How do I stop mold from growing on my bathroom ceiling? It is a rather small area but it isn’t going away.

Answer:
Hi Justin

Black mold can be frustrating and hard to rid your bathroom of permanently. If the mold in your bathroom is growing on drywall the best bet is to remove the drywall in the area where the mold is growing and replace with either blue or green board. This is drywall treated with a chemical to prevent moisture and mold damage and is ideal for helping prevent bathroom ceiling mold in the future.

If you cannot remove the drywall you can try to clean the affected area by wiping it down and applying a paint that kills the mold spores and seals the area. Once this has been completed you need to prevent further mold growth by properly venting your bathroom, this can be done by slightly opening a window while showering, or running a bathroom exhaust fan while showering and for a half hour after.

You should also clean the bathroom frequently wiping down the walls, floor and shower. Keeping a well vented and clean bathroom should help prevent future mold growth. While black mold is common in the bathroom, bright pink mold is a prime candidate in the shower and on the walls of the shower. This pink mold feeds on soap and shampoo residue left from your daily showers.

If you have further questions please feel free to ask them below in the comments section or on our Facebook page.

Assessing for the presence of black mold is the foremost action to take before you can successfully get rid of them. The following is a list of signs that you have a black mold problem:

1. Sudden cold-like symptoms
Are you or any of your family members suddenly suffer from cold-like symptoms? These include watery eyes, cough, throat irritation, sneezing, fever, and headache. While cold is a common condition, its sudden occurrence among household members could indicate more than just a viral infection.

2. Musty odor
This is a distinct smell of molds. A musty odor can be likened to the smell of urine. This odor is more evident when any of your HVAC system is running. Sudden cold-like symptoms coupled by this smell should heightened your suspicion of a black mold problem.

3. Discoloration of household items
Your walls, ceilings, and household items may start to have this yellowish discoloration. In a full-blow mold infestation, the yellow stain may turn into green or black.

4. Visible mold growth
This is the most obvious sign of mold growth in your home. Toxic mold usually has this greenish-black, slimy characteristic.

If you’ve seen visible growth in some areas of your home, then you should be alarmed as mold could be lurking in other places of your home too.

5. High humidity level
If relative humidity test reveals a result of more than 55%, then suspect of mold growth in your home. High humidity level is an indication of poor ventilation, a suitable condition for mold growth.

The Best Way To Dry Carpeting

Blotting the carpet dry – for small areas of wet carpet, for example caused by someone spilling a glass of water the best way to dry it up and help prevent mold or mildew growth is blotting it dry with a towel. Be sure not to use a towel that has not been washed before because it could transfer coloring to the carpet. By blotting the carpet dry you will help soak up the excess moisture and allow the carpet to air dry. To assist with the drying process you can open windows or move a dehumidifier into the room.

Carpet Blowers – You can rent for a reasonable fee a carpet blower, which really is simply a high powered fan that is angled to the ground. This creates air circulation that helps effectively dry the carpet.

Wet/Dry Vacs – A wet dry vac can be used to help extract water from the carpeting if you catch it early enough. On a similar note you can also use a carpet cleaner that usually has a water extraction feature. Both methods are effective for carpet water removal.

What If I Already Have Mold Growth On The Carpet?

If you already have mold growth on the carpet you have a couple things you can try but realize the chance of success is limited based on prior results. The first option is use an off the shelf mold cleaning solution. Be sure to test the cleaning solution somewhere on the carpet to see if it either removes the color or harms the carpet in any other way.

Another option is get a carpet cleaning machine and use a deoderiozer solution mixed with a cleaning solution. This should help clean the spores and assist with any negative smells but you have to understand that there is a chance the mold and smells can return.

Can Professional Mold Removal Companies Help?

Not really, they can try the same methods described above. One experimental option that professionals can try is high ozone shock treatment, high ozone shock treatments or ozone blasting treatments involves using a machine called an ozone generator. The process usually takes about an hour. The whole area will need to be evacuated from people and pets to ensure safety.

Take note that based on my research there is very little scientific evidence that ozone treatments are 100% effective. It is also important to understand that ozone treatments do not remove the mold and numerous adverse health effects can still occur from dead mold spores.

What Is Pink Mold?

Many people ask what is pink mould(or mold) or what is that pink mold in the shower?  Pink mold also known as Serratia marcescens, is involed in different infections in the human body, most commonly urinary tract infections and wound infections.  It is commonly found in hospitals and other areas where infections are common(or commonly treated).

It prefers damp conditions and is found in many bathrooms and high concentrations were present in many hospital showers, it is commonly found growing in tile grout, shower corners and even in the toilet.  It feeds off of common bathroom substances such as soap and shampoo residue.

What Do I Do If I Have Pink Mold In My Shower?

If you have pink mold in your shower you should clean the shower thoroughly with a tub and tile cleaner.  Pink mold feeds on moisture and soap or shampoo residue.   Obviously within the shower you cannot remove the moisture, so you have to remove the pink mold food of the soap residue.  After the initial pink mold removal continue to clean your shower at least weekly(twice a week if it is extra humid).

How Dangerous Is Pink Mold In The Shower?

Pink mold can be fairly harmless for individuals who are healthy. People that already have a compromised immune system can be vulnerable, that is why it is important hospitals eliminate pink mold within their bathrooms.  The other group of people that are affected by pink mold in the shower are people who are highly allergic to mold spores.  Obviously, if you do have pink mold you want to get rid of it as fast as possible but do not be alarmed.

How Do You Get Rid Of Pink Mold?

If you find pink mold in your bathroom, in your shower or near your toilet understand it can be hard to eradicate once established, the quicker you take care of the problem the less of a chance it has had to grow and spread.  These tips are  very similar to our black mold removal tips.

To remove this pink slime mold from the area apply a bleach based disinfectant, completely rinse the surface and repeat the bleach application, rinse again and fully dry the area.  This will clean the mold and remove it’s soap and shampoo food source.

How To Prevent It From Returning?

The best way to prevent the mold from returning in your bathroom is to clean with a bleach based cleaner weekly, making sure to remove soap and shampoo residue.  This will remove the mold’s food source, without the food it cannot continue to grow. Also make sure you bathroom fan is strong enough and functioning properly. By removing the moist, humid air this will help minimize any mold growth including Serratia marcescens.

What If The Mold Returns?

In high use bathrooms which experience a lot of soap and shampoo usage and continued humid warm conditions sometimes no matter how careful you are the mold could return. It is recommended that if it does return clean it again with the bleach based cleaner(possibly with a higher concentrated one), also consider installed a fan that removes more air from the room at a time. Some of the low end bath fans do not remove the air quick enough. Also ensure after individuals shower they leave the fan run for at least a half hour afterward.

Studies suggest that black mold can give way to a number of health problems including cold-like symptoms, skin irritation, allergic reactions, memory loss, lethargy, and in worst cases, acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage or bleeding in the lungs among infants.

Getting rid of mold will help you keep your family and home safe and healthy. You can end the mold infestation in your home in a variety of ways, for smaller mold infestations there are a number of mold sprays on the market that can help you kill the mold.

For health-conscious households and for organic products advocates, they can opt for kitchen products that are proven to be effective mold remover. Some common household items  you can use to clean mold are distilled vinegar, and tea tree oil sprays. For vinegar you can place it in a spray bottle and use it right away. Vinegar is considered to be one of the safest and most effective means of removing mold in your home.

Another option that one has is the use of bleach. A bleach solution is a combination of half cup of bleach and half gallon of water. Mix them together and pour the content in your spray bottle. Just like the vinegar, bleach solution is also considered to be an effective spray solution for mold removal. However, you shouldn’t use it together with another chemical like ammonia. Using them altogether gives out toxic fumes which can be as dangerous as the mold itself.

All-organic mold treatments are safe, no question about that but these solutions cannot be use in all types of mold infestation. Using vinegar or bleach may not be effective in all mold infested areas or materials. In cases like this, commercial mold treatment spray can be a better option.

There are so many mold treatment sprays that you can find in the market that settling for one can be a tough job. Ease yourself by looking into these areas when shopping for a mold treatment spray: efficacy and safety. It would be best to choose a treatment spray that is safe to use in almost all areas or materials. Reading product reviews will make the selection process easier for you.

Mold is indeed a threat both to your health and financial stability as it causes structural damage, as mold spreads aggressively throughout your house requiring extensive renovation. Once you spot them, don’t waste your time and zap them out immediately.

According to EPA or Environment Protection Agency, any mold that has spread for less than 10 sq.ft. can be remediated by the homeowner itself using simple mold removal measures such as the use of bleach and water solution and vinegar. However, for mold contamination that has spread on a larger area, it is necessary to get a certified mold remediator.

A certified mold remediator (CMR) is a specialist who has been trained specifically to remediate mold contamination for both large and small projects. Becoming a CMR is a process. If you have plans of working in a company that offers mold remediation services or if you want to put up one, then you better start working on it now.

Since each state has its own mold remediation regulation, it is imperative to contact your state’s licensing board or the home improvement commission before you take further actions. Ask for details on the minimum certification requirements. You may also ask for a brochure that provides further requirement details which includes age, residency, and education requirements.

To become a CMR, you have to take mold remediation courses. In these courses, you’ll learn how to contain and clean mold-affected areas as well as on detecting and repairing the source of the problem. Every year, the Mold Inspection Consulting and Remediation Organization offers a number of mold remediation classes all throughout the United States.

Some states require a licensing or certification exam. with their home improvement commission or licensing board. Contact your state’s licensing board or home improvement commission for this requirement.

For states that require such licensing examination, passing the exam is synonymous to becoming a Certified Mold Remediator.

The Difference
Flu is a condition caused by influenza virus. It is self-limiting by nature so it simply goes away after days of its onset. So if you’re experiencing persistently the typical signs and symptoms of flu: fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, extreme tiredness, cough, and runny nose, then forget the influenza virus – it’s something else.

Just like flu, a person who has been frequently exposed to mold also suffers from the same set of manifestations only that they become worst during humid weather. Molds are microscopic organisms that thrive well in moist areas where there are high humidity level and poor air ventilation. The signs and symptoms are your body’s way of reacting to the allergens, that is, the mold.

What To Do
If you want to make sure whether you are suffering from flu or mold exposure, you can conduct a mold assessment in your home. Molds usually appear greenish or black and give off a musty odor. But do not attempt to touch or held your nose close to it. Mold spores are so tiny that you won’t even notice them harboring in your nostrils and down to your respiratory system where they can cause an extensive damage.

Once you’ve spotted molds in your home, you have to get rid of them immediately. The longer you allow these microorganisms to grow, the bigger is the chance for you to suffer from various health hazards. A mold-infested home would never be considered as a safe abode.

Choosing a mold removal contractor isn’t as easy as you think. There is no set of rules for certifications on this kind of profession so you must be extra careful when choosing one. However, there are things that you can keep in mind so you can avoid falling in the hands of wrong people or those that are only pretending to be a mold removal contractor. Whether you found them thru internet search or thru a referral, the following things should be taken into consideration:

1. Experience
This should be your foremost criterion when choosing a mold removal contractor. It’s a good sign if the company you are eyeing is in this business for so long. It could indicate that they’ve been doing the job pretty well.

Search about the company. A great mold removal contractor has a good working knowledge on their field and offers prompt and efficient service.

2. Services
It’s important to ask the contractor the scope of their service. Will they replace the drywall and other mold-infested materials or do you have to contact other contractors to do such task? Also, you need to ask whether they conduct their own mold inspection or do you have to have a separate contractor for this? Asking these questions beforehand will prevent any conflict from arising.

You should also see to it that the company is continually updating themselves not just on mold removal methods but as well on the ordinances, regulations, and codes on this certain field.

3. Specialization
If your house is infested by mold due to one common reason, then it would be best to get in touch with a contractor who specializes in a certain type of mold removal. There are companies out there who specialize on removing mold due to moisture, mold concentrated in an HVAC unit, and many more.

4. Professionalism
A mold removal contractor should present themselves professionally. They should be professional both in appearance and demeanor.

5. Insurance
To prevent any case of liability while the contractor works in your house, you have to make sure that the mold removal contractor is properly insured.

These things are just among the most important things that you have to consider. Other points that you need to address are the free estimates, specific timeframes, and any guarantees put into writing.

There is a growing number of mold treatment centers in the country whose main function is to diagnose and treat people from mold exposure and mold-related illnesses. Medical specialists in these centers usually advise people who are suffering from the following manifestations to be tested for mold exposure:

-constant headaches
-nose bleeds
-feeling of constant fatigue
-difficulty of breathing
-coughing up blood
-nausea and vomiting
-diarrhea
-loss of appetite
-weight loss
-hair loss
-skin rashes
-open sores on the skin
-short-term memory loss
-neurological and nervous disorder
-sexual dysfunction
-swollen glands in the neck and under the armpit
-sudden asthma attacks
-ear infection and pain
-chronic sinus infection
-chronic bronchitis
-joint and muscle pain

Once the symptoms are verified as results of mold exposure, the client is then subjected to medical treatment which consists of the following:

1. Antihistamines
These are over-the-counter drugs that are usually prescribed for the flu-like symptoms: wheezing, fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, fatigue, cough, and runny nose.

2. Corticosteroids
These nasal sprays are usually prescribed by your physician to treat upper respiratory tract allergy symptoms.

3. Decongestants
These can be in the form of spray, syrup, or tablet . These are prescribed to relieve congestion.

4. Immunotherapy
This treatment is comprise of a series of allergy shots that contain allergen extracts to help you build immunity against certain types of allergens.

5. Montelukast
This is prescribed whenever you are sensitive to nasal sprays. This drug which comes in tablet form needs a written prescription from your doctor before you can have one.

Although these drugs can alleviate your symptoms but then, they can’t reassure you that they’ll keep them out of your system forever. Thus, taking steps to prevent future mold infestation is still necessary.

Aside from causing damage to your properties, mold can also place your health into havoc. According to some studies conducted, mold exposure can lead to cold-like symptoms, respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion, watery eyes, sore throat, coughing and skin irritations, and can even trigger asthma attacks. Definitely, a home couldn’t be considered safe unless it’s mold-free.

Mold removal experts agree that there are simply 4 steps toward achieving a mold-free home. These steps are embodied in 4 simple words: Contain, Kill, Remove, and Protect. Contain pertains to the step of protecting uncontaminated areas; kill refers to the actual process of getting rid of mold; remove means you have to throw away all those materials that have been greatly infested with mold; and the last step which is protect deals with the methods in preventing future mold contamination. Of the 4 steps mentioned, the “Kill” part is one of the most crucial steps.

There are different methods that you can use to get rid of mold and mildew in your home, if you have mold and mildew read our mold and mildew removal article. You can treat them badly by using bleach solution, one of the most effective substances in removing mold from any area in your home. Bleach solution is a combination of ¼ to ½ cup f bleach and 1 gallon of water. Scrub the mold-infested area with this solution, rinse it, and allow it to dry completely. Aside from being an effective mold removal, bleach is also a perfect disinfectant.

You can also try using tested homemade solutions: vinegar and tea tree oil. Vinegar can kill mold as much as 82%. It’s readily available and cheaper as compared to tea tree oil. Stop mold growth by using the mixture of vinegar and water when cleaning bathroom tiles, walls, and any other mold-infested and mold-prone areas. Tea tree oil is as effective as the vinegar but it’s more costly. You can zap out mold in an instant by using the mixture of 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and 2 cups of water.

However, all means and attempts of removing mold will end up to nothing if prevention is not initiated. It’s still the best way in keeping a healthy and mold-free home. You can keep away mold from growing in your home and cause extensive damage on your family’s health by seeing to it that your house is clean, dry, and well-ventilated at all times.