Mold (fungus) in the bath is a real threat to people and their property. It not only causes the destruction of the building, but also affects human he alth. So, it can cause diathesis in a child, severe allergies, which can turn into asthma, migraines, and cardiovascular disorders. Fungus in the bath is a frequent occurrence, because it loves humidity, and in this room there is almost always condensation - ideal conditions for reproduction. So, if you are faced with such a problem, you need to take emergency measures. In this article, you can learn how to get rid of the fungus in the bath and prevent its reappearance.
Dampness is the cause of mold 1
In the baths, the humidity is always increased - this is a regularity, and nothing can be done about it. If there is no additional heating in the building, most often these are wooden baths, then you are at an increased risk. The fact is that heating allows you to dry the air, walls, and the likelihood of a fungus is reduced. No heating- the bath dries out on its own, the walls stay damp longer - this is good for mold.
The reason for stagnant moisture can also be found in factors such as lack of ventilation or improper equipment, blockage. In this case, the fungus first appears in places where the air movement is the weakest, and then, having grown stronger, it spreads along the wall without problems, and light drafts no longer bother it. If the matter is ventilation, then it is necessary to create it, reinstall it, clean it, install additional fans that will help drive air, dry the room. Next, we will tell you how to get rid of the fungus in the bath, but for now, consider another reason for its appearance.
Not clean enough
Many bathhouse owners assume that this is the cleanest room, because it is always humid there, and they neglect to wash the ceiling and walls, believing that it is enough to clean the floors, shelves and accessories. The fungus loves dirt, and coupled with dampness, conditions are generally ideal.
If you have proper ventilation, even heating, and mold still appeared, then there is not enough hygiene.
What to arm yourself with?
Before you get rid of the fungus in the bath, you need to think about your own safety. By scrubbing mold from a surface, you spread its spores in the air, and they can get into your lungs. Before starting the fight, you should purchase the following protective equipment:
- a respirator will help protect the nasal mucosa and lungs from getting spores of the fungus and chemicals thatyou will remove mold;
- rubber gloves will protect your skin and nails.
This is a necessary equipment, and without it, in no case start the fight against the fungus.
Is it difficult to eliminate the fungus?
Mold spores are very mobile creatures and, as soon as they appear, they begin to spread throughout the room. Treating only visible lesions is not enough; anywhere there may still be black and white fungus in the bath. How to get rid of this pest? The first step is to assess the situation, find all the lesions, take everything out of the room that is not nailed down, and start processing all the walls, ceiling, shelves, floors. It is worth noting that the inventory taken out must also be processed. It is very difficult to get rid of the fungus even at the first stage, not to mention the fact that the spores could have managed to penetrate several centimeters deep into the boards and hide in the cracks. Where to start?
The first step to getting rid of mold
First you need to mechanically clear all visible lesions. Especially carefully inspect every centimeter, even an incomprehensible speck can be a fungus, so do not lose sight of it.
First of all, slowly, carefully, so as not to spread spores throughout the territory, remove the layers of mold with a spatula, go through all the cracks and corners where the fungus was found. Mechanical cleaning is very important, it allows you to remove all superficial lesions thatprotect deeper ones. After that, you can proceed to the chemical attack.
Don't forget about ventilation
After the mechanical cleaning, it is necessary to move on to ventilation. In most cases, it also contains a fungus, there may also be a focus of infection. First, treat the ventilation system with antibacterial agents, it can be ordinary alcohol. It perfectly dehydrates, that is, it dehydrates the surface, it is able to push moisture out of the narrowest cracks, in addition, it destroys mold spores. Do not forget that this substance is flammable, so thoroughly ventilate the room after treatment and proceed to the next step.
You will find speci alty primers at the hardware store. They can simply protect the surface from the appearance of mold, or they can contribute to its destruction. Choose a product suitable for your wood and use it to ventilate. Now you can treat all other surfaces in the room with this primer. Next, consider how to get rid of the fungus in the bath in other ways. There are many of them, we offer the most effective.
Sour gas
Sounds intimidating, but there is nothing easier and more effective than removing the fungus in the bath with sulfur. This procedure is very unpleasant, the substance smells bad, dangerous for all living things, so before using this method, make sure that all possible gaps are tightly closed. Plug tightly ventilation, pipe,if the bath is heated by a stove, all small cracks and holes through which a dangerous substance can penetrate outside. Sulfur dioxide is very dangerous, it will one hundred percent get rid of the fungus, but in no case should you yourself be exposed to it.
If the floors are wooden, it is better to take a ceramic container, if concrete, then it can be metal utensils. Put a few pieces of sulfur there, on the basis that two hundred grams of the substance is needed per hundred cubic meters of the room. Set fire to the sulfur, it will release a gas that is detrimental to the fungus. After it has begun to act, immediately leave the room and close the front door tightly behind you. It is important to use a respirator during the arson and during further actions.
At least after six hours, and preferably after nine, take a box of quicklime. Go to the bathhouse, remove the remnants of sulfur, put a box of lime in its place. It neutralizes the remnants of sulfur dioxide, dries the room, absorbing excess moisture. The box should be in the bath for a day, after which the room is ventilated for the same amount. You can use the bath immediately after airing it.
How to remove the fungus in the bleach bath?
This is also a good option, but it is better not to use it for a wooden bath, as bleach is not very safe for wood.
After cleaning the walls from mold mechanically, it is necessary to dilute the indicated substance in a small amount of water and walk over all surfaces with this solution. There is another option:take 25 milliliters of 40% formalin per liter of water, add bleach and treat the floors, walls, ceiling, shelves.
How to get rid of fungus in a wooden bath?
Sulfur dioxide and a primer are ideal for wood, will not damage it, but there is another gentle method of getting rid of mold in the bath. It is necessary to take 22 grams of ferrous sulfate, 44 grams of aluminum alum and 18 grams of ordinary table s alt per liter of water. Dip the roller in the solution, treat all surfaces after mechanical cleaning of the fungus.
You can also use the following recipe, but preheat the mixture to seventy degrees. You will need one and a half tablespoons of vinegar (not acid), a pound of boric acid and a kilogram of borax. Dissolve the ingredients in a small amount of water.
Both recipes are effective, but still rather weak, they may not remove all the fungus the first time, so process again in a month.
Prevention
Of course, preventing the appearance of fungus in the bath is easier than getting rid of it. If you have ventilation, still do not forget about ventilation. They should be made not only after the use of the bath, but also when you do not use it, because the water can stagnate and then evaporate. Ventilate at least once a week for six hours.
Carry out preventive treatments with iron sulphate or other substances. Remember that after using chemicals you need a bathair, then rinse the walls, so as not to harm your he alth. We hope that this publication on how to get rid of the fungus in the bath can help.
