Few things make a home feel more dirty and uninviting than a bathroom covered in mould and mildew. Not only that, allowing mould to grow in your home can cause health issues, particularly for children and the elderly.
The best way to protect your home from mould and mildew is through prevention. Below are our top tips on how to prevent mould and mildew from taking over your bathroom.
1) Use Fans & Window
One of the top causes of mould is high humidity. Unfortunately, this occurs in a bathroom after any hot bath or shower. The key to preventing mould is proper ventilation. This means using an extractor fan during your bath or shower. Additionally, keep the fan on for about 30 minutes after bathing.
This will help to circulate fresh air into the bathroom and remove steam and moisture, preventing mould growth. If your bathroom has a window, opening the window and door to the bathroom will also help with air flow. Plus, opening the blinds or curtains in your bathroom to let natural light in and even having dehumidifying plants in your bathroom can be useful.
2) Reseal Grout
A less known, yet highly effective way to reduce the risk of mould in your bathroom is to regularly wipe down and regrout your tiles. This is because over time, when grout begins to crack, moisture and steam can find its way behind your tiles which is an ideal place for mould to grow as it is dark and damp.
Simply wiping away excess moisture from the tiles after each bath or shower can help to prevent this. Additionally, resealing your grout annually will keep your bathroom looking fresh and will help prevent mould.
3) Clean Shower After Use
Simply keeping a squeegee in your shower to wipe down the walls after use can significantly reduce the risk of mould and mildew growing in your bathroom. Not only that, it will ensure that your bathroom is left looking spotless after each wash.
Another way to reduce build ups of water in your bathroom is to make sure that you’re only keeping essential products in the shower. Keep a dry basket under the sink for excess products. This reduces the amount of sitting water in your bathroom to help prevent mould as water tends to pool around shampoo bottles and other products in the shower.
In addition to a quick wipe down after each bath or shower, thoroughly clean the shower, bath, sink, and toilet once a week to prevent moisture build ups and to keep your bathroom sparkling clean.
4) Replace Towels & Bath Mats Often
Replacing the bath mats and towels in your bathroom will also help to prevent mould and mildew from growing in your bathroom. Absorbent bath mats are great for preventing mould as they can soak up excess moisture that would otherwise find its way into the grout and tiles.
However, when left unwashed for too long, old towels and bath mats can begin to smell and even grow mould. To prevent this, ensure that your towels and bath mats are regularly replaced and washed with hot water. Additionally, make sure that they are completely dry before putting them away.
5) Fix Leaks Quickly
Finally, check for leaks often and fix them as quickly as possible. This is important as a leaky sink or toilet can result in stagnant water in your cupboards or behind your toilet which are ideal locations for mould to grow.
To prevent this, regularly check around and under sinks as well as behind your toilet for moisture and other signs of leaking. If you notice a leak, contact your local plumber as soon as possible to prevent mould from growing as well as potential water damage to your home.
Sun City are your local plumbing and hot water experts. Call us today on 1300 728 122 for all of your plumbing needs, Brisbane North & Sunshine Coast Wide.
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