Does Your Bathroom Ceiling Have Black Mold?

If your bathroom has a sour odor, then the solution might be directly over your head. Most likely, your bathroom ceilings are the first place that your house will develop mold. Not people immediately notice and take action against mold, which gives mold the chance to spread to your grout and tiles. By the time it is discovered, black mold looks terrible and can pose health risks as well. Is black mold dangerous and what should do you do if you discover it?

Causes of Mold

The home’s bathroom is a very common area where mold first develops since a majority of bathrooms carry all the risk factors for the growth of mold, including the following:

– Oils
– Low lighting
– Low air circulation
– Warmth
– High humidity
– Water, dampness

Mold spores are around at all times, especially in the air, on surfaces, and in houses. The spores take advantage of all opportunities that they can find in order to grow and spread. A majority of bathrooms offer the perfect conditions for the growth of mold, especially on ceilings where moisture has a tendency to collect and where not many people clean on a regular basis.

Black Mold Dangers

Normal white and green mold might not affect you. Or they might cause wheezing and coughing, and exasperate obstructive chronic pulmonary disorder, allergies, and asthma. It has been found by new research that it is more likely for young children to develop asthma who have been exposed to mold. However, black mold might carry more serious risks, if it is a toxigenic mold such as a species of stachybotrys.

If your bathroom ceiling has black or a very dark green mold on it, then it is necessary to employ professional mold management. The tile grout and drywall of the ceiling will get infected with mold spores and have an unsightly look after the mold has been killed with an acid or disinfectant. The best long-term solution is removing the infected grout or drywall and replace it. In general, tile is a material that is less porous and normally can be salvaged.

Mold Prevention

Once your bathroom mold problem is solved, how can you prevent future mold problems from occurring?

The following are some effective ways to achieve this:

– After a hot shower, open the bathroom window
– Keep your bathroom door open in order to avoid heat build-up and humidity
– Clean with ammonia-based cleaners or bleach solutions (but don’t use both – in combination, they are toxic)
– Replace your bathroom’s lightbulb and only keep it on for a couple of hours per day
– Have a bathroom dehumidifier installed
– Have a bathroom fan installed
– Immediately handle leaking fixtures and faucets

Keep in mind that although you should promptly deal with all mold, health effects caused by mold exposure are actually very rare. So it isn’t necessary to panic. Just increasing air circulation and reducing humidity is normally sufficient to prevent mold from coming back. However, if you have a recurring mold problem, make sure you contact a mold removal specialist.