Mold in the bathroom can be a potential health hazard, as well as being nasty and unappealing. If you see mold in your bath, shower or sink, the spores are actually living on the soap residue and skin cells, rather than on the actual hard surface.

One of the most effective ways of bathroom mold removal is by simply scrubbing it hard with soapy, warm water. Try to wash the mold away, rather than just scrape it; scraping it into the air simply allows the spores to settle on another surface. And cleaning with bleach will remove the black stain, but not actually kill the mold. However, spraying undiluted white vinegar on the mold, or a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with warm water is also effective.

You can help to prevent mold in the bathroom by wiping the shower walls down after having a shower and letting the shower curtain dry by opening it. Clean up any water spilled on the bathroom floor, and try not to accumulate too many washes, shampoo and lotion bottles in your bathroom. Switching on your exhaust fan while using the bathroom, and for at least 30 minutes afterward also helps keep mold from forming. Replacing the grout or caulk between your tile is another step to take if you just can’t seem to get rid of all the mold, although the grout you use should be moisture resistant. You can be alerted when humidity levels in your bathroom are high enough for mold to form by purchasing a humidity monitor.

Many homes have mold, particularly older houses, but getting rid of it is important since it can cause all sorts of health problems,  including asthma and other respiratory ailments. The following tips will show you how to get rid of mold.

1. Use the right materials

You don’t have to rely on fancy and expensive cleaning products to get rid of mold. In most cases, simply using a cup of bleach in 2 liters of hot water will be sufficient. Make sure you also have plenty of rags and a scrubbing brush. You should always wear gloves and a face mask when cleaning mold.

2. Mold on walls

If you have mold on the walls, use the bleach cleaning solution to gently wipe away the mold. Then use a dry rag to wipe away any moisture and vacuum any spores that have fallen to the ground. Make sure that you do not have leaky pipes behind your walls that are causing the mold.

3. Mold on clothes and fabrics

To remove mold from clothing and fabrics, simply pour your bleach cleaning solution into the washing machine and add your regular laundry detergent. Wash the load in hot water and then line dry the clothes so that the sunlight can kill any remaining spores. For colored clothes and fabrics, you can substitute vinegar for bleach so that the fabric will not be ruined by the chlorine.

4. Mold on tiles

To remove mold from tile grout, use your bleach cleaning solution and a scrubbing brush to scrub the tile grout. Scrubbing in circular motions will help to release the mold easier. Wash away the mold using clean water and then dry the area with a rag. Since mold can reappear in certain rooms, such as the bathroom, ensure that the area is well-ventilated.