Cleaning Bathroom Mold
Basically, mold is a living fungus that grows in those areas of the house which are damp and humid like bathroom and basement. Mold can be identified with greenish black specks on the surface of the walls, ceilings and corners of the floor. Cleaning bathroom mold is important not just because mold on bathroom walls, ceiling and floor looks ugly but is hazardous for health. When it enters the body through inhalation or ingestion, it gives rise to various allergy symptoms like runny nose, congestion in the nasal passage, sneezing, etc. More serious forms of toxic black mold exposure symptoms can be observed when the spores of black mold start attacking the healthy cells of the body after some time. A few common symptoms of black mold poisoning are nose bleeding, lung bleeding rectal bleeding and may even lead to neurological disorder.
How to Get Rid of Mold in Bathroom
Isolate the bathroom area from the rest of the house so that after mold removal, the mold spores do not spread to other parts of the house. Open a bathroom window in order to improve the air circulation of the work area. To protect yourself from toxic mold exposure, you must wear adequate protective gear such as rubber gloves, goggles, respiratory mask, etc. The tools and materials that are needed for cleaning mold in bathroom are: mild detergent liquid, chlorine bleach, disinfectant, cleaning brush, toothbrush, sponge, rags, etc. Once all the arrangements are made, proceed as per the following instructions:
Step 1:The first step of bathroom mold removal involves use of a regular bathroom cleaner for cleaning up the visible signs of mold infestation. Alternately, you can prepare a cleaning solution made of ammonia free mild liquid detergent and warm water and use it for the same purpose. Apply this solution generously on the shower area, bathroom floors and walls. Leave it untouched for some time and then scrub all these areas thoroughly with the help of a sponge or a brush. Then wash off with plain water and allow it to dry. If infestation of black mold in bathroom is not that severe, then this method of cleaning mold in bathroom is enough to get rid of the toxic molds. The problem with this solution is that it does not kill the black mold that lies in deeper surfaces like the grout lines of the bathroom tiles.
Step 2: We all know that a detergent solution cannot kill mold. Then what kills mold? Chlorine bleach contains strong chemicals that are highly effective for killing mold in bathroom. Therefore, the next step involves mold removal with bleach. Take one gallon of water and add one cup of chlorine bleach into it. Put this bleaching solution in a spray bottle and spread on all the surfaces of the bathroom including shower walls, shower floors, in and around the bathtub and so on. Let it sit on the bathroom area for the next 15-20 minutes. Then start scrubbing from any one corner of the room and proceed towards the door. To reach out to a narrow corner, use a stiff bristled toothbrush. For the broader surfaces of floors and walls, a sponge or cleaning brush can be used. Continue to rub the areas vigorously in circular motions to clean mold in bathroom completely. Then rub a rag over all the surfaces so that the loose mold are wiped off. Then rinse off thoroughly with running water. Cleaning mold on bathroom ceiling with this technique could be tough if the infested area is more than 10 feet. In such cases, you should hire professionals for the cleaning job.
Step 3: Last but not the least important step to clean mold in bathroom is application of a disinfectant. This is done to eliminate the residues of mold spores that are left behind after the cleaning job. You can get this disinfectant in any hardware stores. Apply it on the cleaned surfaces of the bathroom, let it stand for 15 minutes and then wash off with sufficient amount of water. Then try to dry the area as quickly as possible. If required, take the help of fans or dehumidifiers.
After you finished cleaning bathroom mold, you must dispose off all the materials that came in contact with the mold during the cleaning process. Put the brush, sponge, rags and other equipment into garbage bag, seal it up properly and then throw it in a garbage disposal area. You can prevent any further growth of bathroom mold by keeping the bathroom clean and dry. Keep the bathroom open or switch on the bathroom fan to ensure better air circulation. Spray some distilled vinegar on all the areas of the bathroom once a week. This will control growth of mold and mildew to a great extent.
