A common question we often get asked by our customers at this time of year is: “I have black mould in the bathroom but how do I get rid of it?” At one point or another in our lives, the chances are we will have all come across mould in the bathroom and then panic about how to get rid of the problem.
In many cases, mould can be removed using dedicated fungicidal cleaning solutions and improving air ventilation. In this article, we explain why black mould is commonly found in bathrooms and look at ways of removing and preventing the problem.
What is Black Mould and Why Does it Appear in the Bathroom?
Black mould (Aspergillus Niger) is a fungus that grows in damp and humid conditions. Bathrooms are the ideal breeding ground for black mould: Whenever you have a hot shower or bath, steam accumulates and condenses on the colder areas of the room, such as tiled or plastered walls (especially exterior walls). If these everyday activities are accompanied by poor insulation or additional moisture (such as a leak or damp issue), conditions will remain wet within the room long after you’ve finished bathing. Prolonged exposure to these moist conditions provides the perfect environment for black mould to germinate and spread.
Black mould spores are considered omnipresent: even with ideal prevention measures, these spores can lay dormant for years undetected until a change in their environment encourages them to germinate and grow.
What are the Signs of Black Mould in the Bathroom?
If you can already see a black mould outbreak on your tiles, walls, or windows, then the problem has already progressed and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. However, there are also ways to identify an outbreak prior to the typical black spotting and growths:
- If the room has a stale and musty smell, even if it has remained dry for some time and been recently cleaned
- If you notice your floorboards begin to creak or bow under foot
- If finished plaster or paint is beginning to peel or discolour, or
- If tiles have a brown, slimy residue
These are all signs that black mould is beginning to grow or has been growing for some time.
Why Should I Get Rid of Black Mould?
Black mould is unsightly and can very quickly spread through a home if given the ideal growing conditions. Black mould can cause considerable damage to your property, including plaster, paint, tiles, and floorboards if left to thrive.
More importantly, it presents a severe risk to health, especially for people with respiratory conditions or the immuno-suppressed. Its inhabitancy can cause symptoms such as sneezing, eye inflammation or skin rashes, but can lead to the development of conditions such as asthma or allergies and is particularly dangerous to young children or the elderly if they become exposed. For more information on the impacts damp and mould can have on your and your family’s health, please visit Gov.uk.
How do I Prevent Black Mould from Appearing in the Bathroom?
In the case of black mould, as with many conditions, prevention is always better than the cure. The tips below are simple lifestyle changes that can prevent black mould from occurring in the first place:
- Provide adequate ventilation: By reducing humidity in the room, this will prevent the growth of black mould. The simplest way to do this is to open a window during your shower or bath, and keeping it open for at least 15 minutes after you’ve finished bathing. If you also keep the bathroom door shut, this will ensure the damp air doesn’t invade other areas of your home. Alternatively, turn on the extractor fan if your bathroom has one, as this can vent the warm, moist air from the room more quickly than just leaving the window open.
- Provide adequate heating: Colder rooms are more at risk of condensation forming, so keeping your house warm in the cooler months will help reduce the moisture within your bathroom.
- Wipe down surfaces: Whether this is the bath, shower doors, tiles, or windows, wiping down the surfaces in your bathroom will ensure moisture can’t build up. If you’re using cloths rather than paper towels, make sure these are rinsed, wrung out, and left to dry naturally.
- Clean your bathroom regularly: Cleaning your bathroom on a weekly basis will ensure that any mould spores left over from wiping will be removed. Using a black mould kit every so often will ensure these spores are not present.
- Check for gaps: If black mould has started forming around windows or windowsills, there may be gaps in seals allowing moisture to ingress. Broken window hinges can also cause gaps between two panes that should ordinarily be sealed. Gaps may also be present in existing sealant or grout, either through damage or incorrect application.
- Redecorate: Use of ideal materials for the room, such as mould-resistant paint, can lead to a reduction in risk of black mould developing, even in areas where condensation continues to be prevalent.
You should look to apply as many of these suggestions as is feasible, but even adopting one or two of the above suggestions would lead to a significant reduction in the risk of exposure to a black mould outbreak.
How do I get rid of Black Mould in the Bathroom?
If you’re already tackling a case of black mould, there are several remedies available to rid yourself of the unsightly black spots. In each case, ensure you wear protective clothing such as rubber gloves and eyewear as these chemicals are irritants and can be abrasive or damaging if they touch your skin or eyes directly. Black mould can be particularly damaging to your lungs if inhaled, and these spores can be made airborne if disturbed, so wearing a mask and keeping the area well-ventilated is also essential prior to beginning.
For effective black mould treatment:
- Tiles & basins: Using a mould eradication kit is the ideal solution – these come with a sterilizer spray that should be applied to the affected area and left to soak (you can also use a solution of either bleach/vinegar diluted with water, but these are less effective over time and may need to be applied more often). Once applied, you can then wipe the mould away with a cloth or sponge, changing these every so often to avoid spreading the mould to other areas of the room.
- Grout: Mould sterilizer spray can also be used here. However, a coarser tool such as a scrubbing brush or old toothbrush will be required to remove mould from the grout (especially in tight areas or if mould has been left untreated over a prolonged period). In serious cases, it may only be possible to remove the mould by replacing the grout entirely.
- Bathroom sealant: A similar scrubbing method can be employed here, but apply a gentler touch, as damaging the sealant can result in water getting underneath the bath or shower the next time you use them. If the sealant is particularly infested, this could mean that the sealant isn’t waterproof any longer and could allow mould to build up in the gaps. If so, then it is often more economical to remove this and apply a new layer of sealant rather than attempting to clean the affected material, as this could also allow leaks beneath the bath or shower tray.
Once you’re done, you should throw away any used rags, cloths or sponges. Any affected grout or sealant you’ve removed should be sealed in a plastic bag and disposed of responsibly. Any clothes you’ve worn while cleaning should be hand-washed in warm water with mild detergent away from any other clothing: Using a washing machine could potentially spread the mould to your other clothes, as well as infest the machine if you don’t use a setting that’s hot enough to entirely eradicate the spores.
Need Further Advice from A Black Mould Specialist?
We hope this article has provided you with some handy tips on the prevention and removal of black mould in the bathroom. For more methods of getting rid of black mould from not just your bathroom but other areas of the property then check out our black mould removal page. If you would some further information then contact us online.
