Who would want a bathroom full of mold? No one! When you see mold in your bathroom, naturally, you’d want to get rid of it. Before you start working on getting rid of it though, you should understand first, why it is attracted to your bathroom and where else it could be growing.
You see, mold spores could be anywhere. In fact, most homeowners live with mold in their homes for a really long time without even realizing it. Mold like areas where the condition is moist and dark. As you can imagine, bathrooms are big mold magnets.
When you realize you have a bathroom mold problem, then it should be addressed immediately. If only a small area (less than 10 square feet) is contaminated, then you may still be able to handle it yourself. However, if a larger area is affected or the damage is quite extensive due to other factors like flood or sewer damage, then it would be wiser to call a professional to solve the problem.
Here are some steps to follow when removing mold from your bathroom:
- Protect yourself first by wearing goggles, gloves, and a cotton face mask, before you start the task. Remember that mold can be a serious health hazard.
- Make sure the vents are closed off to prevent the spreading of spores when you’re cleaning. Open a window for ventilation, too.
- Wash the affected area with detergent and warm water solution and allow it to dry.
- Make another solution, this time with a quarter cup of bleach and a quart of water. Apply this new solution. Wait for it to dry for about 20 minutes and apply another layer.
You should realize that cleaning the area is not enough, and that though it may appear spotless, it does not mean the mold spores will not survive and return. It is important therefore that you treat the area to kill the remaining spores and prevent another mold problem.
To do that, you should make a solution of borate-based detergent and apply it generously on the area. Do not rinse it.
Also take note that even after treating the area, there is no assurance that the problem will not recur. As you know mold spores thrive on any surface, especially when moisture is present. Therefore to permanently battle mold, you have to determine the reason behind the moisture – leaky pipes and insufficient ventilation are just some things that you need to address.
We hope this article helps you! If you need help in fixing your plumbing problems that result to the growth of mold, give Hayes Plumbing a call!
