21/01/2025
Part 1: Bit of a long one but very important too.
One of the challenging problems with cleaning is keeping on top of mould in bathrooms.
Today’s discussion is why mould and mildew form in bathrooms. The top four reasons are:
1. Moisture - after a shower or bath and leaks from taps and shower heads. This can also include leaving wet clothes, towels, and bathmats.
2. Poor ventilation - Leaving your windows closed, closing the doors after a shower, no natural light filtering in.
3. Grout - deteriorating, wrong type or porous grout due to age or neglect of cleaning.
4. Blocked drains, buildup of soap and hair can cause drains not to flow freely and moisture remains in the drains. Soap scum left on tiles after a shower.
What is the difference between mildew and mould? Firstly, mildew is a greyish white colour with a powdery texture, but, much easier to remove. While mould is black and fuzzy, it is harder to eradicate and can be quite dangerous to a person’s health such as allergies, respiratory (coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose), itchy eyes, itchy skin to name a few.
Mildew can be removed by simply using white vinegar and baking soda mixed together, sprayed on the affected areas, then scrubbing and washed off. However, mould is not that simple, and if the area is not cleaned properly can spread, this could end up costing you many dollars in bathroom repair, maintenance and your health as mentioned above. One thing to understand, some supermarket mould killers containing bleach which removes the mould colour but does not get rid of the mould and its spores, plus the harsh toxic odour could be detrimental to your respiratory system.
Next week more on how to combat mould.
Further reading below.
If you suspect there is mould or mildew growing in your bathroom, it’s essential to act fast to prevent any health issues such as respiratory illness or structural damage to your home.