Mold and mildew is a common sight in bathrooms and showers, especially along the caulking and other jointed areas where moisture can build up. Since mold is both unsightly and can be dangerous to your health if in large enough numbers, it should be eradicated as soon as you notice it. There are a number of ways to get rid of mold once and for all, many of which are very simple and easy to do.
Follow our tips in this article on how to remove mold from shower caulking.
Using Vinegar
Vinegar is an extremely effective and very affordable way to rid your home of mold and mildew. Vinegar naturally has both antifungal and antibacterial properties, which makes it the perfect choice for getting rid of mold as mold is a fungus. Vinegar can be used to both kill mold and prevent it from returning.
You can choose to use vinegar directly on the mold in full strength by using a sponge or a spray bottle. Additionally, for very tough and set-in molds, you can soak a cotton ball or rag in vinegar and lay it directly on the mold for up to 24 hours. After that time, use warm water to rinse it away.
If the smell of vinegar is not to your liking, you can mix it with water or lemon juice to help cut back on the strong vinegar odor. The acidic properties of the vinegar will remain similar and it will still be able to kill most types of mold, including those that can grow in your bathroom.
If you notice the mold is not completely gone, you can choose to repeat the vinegar attack or move onto something else and see if it works better. Molds are not all the same and come in a variety of different types. Some may be more resistant to the high acidity of vinegar than others.
Using Bleach
Bleach is an amazing cleaning agent for use on shower caulking and tile, especially when it comes to removing mold. It’s quite a bit more caustic than vinegar, so always be sure to keep the room well ventilated while you are using bleach to kill mold.
In doing a similar process as with vinegar, you can add bleach to a spray bottle and apply it directly to the mold or soak a rag in bleach and lay it on the mold for up to 24 hours. If applying with a spray bottle, you can scrub the area with a brush or abrasive sponge to immediately start cleaning up the mold.
Bleach is great for non-porous surfaces such as those found in a bathroom. It can be used in caulking, tile, grout, glass, and stainless steel fixtures. However, if you notice mold or mildew growing on porous surfaces such as wood or some clay tiles, bleach may not be able to fully permeate these areas to kill all of the mold spores that are present.
If this happens, you can try using a commercial product that is specifically made for mold on porous surfaces, or simply choose one that works on a wide range of mold types. These options may end up being more expensive than vinegar or bleach, but if they can help get rid of mold in your home it will be worth it in the long run.
Preventing Mold from Returning
Once mold is gone, it’s important to prevent it from returning at a later date. First, take a look around and see if you notice any problem areas. If you see water pooling in certain spots or collecting on certain areas of caulking, this is considered a problem area.
Standing water and high moisture areas with poor ventilation are a great breeding ground for molds. Bathrooms are normally very humid and warm locations but should have proper ventilation to quickly dry the air and surfaces in the room as well. If water is collecting on certain areas of the tub or shower edge, this should be addressed.
After making sure there are no remaining problem areas, you can do between-shower sprays of a vinegar and water solution, or a bleach and water solution with a spray bottle. Spray it on the walls and along the edges of the tub or shower stall, on caulking, and around fixtures. The acidic nature of both vinegar and bleach will prevent mold spores from being able to take hold in the area again.
Also, between-shower spray downs can be very quick and simple too. Once you are done with your shower simply mist the surfaces with your spray bottle and continue about your day. The ventilation in the room will dry up the humidity, and any surfaces that remain wet or moist will have vinegar or bleach to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Final Thoughts
Keeping mold out of your bathroom is important and quite simple in some cases. There may be tough stains you need to work a little harder to get rid of, but once they are gone, using simple preventative measures can help keep them gone. Mold can be dangerous to your health, especially if it is in large enough numbers and you are forced to breathe it in over time, so eliminating the threat to yourself and your family is important.