There are thousands of types of mold. Mold spores travel through the air around us every day. Once these spores settle, they can reproduce in 24-48 hours. All they need is moisture and oxygen. Bathrooms and showers provide the perfect breeding ground for mold to grow.

Unlike mildew, which forms on surfaces, mold is a fungus that can penetrate porous materials. If you see black or green gunk in the corners of your tiles and caulking or dark spots along walls, you probably have mold.

Molds carry health risks, especially for people with acute illnesses and compromised immunity. We’ll show you how to clean mold in showers to avoid these health risks. We’ll also give tips for preventing mold in your bathroom and your home.

What Kind of Mold is in Your Bathroom?

Molds come in three different classifications:

Allergenic: Causes an allergic reaction or asthma-like symptoms.
Pathogenic: Harmful to people with acute illness or compromised immunity.
Toxigenic: Dangerous or even deadly to everyone.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell different kinds of the mold apart. Black mold in showers could be Stachybotrys – the most toxic “black mold” – but it could be Alternaria or Aspergillus, two common household molds.

You can have your mold tested to determine what variety it is, but the CDC recommends treating all molds as harmful. It’s best to remove and clean any mold as quickly as possible.

8 Steps to a Mold-Free Shower

To fully get rid of black mold in your shower, orange mold in your shower, and mold in shower grout, use a cleanser specifically designed for mold. While bleach is often touted as the best way to get rid of mold, it doesn’t fully address the problem. Bleach is good at removing mold stains and surface mold, but it doesn’t kill fungus that has soaked in.

If you prefer not to use a commercial detergent, you can create a 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water or white vinegar and water to kill deep-rooted mold.

You will need:

Cleaner
Spray bottle
Rubber gloves
Cleaning cloth
Scrub brush with stiff bristles
Toilet paper or paper towel
Bleach
Vinegar

To perform a thorough cleaning, follow these steps:

Spray down all affected areas of the shower with detergent or cleaning solution.
Let soak for 20 minutes-hour.
Apply rolled paper towel or TP in cracks and along tub rim to keep cleanser soaking against mold.
Scrub vigorously with a brush.
Rinse and wipe with clean water.
Scrub any stained areas with bleach.
Rinse and wipe.
Spray with white vinegar and let dry.

The final step is a preventative. White vinegar inhibits mold from growing and will reduce the chance of mold returning to your shower.

If you have significant mold growth or are worried that you have toxic mold, consult a professional remediator. Don’t take on large mold projects yourself.

Never paint or caulk over moldy walls/ cracks. You won’t stop the mold from reproducing or being a health risk. Replace old moldy caulk with new, mold-resistant caulking.