10 Strategies for Keeping Mold and Mildew from Growing in the Bathroom

Your bathroom should be a soothing oasis where you're able to relax in a hot bath after a long day. It's the place you go to wash your cares away, and one of the most essential rooms in your home. In the absence of the proper care, however, it can also be one of the most unsightly. Even clean bathrooms can fall prey to mold and mildew growth, as the damp, warm environment is the perfect place to encourage spores to flourish. Before you resign yourself to a life of daily scrubbing, consider these 10 tips for squashing mold and mildew at their source.

• Close the Shower Curtain– When you get out of the shower, make sure you're closing the curtain behind you to spread the material out and to prevent spore growth. An open shower curtain provides plenty of crevices and stagnant moisture for mold and mildew to grow, so simply closing the curtain after every shower to let it dry out can make a difference in the microbial population of your bathroom.
• Choose Bathroom Materials Carefully– There are some materials that are simply more fashionable than functional in the bathroom, so opt for mold- and mildew-resistant materials whenever you can. This is an especially important characteristic for shower curtains, bath mats and other porous materials. Check the label before you make a purchase; if something is clearly labeled as “mold- and mildew-resistant,” it's often a better choice than non-resistant options.
• Keep Bottles, Toys and Sponges Out of the Shower– Having your shampoo, shower gel and favorite loofah at arm's length is certainly convenient when you're showering, but those bottles, sponges and kids' tub toys can provide just enough of a hiding place for standing water to attract mold and mildew. Make sure that you're taking all of those items out of the bathtub when you're finished, or that they're not even slightly damp if they're left in the tub.
• Take Advantage of Exhaust Fans– Most bathrooms have exhaust fans, and they can be one of your most powerful allies against mold and mildew growth. Turn it on before you get in the shower and leave it running for about 20 to 30 minutes after you're finished to let it whisk the humidity from the air. It's wise to make sure that your fan is working by periodically covering it with a piece of paper. If the paper sticks to the fan when it's turned on, the fan is working. If the paper falls to the floor, your fan is in need of repair and is not pulling the humidity from the air in your bathroom.
• Don't Procrastinate When it Comes to Leaks– Leaks are par for the course when you're dealing with multiple water outlets in a bathroom, but they shouldn't be ignored. Even a minor leak can wreak major havoc in terms of mold and mildew growth, which can be very difficult to eradicate once it's gained a foothold. Make sure that you're promptly dealing with any leaky toilets, sinks, bathtubs, drains and pipes to keep mold and mildew out of your bathroom.
• Open the Windows– If there's a window in your bathroom that can be opened, make a point of doing so when you take a shower if weather allows. Even a small crack in the window can release much of the steam and moisture from a hot shower, reducing the dampness of your bathroom and making the area less hospitable to mold and mildew.
• Put Your Paint to Work– There are paint additives available that prevent microbial growth, many of which are specially intended for use in bathrooms, finished basements and other areas prone to high moisture levels. Springing for a supercharged paint allows you to freshen the look of your bathroom while simultaneously giving mold and mildew the old heave-ho.
• Consider a Dehumidifier– In order to prevent mold and mildew from taking up residence in your bathroom, consider the use of a dehumidifier. Humidity levels of 30% or less make for an inhospitable environment for mold and mildew spores, which can prevent them from spreading throughout your bathroom.
• Pay Attention to Towel Placement– If you toss a damp towel over a rack or the shower curtain rod to reduce laundry loads, make sure that you're spreading the towel out carefully to ensure that it's not overlapping or bunched in some places. The places where your towels touch themselves are perfect places for mold and mildew to start growing, which can help them gain a foothold in the rest of your bathroom.
• Know When to Call in the Pros– There are some times when all of the most stringent preventative measures can't keep mold out of your bathroom. It pays to know when a mold problem has surpassed the do-it-yourself correction level. Mold can exacerbate respiratory issues and allergies, so it's imperative that mold be eradicated as soon as possible after it's discovered. When a recurring mold problem seems to be too much to handle, it's wise to call in the professionals to correct it once and for all.