Musty bathroom? Tackled mold problems before? Well, those patches of mold growing from your bathroom ceiling are probably what’s making your allergies flare up!
Mold growing from the bathroom ceiling isn’t as common as mold growth in grout and tiles, but it is not unheard of. The bathroom is a moist, humid environment, which allows mold spores to grow exponentially.
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What Causes Molds and Mildews to Form on the Bathroom Ceiling?
Even if your bathroom ceiling hasn’t been exposed to prolonged moisture, mold growth can still find its way to your ceiling, as mold spores settle in any organic material that you may have there.
When cleaning your bathroom, you probably don’t think about cleaning the ceiling often. Mold buildup can happen in moist, dark locations, and the ceiling of your bathroom makes for prime real estate for these organisms, particularly so if you enjoy steaming hot baths. The steam from the shower can move up to the ceiling, and provide enough moisture for mold to grow.
Alternatively, if you encountered a plumbing issue or a leak, then your ceiling may not have dried properly before the mold colonies started to grow around the ceiling area.
How to Remove Mold and Mildew From the Bathroom Ceiling
Before you do any sort of mold remediation, you will need to be aware of the kind of mold that you have. Black mold is, as you may have heard, very toxic to humans and pets, while pink mold bacteria requires a different method of removal.
To check for toxic black mold, notice if the mold had started growing only after your ceiling had been submerged or soaked in liquid. If the black mold appeared a little after your ceiling had plumbing leaks, then you may be presented with the toxic species of black mold. In such a case, best to leave the removal process to the professionals.
Vinegar Spray
Take a spray bottle and fill half of it with vinegar, and another half with clean water. Use this powerful spray to kill off the mold spores before clearing them away with a damp cloth. Liberally spray the vinegar solution anywhere where you see mold, and let the solution sit for 20 minutes.
Wipe the area clean, and repeat if necessary. Use a fan to quickly dry the ceiling to prevent regrowth. Be sure to use white distilled vinegar, as apple cider vinegar and red vinegar may leave marks on your ceiling.
Not fond of the vinegar smell? Lemon juice works too, albeit more expensive than using vinegar. With lemon juice, however, you may need more than one application of the spray for the mold growth to completely clear away from your ceiling.
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Baking soda is a known inhibitor of fungus and mold spores, making it an excellent cleaner for bathroom mold. Combine it with the disinfecting powers of hydrogen peroxide, and you’ll be clearing off any traces of mold from your ceiling.
Similarly, you will need to dilute your solution with equal amounts of water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Use the spray as a powerful solution to clean mold off of any surface, including your ceilings. Best to leave the solution overnight to ensure that all mold colonies are killed off, and use a dampened cloth to remove any residue the next day.
If you do not have hydrogen peroxide, you can omit this ingredient from your mold cleaner, but you will not have a disinfectant that can clear mold stains and prevent mold growth from your bathroom ceilings.
Commercial Mold Removers
Commercial mold removers are surefire ways to clean mold growths away from any surface in your bathroom. They are convenient, and depending on the brand, worth their costs. When dealing with a large mold colony, we recommend you use a commercial chemical cleaner for a complete mold removal.
Follow the instructions on the spray bottle, and use gloves when handling caustic and corrosive products to prevent chemical burns. Since the ceiling is a high location, you may want to wear eye protection and a mask in case the droplets fall on you. Make sure to spray the solution all over any affected area for the best results.
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How to Prevent Them From Coming Back
Mold is relentless as they try to take control of your bathroom ceilings, tiles, and walls. All mold needs to grow, is ample moisture in the air, and a surface to cling onto. Prevent mold regrowth with these simple tips:
- Turn on your exhaust fan. An exhaust fan works to recirculate the air in a room, and can get rid of the humid, stuffy feeling in your bathroom, thus preventing mold spores from thriving.
- Wipe your bathroom dry after every shower to prevent excess moisture in the air.
- Spray mold inhibitors around your bathroom to prevent spores from settling into the spaces of your bathroom.
- Clear away any indication of the start of a mold colony, and avoid spreading spores around by killing the mold colonies before clearing them away.
- If you have mold in any other part of your home, best to tackle that problem so the spores don’t spread to other areas.
- Always wring towels dry before keeping them to prevent moisture trapped in your bathroom.
- Have your bathroom cleaned top to bottom to tackle mold colonies all in one go.
Get Rid of Mold - Professionally!
Get rid of those mold colonies once and for all by availing professional cleaning services to properly kill off any mold colonies at home. By removing the source of the problem, it is unlikely you will find mold growths in your home easily afterwards.
We at Luce are more than happy to assist you in your cleaning efforts. We know how difficult it is for any homeowner to tackle mold growths, and our experienced & professional part time maids are well-equipped to handle even the most grimey bathrooms! Give us a call today, and we can discuss what we can do for your home.
