Do you have pink, red, or orange stains in your shower? We explain what causes pink mold in the bathroom. Plus, we look at how to get rid of pink mold and offer tips to keep it from returning.
What Is Pink Mold?
The truth is, pink mold actually isn’t mold at all. While it’s often called pink or red mold, that pink slimy build-up is either Serratia marcescens and Aureobasidium pullulans bacteria. These bacteria leave a pink, orange, or red stain or slime on your bathroom tile or shower curtain. Despite being a bacteria, even most industry professionals still refer to it as mold.
What Causes Pink Mold in the Bathroom Shower?
Warm, humid air is the number one cause of pink mold, which is why it’s most common in showers and bathtubs. Most of us pull the shower curtain or door closed as soon as we get out of the shower, trapping in the humid air. It’s only a matter of time before pink or red mold grows in your bathroom.
Is Pink Mold Dangerous?
Thankfully, pink mold is not dangerous in most cases. Like all bacteria, it can cause infections. Respiratory infections are the most common health risk since you can breathe them in while showering.
It can also give you a skin infection if you have open wounds or eye infections if you touch it and then rub your eye. In rare cases, it can lead to urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal trouble.
How To Get Rid of Pink Mold
The best way to take care of the problem is by cleaning. While a thorough tub or shower cleaning will get rid of the pink mold, it won’t stop it from returning.
1. Wear Protection Just in Case
Even though this bacteria is not very dangerous, you should still take precautions to keep yourself safe. Wear rubber gloves, a face mask, and eye protection to prevent infections.
2. Throw Away Your Shower Curtain and Liner
Then start cleaning by throwing away your old shower curtain and liner. Since the bacteria can grow deep inside plastic, it will usually come back even with a thorough cleaning. If you have a fabric shower curtain, toss it in your washing machine.
3. Clean the Pink Mold
Next, clean your shower to get rid of the pink mold. While any general-purpose cleaner will work, half a cup of baking soda and a tablespoon of dish soap works just as well and is much less expensive.
Spray or pour the cleaner onto the shower and let it sit for fifteen minutes. Then scrub away the stains with a soft-bristle brush. Starting at the top of the stain and moving down makes cleaning easier.
4. Rinse Away the Soap
Rinse away the soap to see if the stains are gone. A hand-held shower wand works best, but you can also rinse it with a damp towel too. If it’s gone, move on to the next step. However, repeat step three if it’s still there.
5. Disinfect Your Shower
Even after cleaning away pink mold stains, the bacteria can live deep inside the grout or tile. You can help keep it from coming back by disinfecting your shower bleach. Mix equal parts bleach and warm water in a spray bottle, then spritz the shower walls, tub, and faucet hardware. Leave the bleach for at least ten minutes, up to half an hour.
6. Rinse and Dry Your Shower Walls
Now that you have killed the pink mold on the shower surface, rinse everything with water. Again, a hand-held shower wand works best. If you have to use a towel, use an old one since the bleach could stain it. Then dry your shower walls with either a rubber-bladed squeegee or fresh towels.
7. Hang a New Shower Curtain and Liner
Finally, you can hang a new shower curtain and liner. While plastic curtains and lines are less expensive, we recommend reusable fabric items. You can wash and reuse them as often as you like and they are extremely mold resistant.
Tips To Keep Pink Mold From Coming Back
Here are some tips to prevent pink mold from growing in your shower.
- Use your exhaust fan every time your shower
- Start the fan before you turn on the water
- Leave it running for at least thirty minutes afterward
- Use a squeegee to dry shower walls
- Leave the shower curtain or door open for ten minutes after showering to air it out
- Then close your shower curtain so it can dry thoroughly
- Wash machine washable shower curtains and liners once a week
- Clean and disinfect your shower every other week to kill mold and bacteria
While you can clean some molds on your own, other types of mold can cause bigger problems and more health risks. Let our expert mold specialists inspect your bathroom and remove the problem permanently. Call 888-681-1071 now for a mold assessment and a free quote on mold removal.
