Showers are meant to cleanse away everyday grime, not add to it! The shower is the perfect place for mold to make its mark, and many people think a small amount of mildew won’t make a difference, but in reality it can make you sick, especially if you are allergic.
Here are a few ways the professionals at Janssen Glass & Door suggest getting rid of this pesky fungus.
Hot Water + Soap + Baking Soda
This solution can be used for mild cases of mold in your shower. Here’s what you’ll need:
- One teaspoon of liquid soap
- One cup of baking soda
- Enough hot water to form a paste
Directions: Spread this solution where mold is present and let it sit for an hour or two. After sitting, rinse the area and repeat if necessary.
Helpful Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil to your mix reduce the moldy odor.
Bleach + Water
This solution is for more stubborn, matured mold. Bleach is good for this because it doesn’t just remove mold, it kills it.
- Spray bottle
- Gloves
- Scrub brush
- 1 part bleach
- 2 parts water
Directions: Mix this solution together and spray the moldy area with solution. Let it dry completely and then spray the area a second time, this time scrubbing the area with a brush. After that, rinse and repeat until mold is gone.
Related Read: How to Clean Shower Door Tracks
Mild White Vinegar
This is a great way to not only remove existing mold, but to prevent it from coming back. Vinegar reportedly kills 82% of mold species, so spraying shower surfaces with vinegar on a regular basis will make it very hard for mold to come back.
- Spray bottle
- Mild white vinegar
- Towel
Directions: Put the undiluted vinegar into the spray bottle and spray moldy surfaces. Let this sit for an hour and then wipe the area clean with hot water, and dry the surface after.
Helpful Tip: Hydrogen peroxide is also commonly used to clean tough shower stains, but be careful because it can cause some shower surfaces to fade.
Other Useful Tips
After going through the trouble of cleaning your shower, prevent mold from coming back with these helpful tips:
- Leave the lights on! After showering, leave the lights on for about fifteen minutes. Light helps reduce the growth of mold spores, so leaving the blinds open or leaving the lights on for a little can do wonders for maintaining a clean bathroom.
- Air it out. It may help to crack a window or turn on your ceiling fan while showering. This will prevent condensation and help eliminate humidity for mold to grow in.
- Wipe it down. Make sure to wipe down your shower if there are areas that tend to stay wet long after the shower is used.
- If it can’t be cleaned, it may be time to replace it. Stubborn mold and other shower messes may be too bad to fix yourself. If that’s the case, it may be time to re-grout or caulk your shower.
Related Read: Tips Every Homeowner Should Know When It Comes to Cleaning Their Shower Door