Mold is gross. It stinks, it’s slimy, and it makes everything look worse. That includes places like your bathroom. Once mold made its home in your bathroom, it’ll be quite difficult for you to remove.
Working to keep mold from growing in the first place is much easier. Here are our eight best bathroom mold prevention tips. These will help you keep your home safe and healthy:
Install a properly sized fan
A fan that is the right size for your bathroom sucks moisture build-up out of the air and sends it outside. There’s a fairly simple calculation for determining the power level of the fan you need for your personal bathroom: take the square footage of your room and multiply it by 1.1 if the ceiling is eight feet tall or 1.5 if the ceiling is nine feet tall. Compare that to the cubic feet per minute number printed on the fan itself to determine the best match.
Actually use the fan
Turn it on for a short while before you use the shower or bath and let it run for at least thirty minutes afterward to make sure that it properly removes all moisture from the room. It is considerably less effective if you wait to turn it on until after you’ve showered, so do your best to stay vigilant.
If you have tile, reseal grout lines annually
Grout lines are a breeding ground for bacteria, so making sure the grout sealer is replaced annually will help them stay waterproof and, in turn, mold-proof.
Squeegee the inside of your shower after every use
Squeegee the walls inside your shower or bath after every use. Manually removing that moisture from an area where it commonly lingers will help keep that space fresh. When it comes to storing the squeegee, we recommend hanging it on a wall hook instead of letting it sit on the ground to help avoid additional mold.
Stay on top of any leaks as they pop up
Mold grows when there is moisture to help sustain it. Moisture like what you can find when leaks are left unattended. If you notice your faucet dripping or water pooling beneath your toilet’s p-trap, get it fixed right away to avoid further issues in the future.
Don’t leave damp linens sitting out
Mold loves linens. They’re an ideal breeding ground for bacteria as they’re fabric that can create pockets of darkness when folded up. Wash them weekly and store them in a clean, dry place to keep them mold free (and not stinky).
Invest in a mold-resistant shower curtain
They totally exist and aren’t prohibitively expensive.
Keep your bathroom bright and light
Mold needs two things to truly thrive: moisture and darkness. The rest of the tips we’ve listed focus on handling the moisture, but you can take another step toward defending your bathroom by keeping things bright as well. If there are windows, keep them uncovered when you aren’t using the commode. Pay attention to any dark corners in your bathroom so you can make sure mold doesn’t grow there.
Follow these tips and your bathroom will be the fresh, clean sanctuary your family needs. For everything else, never hesitate to call the experts at Mike Diamond.
