3 Easy Steps to Eliminate Mold in Your Bathroom

It’s a tale as old as time. You finally find the time to draw yourself a warm bubble bath, hop in and lean your head back only to find yourself face-to-face with the dreaded black mold. With that pesky guest nearby, relaxing is out of the question. So, you hop right back out and instantly Google ‘How to Get Rid of Black Mold’. Well, you’re in luck, we’ve saved you the search and it only takes three easy steps to eliminate bathroom mold. Don’t worry, you’ll be back to your (mold-free) bubble bath in no time!

Step 1: Prevention
First things first, mold needs moisture to grow. This means, your first line of defense should be to eliminate sitting water and reduce the humidity in your bathroom. Most bathrooms are equipped with fans, however, the CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) capacity must be equal to the footprint of your bathroom. Otherwise, it won’t do an adequate job of eliminating moisture in the air. While we’re on the topic of fans, running it for five minutes after your shower doesn’t count! You need to turn it on before you start your shower and run it for at least half an hour afterward to eliminate the balmy humidity that mold needs to flourish. If you don’t have the time to wait around for 30 minutes post-shower, open a window to speed up the process or install a fan timer.

You’ll also want to remove excess water from anywhere it may linger in your bathroom. This includes using a squeegee on bath or shower walls and wiping down any areas that routinely hold moisture. Don’t forget, the more clutter you have in your shower, the more places mold has to hide and grow without your knowledge. To prevent this we recommend storing your favorite products in some sort of shower caddy. Remember; a dry and tidy bathroom is a no-grow zone for mold.

Step 2: Treatment
Sometimes, even with preventative measures in place, that pesky black mold still finds a way to rear its ugly head. The good news? You probably already have all the supplies you need to wage a victorious war against it.

Vinegar: Yes, plain old white vinegar has been found to kill 82% of mold species. Not only that but it doesn’t contain toxic fumes like many of the mold killers on the market so it’s a lot safer to use. Simply fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and make sure not to dilute it with water. The acidity of the vinegar is what makes it deadly to mold and diluting it will also dilute its ability to get the job done. Spray the areas affected by mold and anywhere else it may grow (vinegar doubles as a great mold prevention method) and leave it for an hour. If the smell of vinegar bothers you, open the windows while it sets and go make yourself a cup of coffee. Once the hour is up, use your newfound energy, some hot water, and a clean towel to wipe everything down. Don’t forget to dry everything off to prevent the mold from growing right back.

*Keep in mind that some forms of mold are too strong for vinegar to kill, in which case you may want to purchase something a bit stronger.

Bleach: Okay, brace yourselves, we’re about to let you in on a little secret. Bleach doesn’t actually kill mold it just removes the stain created by it. Crazy, right? So, if you want to use bleach to eliminate stains, you’ll first need to use the vinegar method described above. Then, fill a spray bottle with 1-part bleach to 2-parts water. Spray down the moldy areas and let it dry. After it’s dried spray with the bleach solution again and use a scrub brush to really get in there and scrub away the mold. Rinse and repeat if any mold remains.

Step 3: Maintenance
We know, cleaning is probably one of your least favorite chores, but weekly maintenance can go a long way towards a mold-free bathroom. Frequently spraying surfaces with vinegar and ensuring proper ventilation is key but don’t forget about the soft surfaces in your bathroom. While we’re on the topic, when was the last time you washed your bathmat? Yeah, that’s what we thought. Bathmats, shower curtains, and towels can hold onto moisture much longer than hard surfaces so it’s important to wash them weekly.

Keeping your bathroom mold-free doesn’t have to be exhaustive or time-consuming. All it takes is some routine maintenance, a few products you likely already have, and a teensy bit of elbow grease. Happy scrubbing!