How to remove mold in the bathroom — folk remedies and household chemicals

Mold makes any room not only untidy, but also hazardous to the health of the people who are in it. It can cause constant malaise (headache and weakness, cough) and the development of various diseases (allergies, asthma, oncological pathologies), so it must be eliminated immediately after detection. Mold most commonly affects surfaces in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. There are often created optimal conditions for the life and reproduction of fungi — high humidity and air temperature, ventilation disorders, lack of sunlight. If the mold begins to spread actively, it spoils the finish, eats into the tile joints, corrodes the plaster and wallpaper. And it’s getting harder and harder to get rid of it. A variety of means can come to the aid of housewives — improvised ones, like vinegar and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as specialized ones, that is, household chemicals and liquids used in construction work. In this article, Expertology experts will tell you how to deal with mold, how to prevent its reappearance, with minimal effort and without spending a lot of money.

Where to look for traces of mold in the first place

In private houses, especially large, poorly ventilated ones, where there are difficulties with uniform heating of all rooms, the fungus can appear literally anywhere, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and in living rooms. It occurs on the walls behind cabinets where air circulation is disturbed, near window frames, near the baseboard, under the ceiling and on it.

In apartments of apartment buildings, the most vulnerable places are the bathroom and the catering unit, less often the toilet. But mold is not so easy to detect, as it affects places where a person rarely looks. For example, in the area where plumbing and furniture are adjacent to the walls, under the bathroom, in the corners on the ceiling, in air conditioners (filters), etc. The obvious breeding grounds for fungi are the seams between the tiles. They begin to turn gray at first, then blacken. Also, mold fungi love to settle where there are a lot of books, inside washing machines, on an elastic band that is located on the refrigerator door around the perimeter, on mirrors and behind them, on curtains in the bathroom.

To prevent the problem from moving into a serious phase, it is recommended once a week or two to carefully examine hard-to-reach places. And, of course, make sure that the characteristic black spots do not appear on visible surfaces. At the first signs of damage, it is necessary to eliminate the symptoms, that is, the spots themselves, as well as the causes of their occurrence.

Precautions During Mold Removal

In the kitchen of every housewife there are products and liquids that will help to cope with the defeat of mold fungi, if it has not yet greatly spoiled the plaster, wallpaper and seams between the tiles. In order not to damage the skin of the hands and not inhale the fumes, it is recommended to use all products only with rubber gloves (those in which dishes are washed are suitable) and an elementary mask that can be made from a piece of cloth or a kitchen towel (but it is still better to use an inexpensive and effective anti-aerosol respirator). It will not be superfluous to protect your eyes from fumes and splashes, transparent plastic glasses that builders use are suitable for this. Also, be sure to throw away washcloths and rags used for cleaning. Do not store them until the next time and do not use them for cleaning in other rooms, otherwise there is a risk of spreading mold spores to other surfaces that have not yet been infected. If any tools (scrapers, spatulas) are used, disinfect them after the procedure. By the way, if the mold layer is quite thick, it must first be cleaned off mechanically — scraped off. Then you can remove the remnants of mold with a wet sponge (it is acceptable to use liquid detergent, laundry soap). And after that, you can already proceed with the antifungal treatment, which will prevent the appearance of mold in the future.

During cleaning, children, pregnant women, the elderly and pets should not be present in the room.

How to remove mold with the help of improvised and inexpensive preparations from the kitchen

So, the briefing on safety rules has been completed, let’s start listing «kitchen» tools and recipes for removing mold from washable surfaces:

1. 1. A solution of ordinary baking soda. The concentration is small — about 1 teaspoon of the product per 200 ml. water. Soak a sponge with the solution and carefully wipe the places where there are mold spots. If there is a lot of mold, you can pour soda on a wet sponge and treat the places with the resulting paste. In this case, there will be not only an antiseptic, but also an additional abrasive effect. After that, you can already work with the solution. It is not necessary to clean the treated areas with plain water, let the soda solution remain on the surface.

       

 

1. 1. Food vinegar, transparent, at a concentration of 6% or 9%. It can be slightly diluted with water or not diluted, applied to the surface with a sponge or a spray bottle. Leave liquid on surfaces, leave the room. After 60-90 minutes, wash off with a washcloth soaked in clean water. After the procedure, be sure to ventilate the room.

       

 

1. 1. Citric acid with water or diluted lemon juice. If citric acid is used, you can take one teaspoon per glass of water. Lemon juice can be used undiluted or diluted with water on the eye to increase the amount of the drug. You can treat not only the affected areas, but also the areas that are nearby to prevent the spread of the fungus. Rinse is not required.

       

 

1. 1. Soda and acetic acid. There will be a double effect, since two drugs act on the mold at the same time, plus a chemical reaction occurs. First, the affected area is treated with soda or its solution in high concentration. Vinegar is then sprayed over the baking soda. The room is preserved for 30-60 minutes, then the vinegar is washed off, the room is ventilated.

       

 

Pharmacy products to remove mold in the bathroom and kitchen

Now you can look into the first aid kit and see what it can be useful for fighting mold:

1. 1. Hydrogen peroxide (has bleaching properties, therefore it is used only on light or invulnerable surfaces). Before applying the product, remove visible stains of the fungus in any convenient way. Then treat the affected objects and surfaces with peroxide, you do not need to wash it off.

       

 

1. 1. Ammonia. This pungent odor must be used with care, but it is quite effective in removing mildew from smooth surfaces. Dilute ammonia with water, taking liquids in equal parts, pour into a spray bottle, spray and leave for an hour. After that, rinse off the solution, ventilate the room.

       

 

1. 1. Oils, including essential oils tea tree, rosemary, lemon, spruce, pine, lavender or grapefruit. Add a teaspoon of oil or a combination of oils to a glass of water, pour the solution into a spray bottle, and spray surfaces. It is not necessary to rinse off the liquid, but be prepared for the persistent smell of the oil or mixture used to last for some time.

       

 

1. 1. Potassium permanganate (paints surfaces pink, therefore it is used on dark coatings). First you need to dissolve one teaspoon of crystals in a small amount of water, then add the concentrate to a 1 liter jar. water. Mix thoroughly until completely dissolved. Apply to the affected areas, do not rinse off.

       

 

Housewives also mix kitchen products with pharmacy products to effectively remove mold in the bathroom or kitchen. A combination of water, baking soda and vinegar will do, you can add peroxide and boric acid. One remedy enhances the beneficial effect of another. Approximate proportions are as follows: 4 parts of water, 2 parts of peroxide, 2 parts of acetic acid and 1 part of boric acid, the same amount of soda.

Household chemicals will allow you to remove mold in the bathroom, and get an excellent result.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on mold removal, you don’t have to use only the products that are in your kitchen cabinets or first aid kit. Chemicals used daily in everyday life also do a good job of this task, and are inexpensive.

White

Let’s start the «hit parade» with the simplest means — «Whiteness» or chlorine solution. The drug has bleaching properties, so it is not used on those surfaces that can «shed». But it is perfect for removing mold on a whitewashed ceiling and preventing its occurrence in the future. If the presence of the specific aroma of «Whiteness» for some time does not bother you, mix the treatment solution. To do this, take 10 parts of water and 1 part of a chemical agent. You can apply the drug in any way — with a sponge, spray. Let the product dry, do not rinse, ventilate the room as much as possible.

Oxygen bleaches

The second place in our list of products that help remove mold in the bathroom is preparations based on sodium percarbonate — a relatively safe for humans, environmentally friendly substance without an unpleasant odor, which dissolves well in water. These are the so-called «oxygen bleaches», which bear such a name due to the fact that during their action oxygen, water and soda are formed. In the domestic market of household chemicals, there is a large selection of oxygen bleaches.

Advantages of oxygen bleaches based on sodium percarbonate:

1. 1. High content of a reagent that has bleaching and cleansing properties. At the same time, it does not affect the original color of the materials, it brightens only light ones.

       

 

1. 1. Does not have a destructive effect on coatings, does not corrode.

       

 

1. 1. Disinfects, removing mold and preventing its occurrence, spread.

       

 

1. 1. Easily washed off, can come into contact with objects of the type of dishes.

       

 

To properly use oxygen bleach to remove mold, read the instructions on the package. There should not be anything complicated — applied, waited 30-60 minutes and washed off or left on the surface.

Special antifungal drugs from the class of household chemicals

Look on the shelves in stores for sprays that say «For mold» or «For fungus.» They have an optimal composition that gives them exactly antimycotic properties. That is, such drugs do not just disinfect, they purposefully destroy the fungus and its spores. You can use this spray on any surface — plumbing, tiles, bathroom curtains and mirrors, etc. The average cost of drugs is from 150 (Silit Bang) to 3,5 dollars (Turbo). Instructions for use are on the package.

Antifungal drugs used in construction and renovation work

When mold hits walls, seams and joints very strongly, improvised means and even household chemicals will not help to solve the problem radically. When wallpaper and plaster are fungus-eaten, bubbling and falling apart, you can’t expect a sprinkling of vinegar or Vanish to clean up the mess. In this case, only cardinal measures will help — the seams need to be cleaned, plaster and wallpaper removed. After the sites of infection are thoroughly cleaned, it is possible to carry out treatment with potent preparations that will not leave the mold any chance for further reproduction and spread. And after that, it is already possible to make cosmetic repairs, that is, to return the plaster, wallpaper and other finishing materials to their place.

blue vitriol

This «harsh» tool rightfully occupies a leading position in the ranking of tools that help remove mold in the bathroom, in general, in any residential and non-residential premises. It is intended for antimycotic etching of walls. For processing, dilute 100 grams of the product in 10 liters of water. The solution is applied to the surface with an ordinary paint brush. If the fungus has hit the walls very deeply, it is recommended to perform several layers of coating with a solution. A few hours after the procedure (it is better to wait up to 4 hours), the product is washed off, and the walls are allowed to dry completely.

Copper sulfate is an effective and inexpensive (150-2 dollars) remedy for combating fungal infections of walls (ceilings and other surfaces) of varying severity. But it is also very dangerous for humans, as it has severe toxicity. It must be used with extreme caution, after carefully studying the instructions for use and observing it. Protective equipment (gloves, respirator, goggles), as well as ventilation of the premises, are necessary.

Specialized emulsions with antiseptic properties

No less popular than blue vitriol, and more «civilized» drugs with antifungal properties. They do not have such an aggressive chemical composition, but just as effectively as CuSO4 they fight mold and, in general, any manifestations of biological corrosion of building / finishing materials. They can be used both at the stage of repair, and for cleaning / protecting joints, tiles during cleaning. Users prefer Renogal and Alpina Grunt emulsions for 350-370 rubles. Also popular is the less expensive drug «Snowball Puma» for 1 dollars.

Primers

If the mold has corroded the finishing materials so much that they need to be removed, and then repaired, walls and other surfaces will need to be treated with a primer. This agent impregnates the surfaces to which it is applied and provides effective protection against fungus and mold. The primer is sold ready-made in containers of different sizes. It is applied very easily, you can use a brush or roller. After that, the treatment area is dried, after which the necessary repairs can be carried out.

Bura

Sodium tetraborate or borax is used more on the farm (for example, for soldering) than for repair or construction work. But this remedy with preservative, antiseptic and disinfectant properties will not only kill the fungus, but also help it no longer appear or significantly delay its occurrence. For processing, dilute 100 grams of borax in a liter of water. For surface application, use a brush with flexible bristles. If possible, it is better not to wash off the product, but if you still want to wash it off (when unwanted contact of the drug with food is possible), wait half an hour.

How to remove mold in the seams between tiles and at the joints of plumbing with walls

Processing flat surfaces, even in hard-to-reach places, does not cause any difficulties for most users. Sprayed with a suitable agent or rubbed, and you’re done. But what to do when the mold has firmly eaten into the seams between the tiles on the wall or into the joints, for example, at the junction of the bathroom rim and the wall? It is very difficult to wash off black plaque in such places. It is easier to replace the grout or sealant, materials are removed with a stiff brush with metal bristles, a special knife or other more convenient tools. Just be careful not to damage the finish. Then you need to treat the exposed areas with an antiseptic, proivomycotic preparation, dry the area of ​​​​impact. After that, the seams and joints are filled with a special grout (sealant) with the addition of antifungal agents.

Mold Prevention

Experts confidently state that mold, or rather its appearance, is much easier to prevent than to remove. Therefore, if you notice that a fungal infection problem occurs time after time, take appropriate measures. They will help not only get rid of the harmful fungus, but also make the microclimate in your room healthier and more beneficial for the health of the family.

What can be done to remove mold in the bathroom, kitchen or other room:

1. 1. Reduce the average level of humidity in the room. To do this, you first need to pay attention to the condition of pipes and plumbing. If something leaks, if unwanted condensate forms, then the leaks must be repaired, and condensate must be prevented with the help of appropriate materials.

       

 

1. 1. Ensure optimal ventilation of the room with the help of an air conditioner, an exhaust hood, special valves on the frames of plastic windows. Air should circulate freely throughout the room, including places in the corners and behind furniture, plumbing. There should not be an unpleasant smell of dampness, the air should not seem stale.

       

 

1. 1. Do not place furniture close to the walls. Leave a gap of a few centimeters so that air circulates freely and mold can be detected in the early stages of its development.

       

 

1. 1. Make sure the room is as dry as possible. This is an additional measure to reduce the level of humidity. You can make a warm floor, conduct heating by connecting a large heated towel rail. Or put an elementary heater in the room (in compliance with fire safety measures!), Which will maintain the optimum temperature.

       

 

1. 1. Remove all cracks in wall, ceiling and floor cladding. In the cracks, the fungus develops especially actively, close them up, and you will not leave the microflora a chance for a “comfortable” existence.

       

 

1. 1. Regularly treat the room with antiseptics and products based on them. This can be done as part of a normal daily or general cleaning. Just buy or make a special preparation according to a folk recipe that will prevent the development of mold fungi on especially vulnerable surfaces.

       

 

1. 1. Provide sunlight to the room when it does not interfere with others. If there are windows, keep them as open as possible and allow sunlight to enter the room during the day.

       

 

Preventive measures, if applied continuously, can prevent the recurrence of the fungus in the bathroom or other areas of the house / apartment. And if the mold nevertheless manifests itself, do not postpone the treatment with household or specialized preparations, the fungus will not disappear anywhere and will only gradually, slowly, but inevitably capture large areas of your home.