How to Prevent Mold in a Bathroom

Keeping the Bathroom Clean

Dust your bathroom at least once per week. Since dust is a food source for mold and mold spores travel by air to settle on any surface, you must dust everything in your bathroom regularly to prevent mold growth. Use a lightly dampened microfiber cloth to wipe all surfaces, starting high and working your way down to lower areas.

Spray all-purpose bathroom cleaner on all the surfaces in your bathroom weekly. Go over your bathtub, sinks, and toilet thoroughly with a microfiber cloth and all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Follow the directions on your cleaning product and allow the cleaning properties to disinfect bathroom surfaces completely before rinsing it down the drain or wiping it away.

Clean bathroom mirrors and windows with glass cleaner. Spray glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe your mirror and windows from top to bottom using an “s” pattern. Afterward, buff out any streaks left behind.

Wipe everything dry. Use a few paper towels to quickly retrace your cleaning steps to rid the bathroom of all moisture. Additionally, wipe any water lingering in the sink basin, in the tub, or on any other surfaces.

Wash shower curtain liners and bathroom rugs often. These items get wet every time they’re used, so it’s necessary to wash them and let them air dry every one or two weeks. Throw your plastic liner in the washing machine along with a load of whites, detergent, and a dash of baking soda. After it’s clean, hang the liner out so it can air dry. Wash your bathroom rug in the washing machine with cold water and a gentle laundry soap. Tumble the rug dry on the coolest heat setting possible.

Keep bathroom towels hung up. Avoid tossing towels onto the bathroom floor when you’re done using them. Doing this keeps your towels from drying and contributes to the moist environment which encourages mold growth. Install a towel rod, wall hooks, or door hooks, if you don’t already have designated hanging areas.

Eliminating Moisture Accumulation

Find and fix leaks in your bathroom. Feel around pipes and seals attached to the toilet and sinks in your bathroom for leaks. Make sure to do this regularly, because time makes all the difference when trying to prevent mold growth. If leaks are present, contact a plumber to repair them or take matters into your own hands by fixing them yourself.

Don’t keep loofahs, bath toys, or bathing products in the bath tub or shower. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, washcloths and similar items can give mold a potential place to hide. Wipe these items dry or squeeze all of the water out after each use and store them in a towel closet or somewhere else dry between showers.

Squeegee away excess water after showering. After each shower, go over the walls of the shower in a vertical swiping motion with a squeegee so that you can quickly and easily get leftover water into the drain instead of allowing it to cling to the walls. Keeping shower walls dry contributes greatly to creating a low level of moisture in the bathroom.

Seal grout lines in tile flooring annually. Apply a standard grout sealer to the spaces between your bathroom tiles each year to waterproof them. If at any point you have a particularly difficult time keeping your grout mold-free, you can also scrub it with bleach and a toothbrush or replace it completely by scraping it out with a flat screwdriver.

Providing Ventilation

Keep the exhaust fan on during and after your showers. The fan will help circulate air and reduce steam while you shower in addition to helping the bathroom to dry faster when you are finished. EXPERT TIP "When you're done showering, keep the fan on for 30 minutes and open a bathroom window, if you have one." Michelle Driscoll, MPH Michelle Driscoll, MPH Professional Cleaner Michelle Driscoll is a professional cleaner based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With over 7 years of experience, Michelle is the founder of Mulberry Maids, specializing in cleaning homes and small offices. Mulberry Maids services Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins and Loveland, and offers a variety of services, including commercial cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, and regular home cleaning. Michelle holds a Master's in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Michelle Driscoll, MPH Michelle Driscoll, MPHProfessional Cleaner

Open your bathroom windows and shut the door. Allowing fresh air to enter your bathroom will provide a better air flow and assist with drying the room more efficiently. Close the bathroom door to contain the moisture produced and open the bathroom windows while you bathe to naturally disperse it.

Lower the humidity with a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are a great choice for creating ventilation and preventing mold growth, especially if you live in a hot, humid climate. Dehumidifiers can make a huge difference by significantly reducing the amount of moisture in the air.

Turn on the air conditioner. Air conditioners not only cool down the air but also condition it by removing moisture. Install a window AC unit and keep the temperature a little cooler to create ventilation and prevent growth.

Leave the shower door or curtain open after showering. Leaving your shower open promotes evaporation and helps your shower dry out more quickly. Closing the door or curtain slows down the drying process, creating the kind of moist environment where mold and bacteria flourish.