Mold growth is unpleasant and unhealthy. It stinks, it’s slimy, and it makes everything look worse. Once mold takes hold in your bathroom, it becomes quite difficult to remove.
Working to keep mold or mildew from growing in the first place is much easier. Here are our eight best bathroom mold prevention tips. These will help you get rid of mold in your bathroom and keep your home safe and healthy.
1. Install a Properly Sized Fan
The best bathroom fan to prevent mold is the one that fits your space. 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.
2. Use Your Bathroom Fan
Turn your fan 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. Installing a bathroom fan timer switch can help you manage use, especially on days where you leave the house in a hurry and don’t want to leave your fan on. Opening your windows also helps ventilation.
3. Reseal Tile Grout Lines Annually
Grout lines are a breeding ground for bacteria. Clean and reseal the grout in your bathroom annually to help it stay waterproof and, in turn, mold-proof.
4. 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 your shower squeegee, we recommend hanging it on a wall hook instead of letting it sit on the ground to help avoid additional mold. If mold develops in your shower, see our blog on how to clean shower mold.
5. Repair Bathroom Leaks As They Occur
Mold grows when there is moisture to help sustain it. This is especially true around leaks that 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. Don’t let leaks persist. For expert help with leak detection and repair, call in a professional plumber to ensure the problem is properly dealt with.
6. Don’t Leave Damp Linens Out
Mold loves linens. They’re an ideal breeding ground for bacteria in areas with high temperatures, high humidity and poor ventilation. Wash towels and bath mats weekly and store them in a clean, dry place to keep them mold free (and not stinky).
7. Invest in a Mold-Resistant Shower Curtain
Mold-resistant shower curtains are easy to find and aren’t prohibitively expensive. Additionally, make cleaning your shower curtain a regular part of your cleaning routine.
8. 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. Keep bathroom windows uncovered when you aren’t using the room and open windows to let fresh air in. Pay attention to any dark corners in your bathroom so you can make sure mold doesn’t grow there.
Your Bathroom Mold Prevention Experts
If you notice mold on your bathroom ceiling, around plumbing fixtures or elsewhere, it could be the sign of a larger issue. For help installing a bathroom exhaust fan or for more tips on how to get rid of mold in your bathroom, contact the pros at Mike Diamond. We’re always ready to help. Trust our technicians to help prevent mold and mildew growth in your home.