The appearance of mold at home will not please any housewife. After all, it is necessary to wage a long and difficult struggle with it. And if the cause is not yet eliminated, then it will bloom with renewed vigor within a few days. Mold is especially common in the bathroom. Why this happens and how to get rid of such vegetation, we'll talk today.
How to recognize mold?
Usually, it's not even the look that gives it away, but the smell. If you clearly feel an unpleasant and musty smell when entering the bathroom, then the fungus is the cause. Just one spore, caught in favorable conditions, will turn into a whole colony of moldy fungi.
Where does it come from? Its spores are carried by the wind and spread through the air. You can also bring her spores on your own clothes. If you have recently been in a basement that smelled of mold, then it is best to dry your clothes on the balcony and only then put them in the wash. In a dry room, spores will die, but at high temperature and humidity, as a rule, ideal conditions are created.for their livelihoods.
Procrastination is dangerous
At first glance, it seems that if a dark spot grows somewhere behind a washing machine or under a bathtub, then nothing terrible happens. After all, it is not striking and does not spoil the appearance of the room. However, firstly, it will continue to grow. Secondly, there is a risk of poisoning her with toxic spores.
Mold in the bathroom is not just a dark spot that spoils the tile with its appearance. This is a fungus that, in the course of its life, releases certain substances. As a result, the most sensitive family members may feel unwell. Allergic reactions to mold are not uncommon, but we usually mistake them for symptoms of other diseases.
Reasons for appearance
To cope with mold in the bathroom will not work if you have not figured out the reasons for its occurrence. She will still find an opportunity to get out after a fresh repair. Most often, the fungus appears in damp rooms that are poorly ventilated. Even if you've done the renovation right, mold spores can persist. They are just waiting for a favorable atmosphere to breed.
It turns out that the cause of development is poor waterproofing. In such places, moldy fungus settles very firmly. It penetrates the roots of all wet surfaces and forms an unpleasant odor. If you do not solve the problem correctly, competently, then the fungus will begin to damage the finishing materials, will destroy the plaster up tocracks in concrete. Thus, mold in the bathroom is not just an aesthetic problem.
Checking ventilation
Once again, let's remember the causes of the appearance of the fungus. If favorable conditions persist (poor waterproofing and ventilation), then the fungus will attack your bathroom again and again. Moreover, cleaning the tiles from the outside in this case is practically useless. First of all, contact the specialists and check the ventilation. In some cases, its device is broken. Often this is due to the fact that the owners of other apartments arrange their own hood without observing any rules and features of the engineering design.
Since getting rid of mold in the bathroom overnight will not work, you need to approach this issue comprehensively. Otherwise, no matter how much you destroy the destroyer of the bathroom, he will come back. The following actions are recommended:
- Check the ventilation shaft. It could become clogged with cobwebs or foreign objects. That is, the normal outflow of air is disturbed.
- Try to constantly ventilate the bathroom, that is, open the doors after bathing so that steam and humidity can be distributed throughout the apartment.
Additional measures
Working on improving ventilation is half the battle. However, this measure is not enough to completely bring the situation under control. Therefore, today we are considering in detail how to get rid of mold in the bathroom.
- Inspecting the furniture. This is a very important point. If the furniture is affected by the fungus, then you will have to get rid of it. The fungus that settled in the pores earlyor later reactivated. Of course, if you are sure that the conditions created are completely unsuitable for his life, then you can try to thoroughly clean and cover the affected surface with a special varnish.
- Reducing dampness. Call a plumber. All pipes must be carefully inspected. Actions here should be aimed at improving the insulation of pipes. The resulting condensation settles on all surfaces, and because of it, mold forms.
- We inspect and repair plumbing. Be sure to check the room for leaks. So you can get rid of persistent moisture. If you have a washing machine, you need to make sure that after washing it does not accumulate water residues.
This is just a preparatory stage. Therefore, if you are seriously interested in the question of how to remove mold in the bathroom, then you need to allocate a sufficient amount of time and effort for this. Dry the entire room well with a heater. Treat the affected areas with special products, depending on the surface damage by the fungus.
Preparatory work
After you have consulted with all the experts and completed the preliminary preparation, you can proceed to the main block of work and come close to the question of how to remove mold in the bathroom. It is very important to protect yourself from exposure to toxins.
- Working in the bathroom is necessary in personal protective equipment. That is, you need to purchase a respirator, goggles and gloves in advance.
- To avoid dust when removing mold,you need to moisten the surface well.
- Before using any drug, be sure to read its instructions for use.
Remove the mold on the bathtub
Fungus is quite easy to remove if the lesion is relatively small. The sooner you deal with this issue, the greater the chance that victory will be yours. It is advisable to temporarily isolate the room so that spores do not spread to other rooms during disinfection and sterilization.
How to clean the mold in the bathroom if the pollution is negligible?
- Treat all areas affected by mold with a cleaner. To do this, add two parts of detergent and ammonia to four parts of water.
- Now you can go about your business for 30-40 minutes so that the remedy has time to work.
- Wash the surface thoroughly with a brush.
If the lesions are very serious
Mold on tiles in the bathroom settles very often. Under favorable conditions, it quickly forms huge black or green spots, sometimes overgrown with wet moss. This is already a serious case, since in most cases there is a deep damage to the plaster, which grows through the mycelium.
Therefore, in this case, you need to completely empty the room and inspect the affected areas. To get rid of mold, you need to follow the following instructions:
- Remove the wall trim with a sharp trowel all the way to the concrete.
- Clean the surfacesandpaper.
- Take a building hair dryer and dry thoroughly. After that, you need to roll up the work and wait until the next day. If in the morning no new drops of moisture appeared at the place of work performed, then you can continue. Otherwise, you need to look for reasons further.
- Apply mildew remover. This is an important point, as it blocks the growth of disease-causing microbes.
- One processing most often will not work. It is necessary to repeat it in several approaches, with an interval of 5-10 hours. In case of a serious lesion, it is advisable to perform at least five treatments.
- After all work is completed, the premises must be thoroughly disinfected using special tools. This is required in order to remove the remaining disputes. All items used in the process must be discarded.
Used drugs
Which bathroom mold removers work best? This question is best answered by finishing professionals who have to deal with such tasks on a regular basis in their work. According to their recommendations, it is most reliable to call a special service that will professionally process the premises. Of course, you first need to prepare and clean the surface. But today there are quite a few products on sale that can help you with this difficult task:
- Dali is a universal antiseptic that shows high efficiency when used on any surfaces, withdamage to a variety of biological formations. He is able to destroy the mold of any type, as well as algae, mosses and other intruders. Suitable for use on brick and concrete, plaster and wood, drywall and tile.
- "Fongifluid Alpa". This tool perfectly removes mold on the walls in the bathroom. The universal formula also eliminates fungi at the same time. It is intended for application to the internal surface in a house or apartment, as well as for processing the house outside. Does not harm the color and gloss of tiles and paintwork. In case of severe damage, it is necessary to repeat the treatment several times.
- Olympus Stop Mold. It is specifically designed to fight mold and mildew in the bathroom, basement and cellar. It does not contain chlorine compounds and volatile components. The liquid is colorless and safe for children and animals. Can be used on concrete and brick, painted and plastered walls, wood and stone.
- Biotol Spray. The drug does not contain chlorine or other toxic components. Completely safe for he alth.
- "Mavix-bio". An excellent finish. After completing the preliminary work, the surface is treated with a special impregnation from the kit, and then an antifungal agent is applied. Then you need to let the product work and apply an additionally purchased water repellent.
Home Methods
If all professional products are not available, and you notice mold in the bathroom, then you can use what isat your fingertips. To do this, carefully clean the contaminated places between the tiles with a brush, and then with sandpaper. After that, you need to prepare a solution of chlorine bleach and water (ratio 1: 1).
Don't forget to use personal protective equipment. Apply the solution to the surface with a spray bottle. Use a toothbrush to carefully rub it into the seams. After drying, apply sealant to the cracks.
- Gloves and a mask must be worn when performing these tasks. Chlorine bleach is a caustic chemical that is highly irritating to exposed skin.
- To prevent mold, spray surfaces that are exposed to moisture. It is advisable to do this at least once a week. The acid will prevent spores from developing.
- If the mold cannot be removed with a sealant, then it has already penetrated deep. Of course, every housewife in this case thinks about how to clean the bath from mold. Cleaning in this case does not help much, it is required to open the tile joints with the help of an electric cutter. Thoroughly clean the joints and be sure to prime them with an antifungal additive. Now you need to grout again.
- If changing the sealant does not help, then the mold has penetrated deep inside. In this case, you need to carefully treat the surface under it after removing it. It is possible that more serious repairs will be required.
And if the mycelium has spread to the tile, then you can make a simple and affordable remedy. To do this, dilute 2 teaspoons of oil in a glass of water.tea tree. This composition must be sprayed on the tile. No need to rinse, leave it until the next cleaning.
Using copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is a great help if you don't know how to get rid of black mold in the bathroom. This drug is toxic, so it is important to take precautions when using it. Copper sulphate must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Apply the composition with a brush to the surface to be treated. Places affected by the fungus should be plentifully smeared several times. After that, work should be interrupted for several hours, and then thoroughly rinse the surface and ventilate the room.
If the result is not achieved
Most often this is observed with a strong defeat. In order to enhance the effect, it is recommended to prepare one of the following treatment solutions:
- 100 g of copper sulfate and 150 g of sodium fluoride should be diluted in a liter of water.
- Mix a liter of water, 150-200 ml of vinegar and 50 g of blue vitriol.
- 140 g of vinegar, 400 g of boric acid and 90 g of borax are required per liter of water.
Any of these options should be applied to the surface with a paint brush. Leave the mixture to dry completely. The procedure should be repeated in a month.
If mold has settled on the curtain
Mold does not bypass her. A bright curtain in the bathroom will quickly lose its original appearance, covered with black or greenspots. Moreover, it cannot be removed with water. This requires more radical ways:
- Remove the curtain and machine wash it. Observe the temperature regime, otherwise it will be deformed.
- Mix water with vinegar, baking soda or washing powder in a bowl. Place a curtain in the solution for a few hours.
- Dip a sponge in bleach and wipe the problem area with it. After that, wash in a convenient way.
Instead of a conclusion
Mold is not the kind of vegetation you can put up with. Inhalation of its spores gradually leads to the development of severe allergic diseases, bronchial asthma. In 90% of cases, being in a room with mold provokes a new attack. In addition, the fungus harms your renovation and ruins the look of the room.
You can start the fight with folk methods. Use water and vinegar, bleach, ammonia for this. If none of this helps, then it is recommended to carefully remove the grout and repeat the treatment. In the most difficult cases, you will have to remove all layers of trim to remove mold. Of course, such repairs will be more time-consuming and financial investments. After that, it is imperative to follow preventive measures so that the mold does not reappear.
