The fact that black and gray coating on the walls and the ceiling in the bathroom is unaesthetic is not the biggest problem. He does the greatest harm to health. The effects of toxic spores in the lungs or bronchi can be most unpredictable. Treatment after this will require a long and serious.
Therefore, if black mold is found in the bathroom, how to get rid of it must be decided immediately. Otherwise, it will quickly penetrate deep under the tile, and it will not be easy to remove it from there. Our article is precisely devoted to methods of combating fungus - in this material we examined in detail the best purchased and folk remedies for removing mold at home.
They also gave useful recommendations on the use of antiseptics and described preventive measures that can prevent the formation of fungus in the bathroom.
Causes of mold
Mildew intervention is inevitable if the room:
- poorly ventilated;
- it lacks natural light;
- condensation forms on pipes and walls;
- pipes leak at the junction;
- it is poorly heated.
Even one of these factors creates favorable conditions for its replication. Until she had time to crawl into other rooms, urgent measures needed to be taken. We spoke more about the danger of the proximity of a person with black mold here.
And mold spores can get inside through a window, picked up by a draft, they penetrate through the front door. They can be brought on shoes and outerwear, and she has other ways. Well, the bathroom for the fungus is the most fertile area.
If after bathing you do not immediately remove the water from the tile, an environment comfortable for mold will appear. In just 24 hours, his colony can increase by 9 times
In what places to look for a fungus?
Even if you can’t immediately visually detect signs of mold, you should look for it in places hidden from the eyes.
It can be:
- corners of walls in contact with the bath;
- spaces between tiles;
- adjoining plumbing fixtures to the walls;
- under the baseboards in the area of the sink and bath;
- on the ceiling;
- under the rug on the floor;
- in wood paneling;
- in cups for hygiene items.
Having entered other rooms, the spores, if they do not germinate, but for a long time retain their ability to reproduce and only wait for favorable conditions.
It is impossible to completely get rid of them, but creating inappropriate conditions for their development is quite possible.
The best mold remedies
In the old days, this problem was solved by the radical method - they simply left the house infected with mold. There are many other ways now. We will consider each of them in detail.
Such a dangerous enemy, like a black fungus, requires immediate action to combat it. The process itself may not be fast and time-consuming, but not only the type of premises, but also your health depends on it
Industrial products differ in that after contact with them, mold loses its aggressive properties after a few hours. Some preparations should be used during cleaning regularly, others - during the repair. The characteristics of the best purchased antiseptics will be discussed below.
No. 1 - Bagi Anti-Mold Spray
It is a good antibacterial agent. Produce it in Israel. It destroys not only visible mold, but also its spores, and also eliminates unpleasant odors.
Available in 0.5 liter bottles. The composition contains chlorine, surfactant and a maximum of 15% nonionic surfactants, flavorings.
No. 2 - DEC spray from Neochem
Not bad copes with the same task spray DEC, the manufacturer "Neochem." Along the way, this anti-mold tool removes limescale, corrosion, neutralizes odors. Consists of water, active ingredients, disinfectants, up to 5% surfactant, perfume composition.
Glycolic acid, present in the composition in the desired concentration, penetrates the structure and removes harmful bacteria to the surface
A good remedy is also the fact that after its application a hydrophobizing layer is created, which protects the surface from fungus in the future.
No. 3 - PROSEPT Bath Fungi
An effective alkaline preparation for removing mold produced in Russia. Packaging - a 0.5 liter bottle with a sprayer. There are 3 modes: OFF - closed state, SPRAY - spraying in the smallest fraction, STREAM - the ability to apply working fluid in trickles.
It has an extensive range of functionality. It allows you to stop biodefeat at the initial stage, to prevent the progression of molds, disinfects, eliminates the smell of mold.
The negative points include the strong smell of bleach.
No. 4 - Cillit Bang spray
It has a powerful formula that allows you to deal with black mold. The spray contains a large percentage of chlorine, so the smell is very pungent, but it copes with its task perfectly.
After applying it, it is better to leave the room for about 20 minutes. When the product works, it must be removed.
No. 5 - Means Mellerud from Germany
The product is produced in Germany. Eliminates mold and its spores, disinfects. The working substance is active oxygen. It has a prolonged action.
Mellerud - Packed in a convenient 0.5 L container with a dispenser. This is enough to handle large areas.
There is no chlorine in the composition, no smell. The tool is suitable for processing many types of materials - stone, tile, plaster, fabric.
If the surface is highly infected with mold, a liquid is applied to it with a spray gun and left there all night. From moderately contaminated areas, the product is removed one hour after application using a brush or soft cloth. After the entire area is washed.
In addition to these tools, there are other antiseptics that are ideal for protecting walls from mold and fighting fungus when it appears. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the best antifungal agents for walls.
Folk remedies against mold
Opponents of using aggressive chemistry to destroy the black fungus often use improvised means. Many of them give good results.
Remedy # 1 - soda in tandem with vinegar
Black mold recedes in front of such a simple remedy as soda - calcined or ordinary in tandem with vinegar.
Preparing the mixture is easy:
- take 5 liters of water, but only hot;
- throw in it 150 g of soda ash or 150 g of ordinary;
- to this add 9% vinegar - 100 g.
Having received a foamy liquid, they process problem surfaces with its help. On a horizontal surface, blackness can be removed more simply. Highly expanded mycelium is removed with a spatula, and then sprinkled with soda on these places. Next, put a spray bottle on the vinegar bottle and spray the plane to quench the soda.
Porridge made of soda and vinegar copes well with mold that has settled in the seams of tiles. After 20 minutes the mixture is washed off with a brush.
The mushroom picker dies in the process of foaming, indicating that sodium bicarbonate has reacted with acetic acid.
If there is a washing machine in the bathroom, mold can also settle in it. Often black marks can be seen on the rubber band, but much worse when it penetrates the tank. You can remove it from there with the help of vinegar and White.
For this, these two components are mixed in equal proportions. In this solution, the powder compartment is soaked for half an hour. After, clean it with a brush.
The solution is poured into the machine and, setting it to the longest mode, the highest temperature, turn on. Under the influence of high temperature and active substances, microorganisms will die.
Other ways to get rid of mold in the washing machine, we discussed in the following material.
Remedy # 2 - Tea Tree Oil
This non-standard method gives a good result, because Mold microorganisms are sensitive to the components that make up this aromatic oil.
The usage pattern is as follows:
- Buy a bubble of tea tree oil.
- Hands must be protected, so rubber gloves are also needed.
- Take a bottle with a spray, pour water into it.
To 500 ml of water add 2 large tablespoons of aromatic oil. Stir the mixture, pour into a bottle, shake. After that, the tool can be used for processing.
After application, the mixture does not need to be washed off, it must act. Since the product is natural, it is safe for both people and pets
It is sprayed on the affected surface, then the fungus is collected with a cloth. To enhance the result, it is advisable to repeat the procedure and leave the treated area to dry naturally.
If the walls in the bathroom are badly damaged, you need a more concentrated solution - per 1000 ml of water, 20 ml of oil. Processing is best done with a brush with a long handle.
Since the product has a specific smell, it disappears quickly. To protect the walls from possible black mold damage in the future, you can add a little oil to the paint. This will stop the development of the colony in the event of a thorough penetration of mold into the wall.
Means # 3 - hydrogen peroxide
This tool is affordable and affordable. There is no need to do any manipulations with it. It is simply poured into a container with a spray and nebulized sprayed. After 15 minutes exposure, the treated areas are wiped.
Not every surface can be treated with a preparation such as 3% hydrogen peroxide, since it has the property of bleaching certain materials. For reinsurance, you need to check its effect in a small area
With the same success, perhydrol can be replaced with furatsilin or copper sulfate.
Remedy # 4 - boric acid
Borax, borax, or boric acid is the name of one drug. Half a glass of substance is diluted in a liter of water. Tile joints and other places where mold is found are cleaned with a stiff brush dipped in solution. After some time, the treated areas are wiped with a dry cloth.
There is one unpleasant moment in this process - the substance is not entirely safe, because it irritates the airways. Therefore, gloves and a mask must be mandatory attributes when processing brown.
It is also advisable to perform work in the absence of children and pets.
Remedy # 5 - aqueous ammonia
Non-porous surfaces in the bathroom are well cleansed and disinfected with ammonia. Ammonium chloride is simply applied to the plane using a sponge or cloth. The effect of adding glycerol in a small amount increases.
The downside is toxicity. Because of this, it can cause mucosal irritation and even poisoning.
The mixture is left on the surface for one hour, then washed with water. Using ammonia, you need to know that it evaporates to 50% of the original volume and does not always manage to enter into a reaction.
Like boric acid, ammonia exudes a smell - very strong and pungent. This can cause irritation.
Remedy # 6 - Chlorine Bleach
This simple tool poses a threat not only to domestic mold, but also to outdoor.
The active component of White is the inorganic compound sodium hydrochloride. It has disinfectant and antiseptic properties. In the bleach of the working substance 3 - 6%
The percentage of chlorine in "White" is very large, hence such a good disinfecting effect. Among all the tools at hand, bleach is the leader. It is also well suited for removing mold from planks (various wooden surfaces).
The downside is toxicity. Because of this, it can cause mucosal irritation and even poisoning.
Remedy # 7 - copper sulfate
This drug kills mold from tiles, primers, and plastic. It must be diluted with water. Proportion - 100 g of substance per 10 liters of liquid. The solution is applied with a brush to the surface, it is better to do this in several layers. For prevention around the area with mold also apply the tool.
In this state, they leave everything for a while. Next, wash the treated areas and ventilate the room. The tool is toxic, so a respirator and gloves are required to work with it.
Some tips for using the remedies
When planning to use a particular remedy for black mold, it is necessary to take into account a number of features. Firstly, it is impossible to remove this scourge by washing off with warm soapy water and manganese. Even if it is possible to eliminate the black coating, the debate will remain. Having received a new nutrient medium in the form of warm moisture and the components that make up the soap, their colonies will multiply even faster.
Black mold is enough for two years to destroy building structures. In favorable conditions, she will not stop at the bathroom, but will capture new territories
Secondly, it is not possible to avoid the repeated invasion of mold after removing it mechanically. Disputes will remain and continue their reproduction.
Thirdly, a high positive temperature, like a very low one, is not able to destroy mold spores. Their presence will only halt growth. As soon as favorable conditions return, mold will continue its development.
Fourth, the smallest cracks in the bathroom wall should be repaired, and the walls that come into contact with the street should be insulated. Floor mats in this room should be dry, and it is even better to make a warm floor here.
Fifth, it is advisable not to dry wet laundry in the bathroom. It will become an additional source of moisture. When the zonal surface treatment does not help, you will have to make repairs throughout the room. For this purpose, buy funds intended for use during the repair. Add them to putty, paint or whitewash.
The process of repairing the bathroom is time-consuming, it requires both time and finances. But it’s almost impossible to handle old mold in another way.
Pay attention to primers, which are based on acids, other components that have a detrimental effect on mold.
How to prevent mold?
This uninvited guest feels comfortable in a room where there is completely no ventilation and drafts in conditions of high humidity - from 80% and a temperature of 20⁰. Based on this, it is necessary, first of all, to create an environment in which mold cannot develop in principle.
To maintain constant moisture in the bathroom, do not close the door tightly. If this measure is not enough, you will have to arrange ventilation. You can put the door with special holes for ventilation or drill them yourself, then decorate with decorative rings.
A model of a door with openings evens out the temperature inside the bathroom. Ventilation holes are in the form of circles or rectangles. They are performed in several zones or one and masked with a decorative grill
A more effective way is to install a fan in the duct. The hole is sealed with a ventilation grill. Turning on and off can be done using the light switch.
The best option is to install a hygrometer and connect it to the fan through a sensor. As soon as the humidity reaches the upper limit, it will turn on the fan. If the humidity indicator drops, the device turns on again.
The ventilation grill can be bought and mounted with your own hand, but then the integrity of the door leaf is violated.
Subject to all our recommendations, the issue of black mold will no longer bother you.
Getting rid of harmful fungi in the bathroom:
Fungus on the tile and its destruction:
As you can see, to prevent the defeat of the bathroom with a fungus is easier than fighting it or making repairs. Be sure to, after successfully overcoming the problem, do not forget about preventive measures and the fungus will no longer appear. The main thing is normal air circulation, ventilation.
Still have questions about using one of the tools discussed in this article? Maybe you want to share your mold control secrets? Ask your questions on the topic of the article, write your recommendations and reviews on the use of purchased or home remedies for getting rid of fungus in the bathroom.