Did you know that we all battle with the same exact enemy in the bathroom? That’s mold. We all hate it. We all fear it. But do we all do what’s possible to keep it away?
One may even wonder if it’s ever possible to keep the bathroom mold-free – hence, the environment healthy. Well, this depends on many factors. For example, bathrooms with large windows have more chances of never seeing mold around their walls and corners compared to bathrooms without windows. But do you know what? It also depends on whether or not one opens the window and how often. So, preventing mold growth depends highly on the bathroom’s structure but also our own habits. Should we take a closer look?
Keep the bathroom well aired
Since windows help a great deal, think of enlarging yours or creating one – if there’s none, if you plan a bathroom remodeling. But a good ventilation system also comes handy – given that you use it. It’s best to open the window and run the ventilation system after you take a shower and for at least an hour – or until the steam is exhausted.
Keep wet robes and towels away
Since mold grows and rapidly spreads when the environment is wet and warm, you also need to remove all wet things from the bathroom – towels, rags, robes. The best thing you can do is wash them regularly. In the meantime, you can dry them.
Don’t ignore funny smells
If you feel there’s a funny smell in the bathroom, inspect for mold. This is often a musty smell, mainly due to the humidity, which drawn mold spores to breed, feed on, and spread, in the first place. If you air the bathroom and the smell doesn’t go away, it’s a sign that there’s mold and can be at any part of the bathroom. Don’t ignore it. The sooner you deal with mold, the easier it’d be to keep it away from the bathroom – given that at the same time, you do what you can to reduce humidity in the bathroom as much as possible.
Fix leaks, find the source of the problem
Pools of water on the bathroom floor – without a good explanation, are signs of leakage. In such cases, the problem is staring you in the eye, begging for a fix. But how about some drips, especially when we are talking about drips under the sink or around the shower or toilet. While materials deteriorate, water may escape in the form of drips. This problem is not always noticed right away – after all, the bathroom is a wet environment, who pays attention to tiny puddles on the floor? But these tiny pools increase humidity, make it permanent, and create the perfect conditions for mold. So, fix leaks quickly – whether the problem is big or not.
Seal the bathroom tile floor grout
The grout of the bathroom tile floor can easily get worn. Same thing in the shower too. The bad news with grout is that it’s an absorbent material and that’s why it is sealed. But with time, the sealants get damaged, leaving grout exposed to the bathroom’s humidity and making it prone to get infested by mold. Reseal grout or call a bathroom renovation contractor to replace the floor.
Choose the right paints
Now that the market is swamped with all kinds of products, you can find paints that are truly resistant to mold. In fact, there are products that may even kill the existing mold – if it’s not spread extensively, and keep mold from growing. So, get ready to repaint the bathroom.
