How To Get Rid of Black Mold on Shower Grout + Causes

The warm, moist and dark conditions in the shower are perfect for the growth of mold and bacteria.

Among them is black mold, Stachybotrys chartarum. Black mold on the shower grout is a toxic type of mold that needs to be eliminated before it affects your household.

Black mold is a toxic fungus that grows in damp conditions such as the bathroom with a characteristic black mass. 

To get rid and prevent black mold in your shower, ensure proper ventilation in the bathroom, frequent cleaning, and keep the bathroom dry after every shower.

Health Risks of Black Mold in The Bathroom

Most people will not be affected by coming into direct contact with black mold.

However, if you have a compromised immune system, you are likely to experience the following signs and symptoms:

• Itchy eyes
• Difficulty breathing
• Skin irritations
• Athlete’s foot
• Skin rashes
• Depressed mood
• Sneezing and scratchy throat
• Headache
• Yeast infections
• Fever
• Chronic fatigue.

Black mold isn’t the only mold that can grow in the bathroom. Other types include pink mold, orange mold and others. For most of these molds, the cleaning process is the same.

Whatever you do, don’t directly touch the mold with your bare hands. In fact, when cleaning these molds, take the following precautions:

• Use gloves; always use protective gloves when handling the mold. There are gloves specific for this task as they are tough enough not to break when in use.
• Wear a mask (mold respirator); a mask will prevent the mold from entering your breathing system where it can cause respiratory problems.
• Wear goggles; googles prevent the mold spores from entering your eyes as they may cause infections.

Once you have taken these precautions, gather the following items for the cleaning process:

• Cleaning sponge
• Anti-fungal surface cleaner
• Bleach (not to be used on colored caulking and grout)
• Scrub brush
• Baking soda
• Vinegar

With these items, you are ready to combat the black mold on your shower grout.

How To Get Rid Of Black Mold On Shower Grout

These steps guide you through the process of removing black mold from your bathroom and other affected areas:

1. CLEAN WITH ANTI-FUNGAL SURFACE CLEANER

Spray the anti-fungal surface cleaner on the affected areas then give it about 15 minutes. Use the sponge to clean the surface as much as you can.

For the remaining tough stains, use a mixture of bleach and water mixed in equal parts to spray the specific area then scrub the mold with a brush. You can use a fine brush such as a toothbrush as the fine bristles will reach deep within the grout crevices.

If you have colored tiles and can’t use bleach, go instead for a paste of baking soda that you can combine with a brush to clean off the mold then rinse it afterwards.

2. KILL SPORES WITH VINEGAR

No matter how hard you may scrub the affected areas, mold is tiny and a few regions can still have them.

These areas with experience a regrowth of the mold a short while afterwards. You thus need a chemical that will kill the mold on contact.

While specific brand names can be employed in this stage, they are not available worldwide. As such, household items such as vinegar come in handy for this role. Simply spray it on the whole surface then let it dry.

You will need to repeat these two steps at least once every week until the mold is completely eliminated.

How To Prevent Black Mold In The Bathroom

Whether you just cleaned the black mold from your bathroom, or you simply want to prevent its occurrence, the following tips can be instrumental in attaining this result:

DRY THE BATHROOM AFTER A SHOWER

Once you’re done taking a shower, you need to wipe the walls, doors, windows and other areas dry.

Given that black mold thrives on wet conditions, drying the walls prevents its growth.

REDUCE THE HUMIDITY IN THE BATHROOM

Provide proper ventilation to your bathroom as it helps dry out any steam or water that may be used by the mold for growth.

If your bathroom does not have direct air flowing through it, use a fan or blow-dryer to dry it up and eliminate the excess humidity in it.

FIX ANY LEAKS

Leaking showers and pipes will only provide constantly wet conditions for the mold to grow.

Fixing them is a major step towards a dry and mold-free bathroom.