Your bathroom sometimes can be a temporary haven after a long and tiring day. However, a musty smell can ruin your day and can be stressful especially even after spritzing air fresheners to cover it. That is why it is important to know how to prevent musty smells in bathrooms.
Bathrooms are naturally warm and humid, making them perfect for mold and mildew growth. If you detect a musty smell, it’s probably due to these fungi in your bathroom.
In this article, we’ll share practical tips to prevent musty smells in bathrooms.
Mold and Mildew
Identify– Stepping into your bathroom with a strange smell points to mold and mildew. According to the EPA, mildew is a kind of fungus or mold that is usually with a flat growth habit. On the other hand, molds include all species of fungi that grow in the form of hyphae. Both produce a strong, musty odor.
Appearance- Dark and unsightly splotches, often a large infestation on porous materials and hard to eliminate indicate mold. Whereas, mildew latches onto moist surfaces and can be easily removed with a scrub or brush.
Mold stains may vary in color such as green, orange, white, black or even a combination of colors.
Bathroom- An Ideal Spot For Mold Growth
Your bathroom smells musty because it is an ideal place for mold growth. Constantly using water in the bathroom especially hot water can lead to a humid environment. In addition, moisture which is a nutrient source for spores and dark spaces attract molds.
Mold infestations are usually behind the toilet, within the shower curtain, inside the cabinets, and on the bottom of shampoo bottles or soap containers. Mold is also lingering around the faucets, bathtub, fan, tile grout, and paint.
Effects of Mold Exposure
Besides the smell, mold can be hazardous to your health and well-being. Inhaling musty odors in the bathroom as well as breathing the airborne mold spores may result in adverse health problems. Exposure to mold can cause symptoms like headaches, runny nose, aching sinuses, fatigue, nausea, nosebleeds, and respiratory issues. It can also trigger asthma symptoms for those who are suffering from asthma.
In addition, mold can also cause structural issues in your home. Mold spores can penetrate porous materials and can weaken the home’s structural stability and lead to safety hazards.
The big question now is “how can we prevent musty smells in bathrooms”.
Prevent Musty Smells In Bathrooms
Take action if your bathroom smells musty because it won’t get better on its own. Here are some tips to consider to prevent musty smell in the bathroom:
- Improved ventilation can help in drying out your bathroom after baths and showers. This will reduce the humidity and hinder mold growth. Opening windows, using a fan or a dehumidifier will help in preventing moisture.
- Regular bathroom cleaning can help in keeping your bathroom smelling good while getting rid of the mold.
- Squeegee the walls of the shower to get rid of excess water and minimize humidity. Clean the shower curtain with a bleach solution to remove mold. If mold fails to disappear even after soaking in the bleach solution, consider replacing it.
- Using appropriate disinfecting products to keep your bathroom clean is as important as washing hands properly after using the bathroom.
- To clean mold from tiles, create a solution by combining equal parts water and bleach. Wipe the affected tiles with this mixture and ensure they are completely dry afterward. For removing mold on wood, make a cleaning solution by mixing four parts water with one part bleach. This combination will effectively clean the mold.
- Instead of placing wet towels in a hamper, it’s better to hang them on a rack to allow them to dry properly.
Professional Mold Remediation
If your bathroom smells musty, it’s crucial to keep it clean and dry. However, to fully resolve any mold problem, it’s important to address the source of moisture with the help of professionals from Superior Restoration.
For immediate assistance, please contact our local office, Water Damage Irvine. Our team is available 24/7 to help you.
