How to get rid of mold on the ceiling and walls of the bathroom?

Knowing how to remove mold from the ceiling and other parts of the room will not be out of place for any person. Indeed, probably, every housewife was faced with the appearance of this fungus at home, settling in damp places, especially in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

What is dangerous fungus and why does it appear?

Mold is a very tenacious organism. It actively spreads microscopic spores around itself, and even when it seems that it was finally possible to get rid of it, these spores are waiting for favorable conditions to begin to actively proliferate again.

Mold gradually corrodes not only plaster and paint, but even very durable concrete structures, as a result of which they gradually crumble, and in the worst case, may collapse at some point. In addition to the fact that the fungus spoils the appearance of the room and destroys some materials, it creates a musty smell in the room, can lead to pulmonary infections and allergic reactions.

The main condition for the occurrence of mold is dampness. The fungal spores are almost everywhere, but they do not multiply in a dry room, and in a wet room a couple of weeks will be enough for an ugly black spot of fungus to creep on the wall, ceiling or furniture.

Obviously, the bathroom in any case remains the rawest place in the apartment, nothing can be done about it. But often this is compounded by poor ventilation, leaking pipes, dripping taps and other additional sources of moisture.

Preventive measures

It is not enough to destroy the colony of the fungus once, it is important to create conditions for mold that are unfavorable for reappearance.

1. A heated towel rail helps to dry the air in the bathroom. If a water dryer is not initially provided, you can independently install an electric dryer and turn it on as needed.
2. If one of the walls is adjacent to the stairwell, then it should be additionally insulated to avoid the appearance of constant condensation.
3. All cracks and crevices on the walls and ceiling must be repaired as soon as they are discovered so that water vapor and mold spores do not accumulate there.
4. It is also important to maintain all pipes and taps in good condition so as not to create excess moisture.

If all the plumbing in the apartment is in good condition, the air is relatively dry, and there is still mold on the ceiling, then the problem may be in the pipe malfunction of the neighbors on the floor above.

Tip

To finish the bathroom, it is worth using plasters and primers containing antiseptic additives, to purchase finishing materials designed for use in damp rooms.

How to deal with fungus?

What to do if mold appears on the ceiling of the bathroom? In the most neglected case, a radical remedy may be required - remove all furniture, equipment, remove coatings, thoroughly dry the room with a powerful construction hairdryer. After this, the application of antifungal agents is necessary. As a rule, they are quite harmful to the body, so the work should be carried out in a protective suit. After complete drying, the impregnation can be done in the room repair.

But what if the repair in the bathroom was made recently and I don’t want to repeat it at all? Is there any way to get rid of mold on the ceiling without harming the fresh finish? Yes you can.

1. Mold can be removed from smooth surfaces such as tiles with any detergent and a hard sponge. With porous surfaces, everything is more complicated because the fungus penetrates deep into the structure of the material.
2. Any chlorine preparations are effective against fungus.It can be chlorine bleach (bleach, by the popular name), powders like Comet or special very aggressive anti-mold agents like Dufa. But the chlorine compounds in these products are very useless for the body, therefore it is better to work with gloves, protect the eyes with glasses, nose and mouth with a respirator or at least a dense tissue.
3. Chlorine-free household products are less harmful to humans and pets, but their effectiveness is significantly less, so they are mainly used as a prophylaxis.
4. Ammonium chloride is considered to be quite effective. It is diluted in approximately equal proportions with water, applied to the affected areas for several hours and washed off with water. However, in the hope of greater efficiency, in no case should ammonia be mixed with chlorine-containing agents, since poisonous substances are released during their reaction.
5. Vinegar is another good way to get rid of the fungus in the bathroom, while completely harmless to humans. Undiluted white vinegar is applied to the affected area with a rag or spray, left for an hour or two, then wiped with a clean cloth and dried. Also a safe, but very effective remedy is borax (a weak salt of boric acid - sodium tetraborate). It is used in solution - 1 cup of dry product for 2-3 liters of water. Apply to the surface with a brush.
6. Hydrogen peroxide, despite its completely harmless chemical composition, also helps to get rid of mold quite well. Undiluted peroxide is applied to the surface in any convenient manner. Since the product has a whitening effect, before use on colored surfaces it should be tested in an inconspicuous place on the ceiling.
7. A few tablespoons of baking soda (sometimes with vinegar) dissolved in a glass of water is a safe way to remove the fungus. The solution is applied with a spray, if necessary, rub the surface of the ceiling with a brush or a hard sponge, then wipe all the dirt.
8. The natural antiseptic that mold is very afraid of is tea tree oil. A few drops are dissolved in a cup of water and spray the affected area without rinsing. The tool can fight not only with mold itself, but also with the smell of dampness and mustiness accompanying it. However, oil should be used with caution if there are allergies in the house.
9. Also potentially allergenic, expensive, but very effective is an extract of citrus seeds (oranges, grapefruits, lemons).

If mold appeared on the joints sealed with sealant, then it is better to remove it, treat this area, dry thoroughly, and then use a sealant with antifungal additives.