Let’s talk mould and mildew.
Not the most exciting of conversation topics, we’ll agree!
But these two things are pretty unwelcome guests in your pristine bathroom.
Stubbornly appearing to spoil the party, they are unsightly and can be dangerous for your family’s health.
So, what can you do to prevent mould and mildew from taking up residence in your bathroom?
We’ve got all our best tips for you here.
Mould And Mildew: Unwanted Guests
Mould and mildew… they are like those annoying relatives who turn up on your doorstep and outstay their welcome. Luckily, there are plenty of tactics you can use to shift mould and mildew (or even prevent it from showing up in the first place), we can’t say the same about the relatives!
In New Zealand, our humidity levels have a habit of skyrocketing. That humidity combined with the moisture created by showering and bathing makes your bathroom prime real estate for mould and mildew to set up camp.
These fungi thrive in damp, warm environments, making your bathroom their ideal breeding ground. From shower walls to grout lines, no corner is safe from them!
The Dangers Of Mould And Mildew
We know that mould and mildew don’t look good, but it’s not all about looks. They are not as innocent as they may appear. These unwanted guests can cause a bunch of problems in your bathroom and even threaten the health of your family.
Here’s what mould and mildew can get up to if you don’t deal with them:
● Cause Health Issues: Black mould releases spores into the air that can be inhaled by your family. If you are sensitive or allergic, they can cause nose irritation, sneezing, breathing difficulties, itchiness or nausea, and even more serious issues like kidney and bladder issues or memory loss. It is also known to trigger or worsen existing health conditions.
● Bad Smells: That telltale musty smell that you find in bathrooms? Yep, that is a sign you’ve got mould and mildew lurking about. Unpleasant and potentially dangerous to inhale, it is not an aroma you want to have in your home.
● Structural Damage: Potentially the most worrying impact of mould and mildew is that it can compromise the structural integrity of your bathroom. Because mould feeds on and breaks down organic matter, it is a real risk. Left untreated, it can eat away at your grout, silicone seals, and even GIB-board or wooden framing if it penetrates deep enough.
Preventing Mould And Mildew
Now that we know how bad mould and mildew can be, it’s time to prevent them from occurring in your bathroom! These are the best ways to keep the fungi away:
1: Ventilation
Because mould likes damp places, you want to minimise the amount of moisture that collects in your bathroom. The best way to do that is to ventilate the space well. Invest in a quality exhaust fan and make sure you swing the windows open after a shower to let the steamy shower air escape.
2: Dry It Out
Wet surfaces attract mould, so wiping down your shower and bath area after use will minimise the chance of mould forming. Use a squeegee or a microfibre cloth on your shower walls and glass surfaces and a quick dry cloth on your tiles and other surfaces.
3: Maintain The Seal
Take the time to regularly inspect your grout lines, silicone, and sealants to ensure they are clean and undamaged. These are the areas that water is most likely to penetrate, causing mould to form, so a little preventative maintenance now can save costly repairs in the future.
4: Quit The Clutter
Mould likes to hide in spaces you can’t see, so a good way to keep it at bay is to remove the clutter from your bathroom. Get rid of forgotten shampoo and body wash bottles as they are the prime spot for mould to hide under.
5: Keep It Clean
Regularly cleaning your bathroom surfaces not only keeps them looking good, but it removes the bacteria that forms mould! Choose a purpose-made non-abrasive PH-neutral cleaner like Citrus Eco-Kleen to keep your surfaces sparkling and hygienic.
6: Consider Epoxy Grout
Mould loves the porous nature of sand-based grout as it can embed itself within the textured surfaces. Comparatively, it finds it much harder to form on epoxy grout surfaces. So, if you are planning a renovation or a bathroom rejuvenation, replacing your sand-based grout with epoxy grout can future-proof your bathroom and protect it against mould.
Treating Mould And Mildew
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, mould and mildew find their way into your bathroom. When that happens, no amount of surface cleaning will fix the problem. That’s because mould penetrates porous areas like your grout and continues to grow.
The best solution at that point is to chat with a bathroom specialist about what your options are. The team here at Bathroom Genie are those specialists. Depending on the situation in your bathroom, we may be able to offer a deep cleaning or rejuvenation service to treat the problem. If the mould is deeper set, then restoration or grout replacement may be the solution.
The first step is to contact our team and let us know about your bathroom, we can then recommend the best solution to get your space looking amazing again. Drop us a line now.
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