Black Mould: How to Get Rid of it and Prevent it

Black mould or mildew in the bathroom isn’t just unsightly, it can be a real health hazard too. High levels of mould in the bathroom can cause a range of health problems as they produce a toxin which we breathe in every time we go into the room. In some people these problems can be mild allergy type symptoms, but in other people or when there are high levels of mould and mildew, the spores can cause permanent lung damage. Many households are involved in an ongoing battle against the mould and mildew, but there are a few things you can do to get rid of the mould, and to stop it coming back.

Getting Rid of It

Black mould is obviously not pleasant and whatever method you choose to try to get rid of it, it is important to protect yourself by using a face mask to prevent breathing in the spores. You're going to have to get out the big guns to get rid of the mould and mildew as using soap and water just isn’t going to be effective enough. You can look on the supermarket shelves for specialist mould and mildew removing products and follow the instructions on the bottle, or use stronger chemicals like ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals are strong and can burn, so make sure you use rubber gloves, open the window for ventilation, and keep the kids and pets clear as you work. Pay special attention to the corners of the room or the grout between the tiles.

Baking soda mixed with vinegar does wonders when tackling bathroom mould!

There’s another method you can use without having to go out and spend money on chemical packed products. Simply mix baking soda with vinegar to create a thick paste. Use a toothbrush to dip into the paste and scrub the affected areas. For more stubborn areas, leave for 15 minutes before scrubbing off with warm water. If any sealant, such as around the bath, is badly stained then you’ll have to peel it off and replace as no amount of scrubbing or bleach will completely remove it.

If you have mould and mildew on your shower curtain, wash it on a hot cycle with some added bleach. If the mildew is hard to remove, swap your soft fabric shower curtain for a stiffer plastic one which is both less welcoming to the mould and easier to keep clean.

Ventilation

Once you’ve done the hard work of getting rid of the black mould, the last thing you want is for it to come back a few weeks later. Mould prefers to grow in warm and damp atmosphere, so getting air flowing through the bathroom is going to hinder its growth. Keep the bathroom window open whenever you can, especially when you are having a bath or a shower, and if you don't have a bathroom window or can’t leave it open for security reasons, the other option is to invest in a powerful extractor fan which will help the air to circulate. Leave the fan on for 5 or 10 minutes after you have finished in the shower, or get a fan fitted with a timer which switches on and off automatically with the light switch. There are even models that only operate when they sense moisture in the way, so you can leave it to suck all the moisture out of the bathroom before it switches itself off.

If you're getting a lot of condensation in your bathroom then it's a good bet that mould will eventually follow. As such it's worth having a read of this guide on avoiding bathroom condensation.

Mould Resistant Paint

Although it’s tempting, don't try to get rid of the black mould in the bathroom by just painting it over. It might look not too bad for a week or two, but the mould will eventually be back. However, once you’ve removed the mould and your walls are clear, you can then treat it with special mould resistant paint which will prevent the mould from starting to grow again. The downside is that the paint is a bit more expensive than regular emulsion and is available in a limited range of colours, but it’s certainly effective at stopping the mould, as long as you remember to keep the room ventilated. If you have had to scrape out all of the grout from between the bathroom tiles due to mould, replace the grout with a special mould resistant anti-bacterial and anti-fungal version too.

Heating and Insulation

A heated towel rail will bring both style and heat to your bathroom. 

Mould grows more quickly in rooms which are cold, damp or not well insulated. If you are living in an older property which has poor insulation, addressing this can help stop the mould coming back. Investigate whether you can have cavity wall insulation, or if your bathroom is upstairs, whether loft insulation will help. There are often government grants available to help pay for this sort of work (take a look here for help in finding exactly the grant you need), and most types of loft insulation are easy to install yourself (we wrote an article about the different types of insulation). Think about replacing an old, draughty single glazed window with a double glazed unit, and if your bathroom is unheated, ask a plumber to quote for installing a simple radiator or heated towel rail to help keep the chill off the room and stop the mould from growing.