Bathroom Mold

Mold loves to thrive in moisture, and no location in the home is quite as susceptible to getting damp as the bathroom.  Whether caused by water flowing from the sink, shower and toilet, tracked about by a careless inhabitant, or simply sprung from a leaking pipe, the moisture potential of the average bathroom is pretty substantial.  The heightened vulnerability of the bathroom to mold contaminants means that one should be extra careful about keeping the bathroom clean, orderly and functioning properly.

Fortunately for us, the total area of most bathroom mold is relatively small, and unlikely to cause harm to the average person.  Moldy bath tile growth typically manifests in between bathroom tiles or on their surfaces, and even on toilets and sinks that have accumulated organic dust and debris, or a coating of soap scum.  The mold species that usually takes up residence in the bathroom is Cladosporium, one of the less harmful types out there.

Nonetheless, surface damage, even that covering a small area, can conceal larger, more urgent mold concerns lying beneath.  For instance, if one looks behind bathroom wallpaper, particularly around the shower area, one may detect mold species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, which are inherently more harmful due to their capacity to discharge airborne particles.  Stachybotrys, the infamous “black mold”, is also likely to show up hidden beneath paper surfaces.  It would be prudent to conduct a thorough examination of the bathroom for potential mold hazards before declaring it absolutely to be a mold-minimal or mold-free zone.

Aside from behind wallpaper, it is recommended that one check wall cavities, where water is likely to seep in and leak into the wall.  It may be difficult to assess whether or not there is damage in this case unless the bathroom is equipped with an access panel to the shower or bathtub controls.  Bathroom vanity mold is another thing to watch out for, as it often grows under or behind bath vanity cabinets, whose uncoated surfaces are quite inviting to mold growth.  The situation is aggravated if the vanity is made of pressboard or chipboard. 

Wall insulation should be checked for mold growth, especially in bathrooms of poor ventilation.  Humidity and moisture can linger in a bathroom for a very long time if air is not allowed to circulate or escape properly.  You may think that marble is fairly resistant to organic infestation, but even drywall surfaces behind solid marble can attract mold growth.

Wet floors translate into persistent moisture, so it would be good to check the floor and adjoining wall areas in places where the floor gets wet constantly.  You may also want to look up, since bathroom mold has a tendency to creep up to the ceiling, where it may go overlooked. 

Aside from keeping an eye out for mold signs, keep your nose out for the distinct moldy odor.  If it stays around even after the bathroom seems to have been thoroughly cleaned, then mold is certainly thriving in some concealed location, in significant enough quantities to cause a strong smell.  You may have to tear up or remove furnishings or panels to get to the heart of the infestation.

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