7 things I learned when I removed mould from my bathroom ceiling
There are certain chores I hate having to do. Cleaning the oven – that’s definitely one; washing my duvet – that’s another. But one thing that always bothers me is removing mould.
As a type of fungus, mould appears wherever there’s excess humidity. That’s why it’s more likely to sprout in our homes, particularly our bathrooms, over the winter months. Due to a lack of ventilation as we try to retain our heat, moisture has less of a chance to escape, and mould is the result.
If you spot mould in your home, you should remove it as soon as possible. It releases spores, allergens and irritants into the air, which can cause respiratory issues and impact your health. So, you can imagine my gloom when I spotted mould on my bathroom ceiling…
Here’s how I tackled such an awkward chore and what I learned from removing mould from the ceiling.
1. It's important to track down the cause
Even if I make every effort to remove the mould, I need to find out what caused it in the first place – otherwise it’ll just grow back again. There are no leaky pipes in my building and I’m in a flat, so a leaky roof’s not the explanation either. In my case, I’m dealing with plain old excess humidity, so I need to improve the ventilation in my bathroom.
If your mould is a result of plumbing issues or leaks, you’ll need to get these repaired to put a stop to it. But if a lack of ventilation is the cause, small changes can really make a difference, such as opening windows, switching on the extractor fan and wiping down the shower to remove excess moisture.
2. You need to prep the space
A ceiling isn’t exactly an easy spot to clean, and if the mould is in the shower, as mine was, it’s even more awkward. I recommend using a stepladder where you can and having a second person on hand to steady you.
Wherever the mould is, it’s going to drip down as your clean it, so place a washable cloth below the area and move any upholstery out of the way beforehand. It’s a good idea to open a window and switch on the bathroom fan for ventilation, too, and if you can, place an air purifier nearby and switch it on to help catch any mould spores in the air as you clean. You don’t want mould to spread to the rest of your home either, so close any internal doors to seal off the space.
3. Your cleaner can splash back…
As you clean, you’ll dislodge mould spores, so it’s important to wear the recommended safety gear, including protective eyewear, a face mask to cover your nose and mouth, and long rubber gloves. It’s a good idea to wear clothes you can easily throw into the wash immediately afterwards, too.
If you’re dealing with mould on a ceiling, whatever you’re cleaning with could easily drip or splash back on to you, too. So I strongly recommend using distilled white vinegar to clean ceiling mould rather than bleach or a proprietary mould cleaner that contains bleach. Not only is it better for the environment, it’s safer for you, too.
4. The process is simple
You’ll need to make your own vinegar-based mould cleaner, but the good news is it’s actually really easy. Just combine distilled vinegar with water (1:1) in an empty spray bottle, then shake it to mix and you’re ready to go.
Spritz cleaner directly on to the mould until the area is covered. Make sure a window is open and you’re wearing the mask and eyewear while you do this; I got more on my face than I’d bargained for! The vinegar will make your bathroom smell temporarily, but you need to give the solution an hour to take effect.
5. No scrubbing is needed
When the time came to remove the mould, I was braced for the worst – I thought some serious scrubbing would be required. How wrong I was! All I needed was a sponge and a basin of warm water – I just wiped it over the mould residue and it came away with ease. I didn’t have to scrub at all; in fact, it’s better not to as you don’t want to damage the paintwork.
It couldn’t really have been much easier, although I recommend having someone on hand to hold the basin of water if you’re reaching from a ladder. And do make sure you’re rinsing often and wringing out the sponge or cloth well between uses, as you don’t want to saturate the ceiling and encourage more mould.
We were finished within a minute or two, and although there was still some discolouration to the ceiling paint, it wasn’t too noticeable unless you knew where to look. To get rid of this, I might need one more application; then, once it’s had a chance to dry, I can apply some anti-mould paint to help prevent a recurrence.
6. Dry as quickly as possible
You’ll want to speed up the drying process to prevent the mould from coming back. So remove any excess moisture by dabbing with a dry cloth (I used an old tea towel) and throw that straight in the wash afterwards. Leave your windows open or the extractor fan on to keep the space ventilated.
Everything you’ve worn, as well as the cloth on your floor, will need to be washed with biological detergent at the highest temperature recommended by the care label. The sponge or cloth you’ve used should be disposed of, as it can carry mould spores.
Give the floor a vacuum and surfaces a wipe once you’ve finished to pick up any lurking mould spores, especially from carpets.
7. A dehumidifier can really help
If your bathroom lacks windows, like mine does, a dehumidifier would be really useful to help to control mould growth in the future, as it works by sucking in the air, separating the water to be drained and pumping dry air back into the space. It will use energy as it does this, but most models now feature humidistats, so it will only run when the humidity’s above a certain level.
Unfortunately, mould can always come back, so you may have to revisit any problematic areas. If it does return, that’s a sign that you could have a leak or a structural issue, and repairs may be needed to fully remedy the problem. If you’re dealing with serious mould growth or you’re uncomfortable with removing it or struggle with respiratory issues, you’re better off calling in the professionals to handle its removal.
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