Although mold can appear in any place in your house, you will likely notice it in your shower. It is, after all, an area that is frequently damp, with a space that often has few windows to allow steam and moisture to escape. To help keep moisture away, certain members of your household might not be as diligent about cleaning the shower or turning on the exhaust fan.
Mold in your shower, however, is not inevitable. Shower mold can darken the corners of your tub, but you can prevent it from growing in the first place by taking the necessary precautions and using the proper techniques and equipment to remove it. Check out this advice from Michael Rubino, the founder of HomeCleanse and an authority on mold.
How to Keep the Shower Mold-Free
Since mold grows best in moist environments, keeping your shower dry will help lower your risk of developing mold. In order to rapidly reduce humidity, Rubino advises opening windows or turning on the exhaust fan both during and after your shower. This will help to eliminate moisture from the air. After you’re done showering, hang up your towels and bath mats to allow them to air out and dry, then squeeze the walls of the shower or wipe them dry with your towel.
Establishing a routine cleaning regimen that includes a weekly shower cleaning and a monthly cleaning of the shower curtain, liner, pole, and rings will help reduce the likelihood of mold growth.
“Preventing mold involves eliminating the components needed for growth,” according to Rubino. “This entails physically removing organic debris and lowering moisture content. In order for the spores to disappear from the surface, they must also be eliminated.”
A structural problem, such as old grout or chipped tiles, can allow water to seep through and lead to the growth of mold, so be sure to watch out for any indications of these problems in your shower.
Tips for Removing Mold from Shower Curtains and Liners
Preventing mold growth on your shower curtain or liner is the best course of action. Using a botanical laundry additive like EC3, Rubino advises cleaning them once a month in the washing machine.
If your shower curtain is severely moldy, it’s probably time to throw it away. “Removing and replacing the item for porous surfaces, like the shower curtain, is best,” according to Rubino. “The contamination can exist deep within the fibers and be nearly impossible to remove completely.”
Ways to Remove Mold from the Shower
Wearing an N-95 mask and gloves will help shield you from mold spore exposure when dealing with mold in the shower, according to Rubino. And prepare to clean everything completely. “To remediate properly, fix the source that led to the growth and eliminate all the contamination present, including the colony, roots, dead mold particles, mycotoxins, and any bacteria present.”
He suggests cleaning tile and other nonporous surfaces with a botanical cleaner that contains surfactants, like Benefact Decon 30. At least once a week, give the shower a thorough cleaning.
Use a microfiber cloth to remove the cleaning substance after letting it sit for at least thirty seconds. “These are 100 times better than regular rags at removing small particles,” according to Rubino.
Mold can grow on semi-porous surfaces in your shower, so you’ll need to be extra cautious while trying to remove it because it can become embedded in those materials. Do this at least three times: apply hydrogen peroxide, let it sit for ten minutes, then wipe it away with a microfiber cloth. Next, use a sealer to assist prevent the growth of additional mold colonies.
To make sure that all of the mold has been dealt with, you should carry out these cleaning procedures three times in total.
Once the mold has been removed from your shower, give the entire bathroom a thorough cleaning to get rid of any remaining spores or mycotoxins.
Next, pay close attention to your problem areas. In the event that the mold reappears, you might have a more serious issue that calls for professional assistance.
