Damp areas in showers and on shower curtains that never quite dry out are breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Nooks, crevasses and crannies, shower curtains, tile grout, ceilings, bath mats, and more are all places mold likes to grow.
It can appear in the form of splotches or areas that may look gray or black in color. They look grimy and leave behind a distinct, musty odor.
Mold and mildew aren’t just pesky; they potentially can be hazardous to your health. Inhaling mold spores may cause respiratory illnesses, nasal congestion, and headaches, and can exacerbate problems like asthma. If you don’t take care of a mold problem and take the necessary steps to keep it at bay, you may end up with a serious health issue.
How to Prevent Mold in Your Shower or Bathroom
Mold can’t form where it’s dry, according to Diane MacEachern of Care 2 Healthy Living’s blog. She recommends following steps that will reduce or eliminate excess moisture in your bathroom.
1. Use fans during a bath or shower
Get the excess moisture out of your bathroom during and after your shower. This way, it won’t build up on surfaces and invite mold to start forming. Open a window or run the bathroom fan to keep the air circulating.
2. Use a shower curtain you can launder
Prevent mold buildup on your shower curtain by buying one you can throw in the wash. Materials like cotton or nylon are washable – put it in a hot water cycle to refresh your shower curtain and kill mold.
3. Regularly clean your non-slip shower mat
Your bath mat also counts as a surface that can stay damp, and this means mold will love it. Wash it down regularly to prevent mold from forming. If it’s too much trouble to clean, you can probably do without it.
4. Keep your shower clean
Attack any existing mold spots, and keep your shower clean to prevent mold buildup later on.
5. Fix leaky faucets and showerheads
Leaky faucets or showerheads drip continually, so there’s always moisture hanging out around your drain. This is a perfect spot for mold to form. Fix any leaky plumbing to nip this problem in the bud.
6. Use a daily shower cleaner
A daily shower cleaner can help keep mold at bay. There are a lot of products on the market that you can simply spray on wet surfaces after your shower. You don’t even have to wipe them down.
Benefits of Keeping Mold Away
Each of these mold preventing solutions are relatively simple actions that can have a huge impact on your health. When you keep mold away, you also eliminate the risk of contracting a respiratory illness. Not to mention, you’ll be keeping headaches, congestion, or worsening asthma symptoms/episodes at bay. Besides the health risks, mold and mildew are unsightly and smelly. A little upkeep is all it takes. Performing these simple tasks on a weekly basis will keep mold out of your shower, out of your bathroom, and out of your life.
If you need help taking care of your mold problem, call on Trademark Restoration Services at (702) 749-9999.
