How to remove mold and bacteria from bathroom surfaces - The Washington Post

Q: How do I remove mold and orange scum from the grout and other surfaces in my shower?

A: Mortar, a cementitious material, is porous. When you shower, it absorbs moisture and often stays wet for a long time. Add soap scum and it's an ideal environment for mold and pink or orange scum, especially if the gasket isn't completely smooth and sloped properly to allow water to drain quickly.

Mold and fungus are often used interchangeably; Both terms refer to fungi that grow on surfaces that remain wet for long periods of time, especially if the surface is covered with some of the many things that fungi can feed on, such as soap scum and residue from shampoos and conditioners. The foam, often referred to as "pink mold", is a species of bacteria, Serratia marcescens . You can find these two growths in grout or at the bottom of a shower curtain.

Mold and bacteria can cause health problems, but the small amounts that grow in grout and shower curtains are more of a cosmetic concern. However, this is not irrelevant. Nobody wants to start the day with that.

You may be able to get rid of the pink or orange suds simply by pouring in some carbonated water and then brushing the grout with a damp old toothbrush. Sparkling water helps flush out bacteria. For even more cleaning power, you can use hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 3%.

How to clean your bathroom in 10 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour

But sparkling water and hydrogen peroxide are probably not enough to kill mold. Since you're dealing with both issues, consider using chlorine bleach, which kills both types of organisms and removes color. The challenge is getting the bleach solution into all those little grout sections and holding it there for at least a few minutes so it can do its job.

Choose a day when you can open a window to reduce the amount of bleach fumes you inhale. If you wear safety goggles, gloves, and old clothes that you don't mind getting splattered with bleach, you should prepare a cup or two of a cleaning solution of 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 cup water. Using an old toothbrush, apply the solution to the grout, starting at the top and working your way down and across in an irregular pattern. Wait at least 10 minutes before flushing.

If you have areas that look particularly dirty, keep the bleach solution in place by moving short pieces of toilet paper and using your toothbrush to press them against the soiled areas when they are loaded with the bleach solution. The damp cloth should stick. Leave it on for about half an hour, then scrape off the pads with your toothbrush and dispose of them in a container that you can empty and flush down the toilet with the remaining bleach solution. If you have a septic tank and have been warned against using bleach, don't worry. How much you mixed shouldn't be a problem, even if you had to pour it all down the drain.

You can use plain water to rinse bleach residue from grout, but sparkling water can be even more effective. When you're done, close the bathroom door but leave the window open to dissipate the smell.

If the stains persist, it could be something else, like sticky residue from oily detergents or hair conditioner. The Tile Council of North America recommends using an alkaline cleaner such as Spic and Span or Mr. Clean over an acid-based product as acids will break down the cement in the mortar. The association also suggests trying an enzymatic cleaner that removes stains like clothing. (You can use the same formula for both.) The association warns against using oil-based cleaners like Murphy Oil Soap or Pine-Sol because they can leave a residue.

Alkaline cleaners can also leave residue if not rinsed off well. But how can you do that without spilling water on your bathroom floor? "The best way to clean grout is to apply the cleaner and then vacuum up the dirty water," the association explains . "It lifts dirt out of the joint. Apply rinse water and siphon off this water. This will remove any remaining soap film. However, be sure to use a wet-dry vacuum designed for liquids; It's probably not the kind you use to clean floors. Read the Association's full guide to cleaning tile and grout after cleaning on its website tcnatile.com .

A problem at home? Send your questions to localliving@washpost.com . Put "How To" in the subject line, let us know where you live and try to include a photo.

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