The Horrors Of Mold & Mildew
We will all have experienced the problem at some time, horrid black mold. Its at its worst in bathrooms -we know, we clean enough of them!
If you have severe mold you need to deal with this, possibly by bringing in a professional, as it could be due to ingress of water into the structure of your building, this is something we cant help with.
However, the most common problems are on grout, silicone or similar sealants, shower trays, tiles and so on. These can be dealt with in a variety of ways but you should do what you can to reduce mositure first;
- Always open the bath/shower room window (even in winter!) or ensure good ventilation using an extractor or similar.
- If you can afford too, keep the radiator in here on high
- Keep a sqeegee in the shower, use after every shower (make the kids use it too!)
- Spray everyday with one of the suggested sprays
To Bleach or Not to Bleach...
I personally dont like bleach, although its not quite as nasty to the environment as some might suggest, its certainly a highly dangerous chemical. If you spill any it will almost certainly ruin any fabric it contacts, so if you must use it, do so in your old jeans and t-shirt. Protect any area of carpet you might spill or accidentally spray.
Always wear protective gloves and eye protection.
You should also be VERY careful about mixing bleach with other chemicals, as this can trigger the release of highly toxic chlorine gas which can quickly become lethal or at the very least cause respiratory discomfort.
Bleach Solution
Mix 1 part Bleach to 10 Parts Water and use in a spray bottle - spray your shower regularly to keep mold down. Work it into the grout with an old toothbrush. You don't need to rinse this off, simply leave to dry.
The Eco-Friendly Cleaner
If like me you'd rather have a safe solution then try this, mix 250 mls (½) cup white vinegar and 250 mls water in a spray bottle. Spray your shower stall, tiles and so on daily.
The acid in white vinegar is a powerful mildew remover. It kills the mildew and prevents it from coming back.
The Prevention Mixture
This only works AFTER you have cleaned up the mold or in extreme cases regrouted and resealed your bath or shower area. Use a 1 part Tea Tree Oil to 100 parts water in a spray bottle, and spray every day in the affected areas. Tea Tree Oil is a powerful natural antibacterial and antimicrobial and will prevent any future growth. It smells great too!
If you have a cleaning tip why not share it with us?