Mold In The Shower: Prevention Tips and Tricks

9/28/2017 (Permalink)

It’s a given that water and moisture will always exist in your shower; unfortunately this constant becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold formation. But you don’t have to resign yourself to tolerating mold odor when showering. There are easy steps to take to keep mold from taking up residence in your shower or bathtub.

An investment in a small humidifier can reduce humidity levels in the bathroom to 30-50%, helping to prevent mold growth in your shower, tub, and sink. Also, remember to leave the bathroom door and any windows open before you take a hot shower. If you don’t have a ceiling fan or a built-in fan in your bathroom, you can use a small fan to blow steam away. By employing these techniques, you will help to prevent mold from taking root in tile grout, caulk, and drains.

Be sure to always keep the shower and tub area clean and free of any standing water. Periodically check to clean the areas where you keep shampoo bottles, body wash bottles and soap bar, making sure they are not sitting in standing water. If you keep a shower mat on the bottom of your shower or tub be sure to clean it on a regular basis – especially underneath, keeping the suction cups clean. Those suction cups are mold breeding grounds!

Know that soap scum is your enemy. A combination of soap, body oils, hair and other organic materials get trapped between the bath mat and shower/tub floor every time you bathe. Every color of mold will call that area home if you don’t clean it. You’ll have to both scour and sanitize the bath mat on a weekly basis – and it might be a good idea to eventually replace it entirely. Remember to allow the mat to completely dry before returning it to the shower or tub floor. Cleaning this one particular item regularly will go a long way towards keeping your bathroom mold-free.

Also, regularly mist a 50/50 solution mix of vinegar and water to your shower curtain, glass doors, tile grout and inside shower walls. If you can tolerate the smell, you might want to use straight white diluted vinegar instead. Be sure to spray the caulked corners, as well as all cracks and crevices around spigot, spout, drain, and shower nozzle. Do not rinse right away, allowing all treated areas to dry completely. Fortunately, the vinegar solution has only a slight odor and will dissipate fairly quickly after application. The vinegar solution will help with deodorizing as the acids in the vinegar continue to consume and kill any remaining mold spores. This process will help to prohibit future mold growth.

Mold prevention in the bathroom is easiest when you keep to a sound prevention plan. Also useful are applications of tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, as well as trusty white distilled vinegar. Employing these methodical steps regularly will keep mold from setting up camp in your bathroom.

Mold In Your Home? Contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby/Spencer/Trimble/Henry today to speak to a Mold Remediation Specialist. 502.241.6861