minutes afterward to remove the steam and dry out the air.
Besides leaving the window and door of the bathroom open after having a shower or bath, if you are concerned about the moisture levels you can also wipe down wet surfaces so they dry faster.
Regular Bathroom Cleaning
Regularly cleaning the bathroom will prevent mold starting to grow. Once a month wipe down the bathroom with an anti-fungal solution. Remember to include the ceiling when you do this as it is a prime area for mold growth. The floor can be mopped with mold inhibiting solutions such as vinegar.
Drying Wet Surfaces in the Bathroom
Drying wet surfaces manually will reduce moisture sources as well as the humidity level of the bathroom since the water on these surfaces would otherwise evaporate into the air. After you have had a shower or bath wipe down the tiles, glass, mirror, walls, window or any other wet surfaces with a towel or squeegee. It’s also a good idea to minimize the number of potential wet surfaces by removing any objects from the bathroom you don’t need.
For more answers about dealing with bathroom mold, call your local Lexington Dauenhauer, any hour.