Mold loves to grow in warm, humid areas. Consequently, perhaps the room of the house that falls victim to mold the most often is the bathroom. If you discover mold growing on your bathroom tiles, ceiling, or window, it is essential that you eliminate it as soon as possible. If left alone, the mold will continue to grow, potentially causing health problems for everyone in the home.
Though there are varieties of toxic mold that can cause severe health problems, most cases involve less dangerous mold. Especially if you detect the problem early and the mold is contained to an area of less than ten square feet, you can likely clean the mold away yourself as long as you take the appropriate precautions. Here are seven steps to help you remove a mild case of mold from your bathroom.
1. Dress appropriately
A long-sleeved shirt, pants, and rubber gloves will help guard your skin from being exposed to mold spores. In addition, a respirator filter mask will protect you from inhaling any mold spores that become airborne.
2. Prepare the room
If you have a bathroom fan or a central air circulator, turn it on. If not, open the window and use a portable exhaust fan to draw any airborne spores out of the home. If you have a portable air filter, you may also consider setting it up in the bathroom. Next, close the door so that the spores are prevented from travelling to other parts of the house. It would also be a good idea for other family members to leave the home for a few hours to avoid being exposed to the spores.
3. Prepare a cleaner
There are several options when it comes to mold cleaners. If you wish, you can use bleach or a specialized mold cleaner. In most cases, though, an antibacterial dish soap mixed with water and vinegar will suffice.
4. Lightly spray the moldy area
If the area of mold is dry, first spray the area with a fine mist. Dry spores are much more likely to become airborne and are more difficult to contain.
5. Scrub away the mold
Using an old cloths and sponges, begin wiping away the surface mold. During this process, be careful not to cross-contaminate other areas of the bathroom. Be certain to remove the mold from any cracks and ridges as well as the underside of any counters or window frames. An old toothbrush that will never be used again may be helpful for cleaning corners and crevices.
6. Determine your next step
Have you been able to successfully clean the mold and have you dried the affected area? If so, leave the fan and/or air filter running for a while to eliminate any airborne spores. If the mold has become engrained below the surface, though, you will need to replace the affected grout, drywall, or wood. If you discover that the mold is more widespread than you originally thought, it may become necessary to hire a professional to safely remove the mold from your home.
7. Clean up
Undoubtedly, mold spores were transferred to your clothes as you were cleaning. Wash them and yourself as soon as possible to keep those spores from spreading. Dispose of any cloths, sponges, or toothbrushes you used, preferably using the bathroom window to remove them from the house instead of transporting them through unaffected areas of the home. Similarly, if you had to remove any tiles, wood, or drywall, remove it through the window, too.
Keep an eye on that area of the bathroom over the next several weeks. If the mold returns, clean it again. If the problem persists, call in a professional to deal with it.
