Because moisture is prevalent within a bathroom, they can turn into breeding grounds for mold. There are thousands of different strains of mold, and keeping your home mold free is the goal of every homeowner.

You may have heard of black mold, and know the dangers of living with this problem for too long. But what about green, white, orange, and other mold types? Mold can leave your house smelling musty, and can cause negative side effects to your health.

Since mold produces different allergens, if you suffer from allergies regularly, mold can only increase the symptoms, and even lead to more severe issues like asthma and other respiratory problems. Mold can also cause dizziness, headaches, rashes, and nausea – and these side effects are from the non-toxic molds!

“Black mold”, or Stachybotrys chartarum, is a toxic mold that can be incredibly dangerous to the health of members of your household. Homes that suffer from black mold, should seek a professional service to rid the home of the mold, before major problems occur.

What is Bathroom Mold, Exactly?

Black mold is typically what we hear about, but as we discussed, there are many other types of mold. Some mold types are common in homes, and aren’t detrimental to your health. Mold grows easily if excess water is in your home, and while all mold are not harmful, it should be treated as quickly as possible. Untreated mold problems can cause potential damage to your home’s structure, spreading from room to room.

Bathrooms are a common place where mold is found. When you think about it, the bathroom is the room in your house that frequently experiences moisture in different forms.

Different reasons for mold growth include:

1. Leaky faucets. Mold loves water, and what is a better source of water than a leaky faucet? This can be any type of faucet – a sink, bathtub, or shower – so check these frequently to avoid water overflow.
2. Poor ventilation. Bathrooms should have a ventilation system to carry excess moisture from the air. This can include a window, or in best cases, an exhaust fan that will carry the moisture out of the room. Some older homes may not have any ventilation in their bathrooms, which can cause all the moisture from showers, etc. to gather on the walls and floor. Or, your home may have an exhaust fan that isn’t running as efficiently as it should, and moisture keeps building up, creating a breeding ground for mold.
3. Shower surfaces. Showers constantly have water, soap, and body oils on the tiles due to frequent use. Now add in the humidity from hot water, and you have a perfect mix for mold.
4. Clogged drains. Hair, grease, soap, etc. are all things that build up in pipes and can cause clogged drains. When a drain isn’t carrying water out of the pipes as quickly as possible, the water sits and creates a dark, damp area – perfect for mold growth.
5. Hidden wall leaks. Pipes run behind the walls of your bathroom. Since they are not visible, a leak can go unnoticed until the problem presents itself at the surface. This means water is sitting for long periods of time, untreated, and mold is extremely attracted to this type of environment.

How to Remove Mold

Now that you’ve learned what to look for to help prevent mold in your bathroom, let’s talk about some removal tips.

A bleach and water mixture may be recommended for mold removal, but this DOES NOT kill off the mold spores! Regardless of how clean the area looks and smells, we don’t recommend using this method. It’s important to bring in a professional remediation team to effectively kill all mold spores found in the home. Most homeowners won’t know the toxicity level of mold by looking at it, and it is better for a professional to assess the problem, and take care of it fully.

Call McMahon for All Mold Removal Needs

As we discussed earlier, black mold is the most dangerous type of household mold. At McMahon Services and Construction, we know all the steps needed to not only remove the mold, but make sure it does not return to your home.

We begin by locating the source of the water, which most DIYers don’t do. Skipping this step allows mold to grow back, starting the entire removal process again. Our estimators at McMahon will find the source and provide a plan of attack to take care of the problem.

Once we’ve located the source of the mold, we will begin the mold remediation process. This involves setting up parameters that keep mold from spreading, or cross contaminating other areas of your home. To ensure the mold is removed completely we have a several step process. First we set up HEPA air scrubbers to clean spores out of the air. Then we use HEPA vacuum methods to dry and treat the area.

Our estimates are free, and we would love to help you get rid of your mold problem. If your home is in the Arlington Heights, Des Plains, Chicago, Berwyn, Evanston, or Grayslake area, contact us to set up an appointment time that works best for you.