Owning a home creates many responsibilities for homeowners. Making sure that mold isn’t growing in your home is one of those many responsibilities. Keep in mind that mold growth is pretty common. Moisture and high humidity promote mold growth. Mold typically is not very dangerous. Consequently, if you do discover black mold, you will want to take extra safety precautions. Is bathroom mold dangerous? The mold that is classified as black mold is dangerous. It must be cleaned safely and expeditiously.
Let’s take a look below at what is required to avoid a toxic environment.
What Is Mold
Mold is a naturally occurring fungus. Mold spores can float through the air and land in areas that have high moisture and humidity. In Florida, mold is very common. The humidity and moisture in Florida are a strong promoters of mold growth. Mold spores can spread by wind, water, and insects. Once the conditions for growth have been met, mold spores will settle in and begin to mass produce.
Is Mold Toxic In The Bathroom
Believe it or not, varieties of mold do produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins. Stachybotrys also known as black mold, is a species of mold that can be called toxic black mold. Luckily, mycotoxins will only be produced if there are other bacteria in the area, and the fungi are eating. Also, if the fungi are eating, they will produce secondary metabolites.
Symptoms Caused By Mold
In addition to producing mycotoxins, these fungi can cause some human health issues. Let’s take a look at what those side effects are:
- Mood changes
- Memory loss
- Nosebleeds
- Headaches
- Body aches and pain
- Respiratory problems
Lastly, mycotoxins can create longer-lasting health effects. When produced, mycotoxins can cause mycotoxicosis. This will lead to depression, various cancers, and Parkinson’s disease. Also, keep in mind that water damage or water on the shower curtain promotes the perfect breeding ground for black mold in your shower.
How Can I Prevent It
If you are interested in keeping mold out of your bathroom, then you must take actions to prevent it. Let’s take a look at some of the ways to prevent mold growth in the bathroom.
- Exhaust fan – while you are taking a shower, run the exhaust fan. Also, consider running the exhaust fan for 15 to 20 minutes after you have showered. This ensures that the moisture created by the shower can be sucked out of the air by the exhaust fan.
- Dehumidifier in the bathroom – adding a stand-alone dehumidifier in the bathroom can also assist in sucking moisture out of the air. This keeps the humidity levels more consistent with the rest of the house.
- Remove the water – once you have finished your shower or bath, be sure to squeegee the excess water off the doors or walls. Also, wipe down any silicone, tile, and countertops near the sinks.
- Vinegar – spraying vinegar on mold and letting it soak into the mold will kill the mold. This will make it easier to wipe up the mold from your tile grout of silicone areas.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you are aware of bathroom mold and how it can affect your health, make sure to take the proper precautions when cleaning. Read up on the best way to clean mold off the silicone in your bathroom. This allows you to ensure your safety during the cleaning process.
Next, understand your surroundings. Climate and weather in your local area can contribute to mold growth. If you live in a place like Florida the humidity and increased moisture can enhance the chances of mold growth in your home. A home inspection is highly recommended if mold appears.
Lastly, in some cases, the moisture in your home requires you to utilize a humidifier. If you aren’t careful with the maintenance of the humidifier, you could end up creating a mold-friendly area in the home. This will contribute to your getting sick or experiencing certain symptoms similar to allergies.
When Do I Call A Professional
Understanding the easiest and safest way to clean mold out of your bathroom is important. In most cases, homeowners will experience mold in their bathrooms at least once. Luckily, not all molds are detrimental to your health. However, make sure to call on your local home inspection team. They can assess your mold situation and make recommendations to clean and repair any mold damage.
Conclusion
Noticing mold growth in your bathroom is the first step in the process of removing it and keeping it out. If you don’t clean the black mold from your bathroom, it could cause some health issues. Hopefully, removing the mold is fairly easy for you. If you notice the mold is covering a larger area, you will want to call your local home inspection team. They can inspect for more mold and offer a mold remediation plan. Call Waypoint Property Inspection to inspect your home in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and surrounding areas.
