How to get rid of fungus and mold in the bathroom: are there reliable methods or only repairs will help

The bathroom is a place where people keep their body clean. Naturally, the room itself must be kept in perfect cleanliness. But even if cleaning is carried out regularly, you are not immune from the appearance of such an unpleasant problem as mold. You won't be able to get it off whitewash, bathtubs, or tiles with water or regular soap. If you do not take action on time, the fungus completely occupies the bathroom, destroying expensive finishes and plumbing. How to get rid of mold in the bathroom at home?

There is an opinion that typical apartments are poorly adapted for people's lives. But for the life of mold, they are ideally adapted. There are five main reasons for the appearance of fungus in the bathroom.

1. Increased humidity. It is impossible to create a perfectly dry environment in a room where there is a bathtub, a washbasin, water pipes, a washing machine and other attributes associated with water. And high importance is the main condition for the formation and reproduction of the fungus.
2. Lack of natural light. With rare exceptions, bathrooms in urban apartments are closed "boxes" without window openings. They do not get sunlight, which inhibits the development of mold.
3. Warm. Hot water is constantly circulating in the bathroom, and a heated towel rail can also work. All this creates a warm microclimate favorable for the fungus.
4. The presence of cracks. There are many gaps in the bathroom where water can linger. Most often, mold forms under the bathroom, behind the washing machine, under plastic panels, at the joints between tiles.
5. Air stagnation. The problem is connected not only with the lack of windows, but also with the unsatisfactory condition of the ventilation system.

The main thing about the problem

Interestingly, mold appeared about 200 million years ago. The fungus successfully survived both the ice age and the abnormal heat. And even in areas with an active radiation background, where other flora and fauna are dying, scientists are finding a large amount of mold spreading. It is unpleasant and even scary to have such a “neighbor” in your bathroom. How to wash and destroy blackness with your hands in an apartment?

Species characteristics

Black, blue, red, white, fluffy ... It's hard to say what this muck does not happen. Removing dampness from walls is hard work. What determines the color and texture, how to clean and what types of mold are shown in the following table.

Table - Characteristics of mold types

What is the danger

The fungus not only spoils the appearance of the finish, but also destroys the structure of materials. But this is nothing compared to the harm that spores can cause to human health. Why is mold in the bathroom dangerous? It can cause problems like this:

• skin rashes;
• eczema;
• hair loss;
• nail fungus;
• fatigue and lethargy;
• frequent bouts of headache;
• chronic runny nose;
• cough;
• conjunctivitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• intoxication of the body;
• rheumatic pains;
• indigestion;
• internal bleeding.

How to get rid of mold in the bathroom: 7 remedies

If you notice mold in the bathroom, it does not mean that you will have to make repairs or process it with expensive compounds. In the kitchen, in the first aid kit, or in the nearest hardware store, there is likely to be one of seven products that will help remove fungus in the bathroom.

Vinegar

1. Pour table vinegar (9%) into a spray bottle. Determine the amount of liquid yourself based on the area of ​​the affected surface.
2. Spray problem areas generously with vinegar. Wait an hour for the liquid to dry.
3. Scrub the treated areas with a dry, stiff brush or a regular rag to remove mold residue.

If you want to remove mold between the rim and tile in the bathroom, sprinkle plenty of baking soda on the problem area, and pour vinegar on top. The method is good for any horizontal surfaces.

Hydrogen peroxide

1. Apply hydrogen peroxide to fungus affected areas. Vertical surfaces are wiped with a napkin, abundantly soaked with a solution. On a horizontal plane, the product can simply be poured.
2. Do not use the bathroom for an hour and a half until the surfaces are completely dry.
3. Scrub the treated areas with a brush or dry cloth.

If you decide to remove mold in the bathroom with peroxide, keep in mind that the substance has bleaching properties. Colored panels may change appearance after processing.

Ammonia

1. Dilute ammonia with water in equal amounts.
2. Pour the composition into a container with a spray bottle and treat problem surfaces.
3. Wash off the ammonia after two hours and pat dry.

Even if the surface visually looks clean, this does not mean that you have finally dealt with the problem. To remove black mold in the bathroom completely, treat problem areas with ammonia for a month. Repeat every three to four days.

Soda

1. Dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in 250 ml of water.
2. Wipe the infected area with a sponge dipped in the solution, or spray from a spray bottle.
3. When the baking soda solution dries, rinse it off and wipe the treated surfaces dry.

To eliminate the smell of mold, place an open pack of baking soda under the tub. During cleaning, add a couple of tablespoons of the product to the water for washing floors and tiles.

Furacilin

1. Grind 20 tablets of furacilin into powder.
2. Pour a glass of warm water into a spray bottle, add product and swirl.
3. Shake the vial until the powder is completely dissolved.
4. Spray on moldy surfaces.
5. After 30-40 minutes, wipe with a dry cloth.

Furacilin is an effective remedy not only for fighting fungi and bacteria, but also for preventing their occurrence. Even if the surfaces of the bathroom are visually clean, once a month carry out a similar treatment.

blue vitriol

1. Copper sulphate from mold in the bathroom is used by dissolving in ten parts of water.
2. Using a stiff brush, spread the solution over and around where the fungus has come through.
3. Rinse several times with water after one hour to completely remove any residue.
4. Wipe the surfaces with a dry cloth and ventilate.

Boric acid

1. Dissolve boric acid (500 g) in 10 liters of water.
2. You can use the solution undiluted, but to increase the effectiveness, it is recommended to add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar and 500 g of borax powder.
3. Sponge or spray treat the affected surfaces.
4. Rinse with water after two to three hours and pat dry.

To fix the effect, apply this mold remover in the bathroom after a week. In the future, it is recommended to carry out processing monthly.

Tricks on different surfaces

How to treat a bath from mold? Suitable folk remedies or store antiseptics. But some surfaces require special attention and a specific approach.

Tile joints

Before the hostess has time to admire the neat new tile, bordered with white grout, as an insidious fungus begins to stain the seams in black, red and green. If you are determined to remove the mold in the bathroom in the tile joints at home, you must strictly follow the instructions.

Treatment

1. Determine the localization of the fungus honey tiles. After carefully inspecting the surface, make notes with a bright marker so that you do not lose sight of anything.
2. Using sandpaper or a wire brush, remove the darkened grout. You also need to remove the coating around the fungal stains, even a clean-looking grout can contain fungal spores.
3. Apply white to the cleaned areas and heat the surface to kill the remaining fungus. Use a soldering iron. In the absence of the latter, you can get by with a hairdryer.
4. Prepare a grout mixture and apply it to the chlorine-treated areas. When the composition dries, remove excess with a sponge.
5. At the last stage, you must block the mold access to the grout surface. To do this, the space between the tiles must be covered with a transparent varnish.

Before cleaning the seams between the tiles in the bathroom from mold, in no case wipe the surface with hot water. Even the boiling point is considered not high enough to kill the fungus. Such processing will only contribute to its reproduction.

Tile

How to deal with mold in the bathroom on the tiles? Essential oil will help.

Treatment

1. Dilute a tablespoon of tea tree ether in two glasses of water.
2. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and shake the container well.
3. When all family members have finished water procedures, sprinkle the tile with a solution and leave it overnight.
4. In the morning, wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

Tea tree ether is not only a strong antiseptic, but also a powerful allergen. Before treating tiles, make sure that no one in the family has an intolerance to the product.

sealant

To remove mold in the bathroom on the sealant, use peroxide with vinegar and boric acid.

Treatment

1. In four norms of water, dilute three norms of vinegar, two peroxides and a norm of boric acid.
2. Soak a sponge in the mixture and rub the surface well.
3. After 20 minutes, rinse and wipe the sealant dry.
4. Ventilate and do not use the room for five to six hours.

Ceiling

Getting rid of mold on the ceiling in the bathroom is not an easy task. The surface is difficult to handle. In addition, the fungus quickly penetrates deep into the concrete through a thin barrier of whitewash or paint. To combat mold on the ceiling, it is recommended to use an antiseptic impregnation, which can be purchased at a hardware store.

Treatment

1. Carefully inspect the ceiling to identify areas affected by mold. Outline them with a pencil or marker.
2. Remove any surface finish (paint, whitewash or other material) from the surface. If mold is under the tile, it must also be removed.
3. To prevent mold spores from flying into the air, moisten the ceiling with water from a spray bottle.
4. Spray with an antiseptic. It is applied not only to the marked areas, but also half a meter beyond them.
5. When the product dries, apply the antiseptic again.
6. Clean the surface with a metal brush or scraper.
7. Re-treat with an antiseptic.
8. It remains to putty the ceiling and perform the necessary finishing.

So that the muck does not start

Whatever recipe you choose to fight mold, the process of getting rid of the fungus will be time-consuming and time-consuming. In order not to have to face a problem, pay attention to prevention.

• Ensure good air circulation. The ideal option would be to install a forced ventilation system. Or try to keep the bathroom door open.
• Wipe pipes. If you notice condensation on the pipes, immediately remove it with a dry cloth.
• Keep your plumbing in good condition. Leaking faucets are a source of high humidity. As soon as you notice any problem, immediately call a plumber.
• Do not dry your laundry here. It is better to do this on the balcony or in rooms that are well ventilated.
• Clean your bathroom regularly. It is recommended to use fungicides that will help kill the fungus in its infancy.
• Do your repairs right. If you plan to redesign your bathroom, start by treating the surfaces with antiseptics. In finishing, use materials containing antifungal components.

If you are going to make repairs in the bathroom, pay special attention to the replacement of communications. After studying the reviews of the hostesses, we can conclude that after installing copper pipes, the mold problem occurs much less frequently.

Decided on how to get rid of fungus and mold in the bathroom? Now take care of your safety. Be sure to wear gloves and a respirator. This will protect the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory organs from aggressive substances. In addition, this will prevent inhalation of mold spores, which can become airborne during surface treatment.

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