Black mold, which can sometimes be seen in the bathroom, not only spoils the appearance of the finish, but is also very dangerous to health. The presence of this fungus can cause rhinitis, bronchial asthma and even pneumonia in residents. Where does the black mycelium come from, and is it possible to avoid its appearance?
The constant humidity in the bathroom is due to the direct purpose of this room: steam and water drops settle on the walls every time after taking a shower. Over time, moisture accumulates in the cracks of the finishing elements, under the decorative border, behind the skirting board and in other inconspicuous hidden places. There begins the reproduction of fungal organisms, which gradually capture an increasing area of wet surfaces.
Why does mold appear?
Consider the main causes of the fungus.
The lack of ultraviolet radiation
Mold dies from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, so the lack of sunlight in the room can be one of the reasons for the appearance of the fungus. In old houses, you can still find bathrooms with a window to the kitchen. As it turns out, it was not put on the whim of Soviet architects, but just so that at least sometimes sunlight penetrated into the humid room.
Poor ventilation
Unfortunately, the air vent located in the bathroom does not always work properly. As a result, the moist air can not get out, and the condensate remains in the room, provoking the development of mold. However, it also happens that regular ventilation, even if it works well, simply can not cope with the removal of a large amount of moisture. The result is still the same-the appearance of harmful microorganisms.
Finishing without special tools
When dealing with bathroom cladding, builders sometimes forget to treat it with antibacterial compounds. It is necessary to carry out such processing before the beginning of finishing works, and not in their process. The latter is a gross mistake. The antiseptic should have time to absorb into the surface of the walls before they begin to be covered with finishing materials.
Preventive measures
There are several such measures. The main thing is to get rid of excess moisture.
Efficient air exchange
If passive ventilation is not good enough to remove moisture, you need to install another one — forced. In addition, it is advisable to install an electric heated towel rail in the room. Together with the heating battery, it will provide a drier microclimate.
After a long time of taking water procedures, it is recommended to ventilate the sanitary cabin. For this purpose, a door is opened in the bathroom, and a window or window pane is opened in one of the rooms.
Joint sealing
The cracks between the bathroom and the wall, as well as between the wall and the sink, should be carefully sealed with a sealant. Otherwise, moisture will accumulate in these places, which will inevitably lead to the formation of mold. Before starting work, the walls behind the plumbing equipment should be wiped dry with a rag or any other soft cloth that absorbs water well.
The lack of wet underwear
Clothes and bed linen are best dried not in the bathroom, but on the balcony. And if it is not-in the living room on a special dryer. In this case, the laundry will dry faster, and the humidity in the bathroom will not be as high. Unfortunately, few people follow this rule, although it is not difficult at all.
Getting rid of mold
To remove the mycelium, we will use tools and effective chemical agents.
Remove the old coating
If the black mycelium still began its victorious march, then it is too late to create the right microclimate: first you need to get rid of the invader. Most often, the fungus appears on plastered or painted surfaces, sometimes on self-adhesive wallpaper or at the joints between them. In any case, you will have to completely remove the entire finish.
Armed with a sharpened spatula, we will remove the old layer of paint or plaster from the walls up to the bare concrete. We will do the same with decorative film. The remaining mold spots in some places will be cleaned with fine-grained sandpaper. Now all the surfaces must be treated with a special composition.
We process the walls
For processing, both professional preparations and the simplest and cheapest means are used — for example, copper vitriol, 100 g of which must be dissolved in 10 liters of water. It is easy to buy in any store for gardeners.
Apply the solution to all the walls and affected areas with a regular paint brush. Do not allow vitriol (as well as any other means) to get on the skin of your hands, so you need to work in protective gloves.
Undiluted table vinegar is also suitable. We spray it on the walls, using a spray gun. After an hour, wash off the vinegar with a foam sponge, abundantly soaked in water.
Another well — known remedy is a ready-made solution of hydrogen peroxide. Treatment with this composition is carried out, as well as with table vinegar, although there is no need to wash off the hydropyrite.
If we are talking about tile joints, then mold is well removed from them with a solution of chlorine. To prepare it, mix the bleach with water in a ratio of 1: 1.