Your shower is one of the most important parts of your home. It’s one of the few places designed to get wet without causing damage to the rest of the house, and it’s a place everyone needs to use regularly. Even if you only have one or two people in your home, your shower is one of the first places mold will grow. Pink mold sets in quick and can cause health problems, but you can make quick work of it with a little effort and the right know-how.
What Causes Pink Mold?
Pink mold, which might appear orange, yellowish, salmon-colored, or even reddish, is all bacteria growing in the damp parts of your home. The bacteria starts out airborne and harmless, but when it finds moisture and the residue left behind from soap, it can grow into a slimy film and even make you sick.
How to Prevent Pink Mold
Without moisture, pink mold has a hard time growing. Although you still need to use your shower, you can get into the habit of leaving your bathroom vent fan on a little longer, keeping the curtain and liner shut when not in use, and wiping everything down with a towel or squeegee.
How to Get Rid of Pink Mold
Sometimes all it takes is a rag or sponge with a scouring pad and a hot shower to get rid of pink mold. It’ll take some elbow grease, but you can often scrub the mold off while you’re showering.
For a more aggressive approach, avoid harsh chemicals that can damage your septic system or cesspool and mix up some dish soap and baking soda. Make it thick enough that it will stick to surfaces like a paste, and scrub it over the moldy areas. Dilute some white vinegar half with water, put it in a spray bottle and spray away. The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar will cause fizzing, but it will help take the mold away. Rinse everything off with hot water, which is done most easily with a detachable shower head.
Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals on Pink Mold
Potent chemical cleaners like bleach and foaming sprays end up going down your drain. If you have a cesspool or septic system attached to your home, these chemicals can destroy the bacteria the system uses to break down waste. Without the bacteria you want to keep, your septic system will fail. For any septic or cesspool concerns, call Maui Pumping today!