The Part Of Your Home That's Most Likely To Have Mold (And How To Clean It)

Spring is officially here, and for many, that means it's time to don our gloves and grab the cleaning supplies. Spring cleaning shouldn't just involve scrubbing every nook and cranny, though. To ensure a clean and safe home, we should also add "look for mold" to our seasonal checklist. As for the one place you should always inspect first, it's got to be the bathroom.

Mold spores need two main components for growth: food and moisture. When it comes to our bathrooms, both of these can be in abundance if we don't take steps to remove them. These rooms can have plenty of food options for mold in the form of dust, skin cells, and other organic particles. As for moisture, between the shower, tub, sink, and toilet, water abounds in bathrooms too.

By taking a close look and inspecting the space during spring cleaning, we can ensure our bathrooms remain safe havens. 

Specific places in the bathroom are highly prone to mold growth. These are the three areas you should prioritize during your inspection: 

When it comes to the toilet tank, the lid is heavy, but it's not hermetically sealed. That's pretty much a fancy way of saying that it doesn't allow for much air exchange. If mold starts growing inside of the tank, that typically means there are enough spores in the air that some were opportunistically able to get into this location. It's not impossible for a lucky spore to make it inside of the toilet, but it's far more likely that a mold colony elsewhere is pumping spores into the indoor air of the home. 

To avoid this, grab a flashlight and take a close look at the entire space underneath the sink or sinks in the bathroom. Look for current mold growth and potential issues that could lead to growth, like worn or leaking pipes.

While deep-diving into bathroom(s) cleaning, take a close look at the grout in the tub or shower to see if there are any signs of mold. Also, check for any issues that could lead to growth. Misaligned tiles, aged grout, lack of cleaning, and poor grouting practices can all allow for moldy opportunities. 

If the mold comes right back, it could indicate a larger issue that requires a professional. Hiring a mold inspector to come in can help determine if there's a hidden problem elsewhere.

Inspecting bathrooms during your spring cleaning is a great way to ensure these rooms are safe and contaminant-free, and it's good practice to keep up with throughout the year. The more indoor mold growth we can avoid, the healthier our living spaces will be, and the more they'll promote our ongoing well-being.