Shower Grout Mold: Get Rid of the Black Spots Between Tiles for a Healthy Environment!
A lot of homeowners encounter a persistent issue, the appearance of shower grout mold. Do these unsightly black spots, which spoil the bathroom look, pose a health risks? How to get rid of them and stop their further appearance?
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Why Does My Shower Grout Get Moldy?
Mold appears in humid places, which makes bathrooms a suitable breeding ground for its spores. Especially good conditions for its growth provides the areas with shower grout, this porous material, which fills the gaps between tiles. There are a few reasons for developing shower grout mold:
- Moisture availability: It is the most common reason for mold appearance in gaps between tiles. Because water tend to seep into the porous structure, which makes conditions for the mold spores to germinate and grow fast.
- Not enough ventilation: When ventilation is poor, the moisture remains, which leads to its accumulation and enhanced mold growth. While the air circulation is not enough, the situation worsens, and the grout can’t dry well between the showers.
- Availability of organic matter: Mold feeds on organic particles, which often accumulates on the shower grout. These are shampoo and soap residues, as well as dead skin cells. They build up constantly around the shower area, supplying the mold with an additional food source.
- Dark areas: Poorly-lit areas create good conditions for the mold to grow, therefore the gaps between shower tiles provide an ideal environment for its rapid development.
Is It Safe to Shower in a Shower with Black Mold?
Taking a bath in a bathroom with shower grout mold can be dangerous for the health, mainly for peoples with respiratory conditions, allergies, or not well working immune systems. Mold invisible spores move with airflow, they are easily inhaled, and irritate the respiratory tract, causing allergic reactions. The typical health conditions triggered by mold spores availability are throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, coughing, wheezing, skin or eye irritation. Continuous inhaling the spores can be extremely harmful and may result in more serious health issues over time. If you notice the presence of this infection agent near your shower, you should know that it is urgent to address the problem as soon as possible.
How Do You Get Rid of Black Shower Grout Mold?
Getting rid of black mold from shower grout is possible only with sustained effort, and there is a need for reliable safety precautions to escape from the harmful action of the spores. There are some guidelines for efficiently removal of this dangerous agent from your shower grout:
- The necessary supplies: Wear protective gear – a mask, gloves, as well as safety goggles, to defend yourself from mold infestation while you clean. Take also a mold and mildew remover, a grout brush or old toothbrush, baking soda, vinegar, and a spray bottle.
- Ensure ventilation: Keep your windows open and turn on bathroom fans for a good ventilation. These measures will lower the exposure to spores while you clean.
- Removing loose particles: Prior to apply the chemicals, remove loose mold particles by slightly scrubbing the affected area with the grout brush or the old toothbrush.
- Spraying mold remover: Apply the mildew and mold remover onto the infested spots, ensuring you properly follow the manufacturer’s guide. Let the solution sit for the required time to efficiently kill and then loosen the mold.
- Scrub vigorously: Take the toothbrush or grout brush and scrub the affected places intensively, removing all mold stains. Then rinse the place thoroughly with water.
- Use natural solution: In case you prefer an eco-friendly approach, using a natural solution with baking soda, water and vinegar is also efficient way for solving the problem. Just cover the grout with the paste, then scrub, and finally, rinse.
Prevention Measures and Anti-Mold Shower Grout
There are several ways to prevent your bathroom grout from infestation with this harmful agent, and keep it free from mold growth:
Clean on a regular basis: Include regular cleaning practice into your bath maintenance habits. Removing the damp from the shower surroundings after each bath will prevent from accumulation of soap scum and organic particles, depriving the mold from a food source.
Ensure good ventilation: You should invest in a bathroom ventilation, using fans or open windows during and after showers. These measures will reduce the damp, depriving mold from a water source.
Wipe down the shower: Dry the shower walls after each bath with a dry cloth or squeegee to remove water, lowering the moisture levels.
Apply anti-mold grout: This is a mold-resistant solution, specially created to stop its growth, a valuable investment, which deserves to be made.
Read also: How to Clean Mold off Window Sills? Eradicate It Permanently from There and Your Home Air!
