How to get rid of mold and fungus in the bathroom

Harmful bacteria can cause the destruction of finishing and building materials. If you do not get rid of mold in your bathroom, then you can face serious problems. An ugly black coating not only affects the aesthetics of the room, but also poses a health hazard, especially with breathing problems.

Why does it appear?

Before you start expelling mold or fungus from the bathroom, you should identify the causes of its occurrence. Most often, black-gray plaque appears under the following conditions:

poor ventilation;
lack of natural light;
condensate, which often forms on cast-iron pipes and cold walls;
high humidity due to leaking faucets;
insufficient heating of the heated towel rail.

For the appearance of mold, just a couple of the listed factors are enough. To prevent unpleasant manifestations, you must do the following:

equip the hood with a fan that can start when the light is turned on;
replace cast-iron pipes with plastic ones, and, if necessary, insulate the walls;
if there is a low heat transfer of the heated towel rail, then you should additionally install a heater.

You can understand that mold or fungus has started in the room by specific signs. First of all - by the smell, which will remind you of damp basement air.

Signs of mold

In addition to the musty aroma, you can notice a plaque that can form on any surface. This particular substance will be slightly fluffy to the touch and may have a black, gray or greenish tinge. Having found such a raid on the walls, in the seams between the tiles, on the shower tray, you should immediately take action.

What damage can mold cause?

The habitat of mold is quite diverse. It can be concrete, sealant, brick and even paintwork. Sometimes the appearance of plaque is difficult to notice, because it can develop under wall or floor tiles. When manifested, it can cause irreparable harm:

destruction of building materials and the threat of collapse of structures;
deterioration in the appearance of the finish;
danger to human health.

Mold spores enter the respiratory system. This can lead to asthma, allergies, dermatosis, and other serious conditions, including joint damage. In addition, the owners of the affected premises may experience headache attacks.

Prevention measures

The following will help prevent the appearance and spread of mold:

To begin with, the room must be provided with good ventilation. But even if the hood copes with its purpose, after the completion of water procedures, the bathroom door should be kept open for some time. This will provide good ventilation;
if the heat transfer of the heated towel rail is insufficient, then additional heating equipment should be installed. This is especially necessary in autumn and winter, when the air temperature drops and humidity increases;
it is necessary to get rid of condensate in a timely manner by wiping the surfaces
in order not to think about how to get rid of mold in the bathroom, you should regularly carry out preventive surface treatment with special compounds that are sold in special stores.

Surface treatment with an antiseptic, as well as the use of special grouts when processing tile joints, will prevent the possibility of fungus.

Radical remedies for mold

One of the most radical methods is a major overhaul, which implies the following:

freeing walls from tiles, wallpaper or other types of finishing materials;
flooring replacement;
removal of whitewash from the ceiling.

All cleaned surfaces should dry thoroughly for two to three days. At this time, the air in the room should remain dry, so you should refrain from visiting the bathroom.

However, this is not enough, since the spores have already managed to penetrate the structure of building materials. To destroy them, you can use special antiseptic compounds or self-prepared products. After the mold has been eliminated, you can proceed to the finishing work.

To prevent black mold from reappearing in a renovated room, proper ventilation should be taken care of. If necessary, you can replace the bathroom door with a model equipped with ventilation holes.

store funds

If major repairs are not possible, then more affordable methods can be resorted to. In specialized outlets you can find all the components for getting rid of mold:

copper sulfate is a very effective and cheap remedy. Using it, you should be careful, as the substance is quite toxic and can cause unpleasant consequences when interacting with the skin. When working, it is necessary to use gloves and a respirator;
bleach - it can be powder, previously diluted with water, or chlorine bleach. It should be borne in mind that such a mold repellent in the bathroom emits a pungent odor, so using a wet mask will be very helpful. So that the caustic substance does not damage the skin, do not forget about gloves;

store-bought chemicals

antiseptics - do an excellent job with the task, but leave behind a persistent unpleasant odor. As a basis for such preparations, oil, turpentine or white spirit can be used;
Ready mixes and solutions - many enterprises working with chemicals produce ready-to-fight formulations. Before buying such products, you need to consult with the seller, as each composition has its own characteristics. Many manufacturers offer branded products that work effectively and are very inexpensive.

Here are just a few of the below:

universal antiseptic "Antifungus" - it can be used during the repair period or in case of accidental detection of lesions. The composition is suitable for processing brick, concrete, wood and other materials. For prevention, you can add a little money to the glue when sticking wallpaper;
"Isocide" - a series of drugs that destroy mold and other microorganisms that can appear in an environment of high humidity. "Isocide" can be used to dilute water-soluble paint;

"Mil Kill" - the composition includes an antimicrobial substance that is absolutely safe for human health. With this emulsion it is possible to treat surfaces with a finely porous structure;
"Dali" is a transparent water-based antiseptic. Suitable for woodworking.

Folk ways of fighting

As soon as the first pocket of mold appears on the walls, it must be removed immediately. For this, not only store, but also folk methods are used. During the procedures, do not forget about safety measures, so you must have gloves, protective clothing and a mask or respirator.

Creosote

To cope with a serious focus, you can use creosote. This aggressive substance must be dissolved in alcohol or oil and the affected surface treated. Residues of the yellowish mass should be removed, as they pose a health hazard. Creosote can only be used for concrete and brick surfaces, but for wood paneling, you will have to find other means.

Vinegar

When mold appears in the bathroom, many do not know what to do. To begin with, it is necessary to assess the scale of the upcoming work. If the lesions are not very global, then you can use ordinary vinegar, which is used for culinary purposes. The processing process should be as follows:

treat the affected surface with vinegar solution and leave to dry completely;
remove residue with a brush;
Thoroughly wash the cleaned area with water.
Vinegar, which almost everyone has at home, is able to destroy a huge number of various microorganisms.