Finding mold developing in your bathroom is one of the worst things you can encounter. But thankfully, there are a variety of strategies you can employ to avoid mold growing. Be aware of your particular bathroom’s setup to identify ways that you can prevent it in your home.
Improve the Ventilation
Improving ventilation is a great place to start when preventing mold from developing in your bathroom. Start by inspecting your bathroom fan if you have one. And if you don’t, get one! Listen to your fan when you turn it on—does it sound strong? Place your hand next to it. Do you feel any air actually circulating? Doing this can help you get a better grasp on how it’s functioning and if it needs to be repaired.
You should also get into the habit of leaving the bathroom door open after finishing a shower in order to let fresh dry air circulate into the bathroom.
Use Water-Resistant Materials
Using water-resistant materials wherever possible in your bathrooms is a great idea. There are a variety of materials that you should avoid because they are not water-resistant like wallpaper, wood paneling, and grout. Things like wallpaper can warp as a result of moisture and can even trap that moisture behind the paper and in the wall.
Water-resistant drywall is ideal for bathrooms and other rooms that get exposed to moisture. Water-resistant drywall is made with a gypsum material that stays dry for longer and will help prevent moisture from sticking around in and on your bathroom walls.
Eliminate Standing Water
In addition to using water-resistant materials, try to eliminate standing water whenever possible. If you notice water pooling at the base of your walk-in shower or if water collects on your tub, get in the habit of wiping it clean frequently.
If it keeps persisting, have an expert look at the area to determine if there are any structural problems. Try to address drainage issues promptly so that you don’t run the risk of mold developing.
As you work to prevent mold, make sure you not only look at the specifics of each bathroom but that you also consider your home at large. Do you live in a humid environment? How frequently do you use a bathroom? Depending on the answers to these questions, you might need to alter your approach to mold prevention a bit by using more broad approaches to preventing resting moisture.
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