What to do when you find black mold in your bathroom?

No homeowner wants to find out that his or her house, their safe haven, has something wrong with it. However, some problems should never be ignored. When it comes to the bathroom areas in your home, there is one particular threat that you need to watch out for black mold. 

What is black mold?

Stachybotrys chartarum, more commonly called black mold, is a serious problem. Though it may look similar to every other type of dark mold, there are some distinguishing features of black mold. The first is that black mold often has a slimy appearance. Black mold will also have a dark-green or slightly gray color to it.

Where does black mold grow?

Black mold often grows in places where there has been a water leak hidden from view.  This could be a leak inside the walls, above the ceiling, under floors, or by windows, especially on the seal between the window and the frame.  Since black mold needs a lot of moisture for a long time before it can grow, drying wet surfaces, reducing humidity, and regular cleanings are suggested.

Health issues caused by black mold

The toxins released by this particular strain of mold are hazardous to a person’s health and can result in homeowners having to make serious repairs. The neurotoxins in the black mold are called trichothecene mycotoxins and can cause things like confusion, dizziness, hallucinations, numbness, and many more harmful side effects. When humans breathe in the spores, they may experience any of these symptoms. Prolonged exposure to black mold spores may even lead to the development of asthma or other respiratory issues, bleeding in the lungs and nasal passages, swelling of the lungs and other serious issues. The list of health issues that black mold can cause is extensive and slightly frightening.

What should you do?

Finding black mold is not necessarily the end of your beloved bathroom. You can remove and prevent surface regrowth by applying black mold removal chemicals and utilizing moisture absorbers in the affected areas. However, because black mold is so dangerous to humans, it is strongly recommended that you hire a professional to assist you with removal or remediation efforts. If black mold is appearing on your bathroom surfaces, it has likely already taken hold of your sheetrock and requires more attention than a topical cleaner. If black mold has taken over too much of your bathroom for removal to have any effect, it’s time to consider a bathroom remodel. This is an opportunity for home redesign experts to safely and effectively remove all black mold and to give you the bathroom of your dreams. 

Please keep in mind, that there are also instances where mold is suspected but cannot be seen.  In this case, you can hire an industrial hygienist to do testing in the area.  If black mold is found, the only 100% foolproof way to get rid of it is to completely gut the space and start fresh.  A precaution you can take when redoing your bathroom should be to make sure your bathroom has proper ventilation and if you don’t have one, install an exhaust fan for use when you shower or bath.  Since mold and moisture are all around us, especially on Long Island as we are surrounded by water, home dehumidifiers can drastically help your home.

Black mold commonly collects in areas that retain moisture, such as window sills, around sinks, and in the grout of showers and tubs.

As a homeowner, pay close attention to the areas in your bathroom where black mold may grow. If you discover its presence, act immediately to prevent further spread and to keep your family safe. If you discover that the cost of removal is too high or that the mold has grown too extensively in the area, perhaps you should take advantage of a bad situation and remodel the bathroom of your dreams. 

To learn more about bathroom remodels, click the link below.