Introduction
Battling bathroom mold is essential for maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy home. Your home's bathroom in South West Ranches, FL, naturally accumulates moisture, but you can prevent mold from appearing or slow its growth by drying out the space. The key to controlling mold is reducing humidity, which can be achieved through various methods like using exhaust fans, fixing leaks, running dehumidifiers, or simply opening your windows.
Keeping your home bathroom in South West Ranches, FL, mold-free is relatively easy if you are consistent with your cleaning. Follow these easy tips and tricks to minimize moisture and prevent mold in your bathroom.
1. Get a Good Exhaust Fan
An exhaust fan is essential in a bathroom. It works by sucking moisture out of the air and sending it outside, serving as the first line of defense against moisture and mold. Ensure your home's fan in South West Ranches, FL, is powerful enough for your space by checking its CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating. To determine the ideal strength, multiply the square footage of the room by 1.1 for an 8-foot ceiling or 1.5 for a 9-foot ceiling.
2. Run the fan properly.
It's not enough to run the vent during your home shower or bath in South West Ranches, FL—you should leave it on for at least 30 minutes after you're done. This prevents leftover moisture from damaging the walls and ceiling and from growing mold. A good way to manage this is to put the fan on a timer, so you don't have to go back to the bathroom later to turn it off.
3. Love Your Squeegee
Using a squeegee on your tub, shower walls, and shower door right after washing substantially reduces moisture in the room. Additionally, if you see water dripping from inside your home's bathroom window in South West Ranches, FL, squeeze and dry it with a towel to discourage condensation. (Chronic condensation may mean you need more window insulation.)
4. Fix all the leaks.
Bathroom mold doesn't just come from the water in your home's shower or bath in South West Ranches, FL. Leaks can also cause moisture to accumulate and mold to grow. Whenever you see a leak or drip, fix it right away or call a plumber. Waiting will only make things worse, especially if mold takes hold and starts growing. It's a lot harder to get rid of mold than it is to prevent it.
5. Wash rugs, towels, and curtains regularly.
Your home bath mat, bathroom rug, towels, shower curtain, and liner in South West Ranches, FL, are ideal mold growth spots, especially if left unwashed for long periods. Wash these items regularly—at least once a week—to keep your bathroom clean and mold-free. If you don't have a washable shower curtain liner, change it frequently.
6. Dry out your shower items.
Remove loofahs, sponges, and product bottles from the shower when not in use to prevent mold growth. Water accumulates under these items as they dry, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.
7. Run the air conditioner or dehumidifier.
Running an air conditioner or dehumidifier during humid months will reduce mold growth. Keep humidity levels in your home between 30 and 50 percent throughout the day. Use a hygrometer (or humidistat) to check your homes in South West Ranches, FL, indoor humidity levels.
8. Open Doors and Windows
Reduce dampness and circulate air by keeping the shower door (or curtain), bathroom door, and window open after your shower. Air circulation discourages condensation and mold growth. Additionally, natural light is the mortal enemy of mold and mildew.
9. Clean with Mold-Killing Products
Use mold-killing bathroom cleaners to defend your home in South West Ranches, FL, against mold and mildew growth. You can also make your own cleaner with vinegar, which is a perfect all-purpose cleaner and ideal for killing any mold or mildew you may not even see.
10. Reseal your grout.
If your bathroom in South West Ranches, FL, has a lot of tile, consider resealing your grout every year to prevent moisture seepage into hairline cracks. Cracks allow moisture to seep in, creating an environment for hidden mold growth, so maintaining the grout is essential.
By following these tips, you can effectively prevent mold in your bathroom, ensuring a clean, safe, and healthy space.
Consistent maintenance and attention to moisture control are key to keeping your bathroom mold-free. Contact Dovis Plumbing at 954-504-6628 or visit our website for all your plumbing needs and to experience reliable, professional service!
