Need advice on how to stop mold spots on bathroom Ceiling.

Question

My sister's bathroom grows mold little black spots on the ceiling. She says when they take a shower the ceiling is wet from the moisture. There is NOT a vent in the ceiling. She is on disability and very limited budget. Is there a way to remove it and some kind of paint the prohibits mold growth? any thoughts? Thanks

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Cleaning the space with a dilute bleach solution will help things initially.  For longer term results a combined approach is needed.  The first part of that is to paint with a mold and mildew resistant paint, the second part is to reduce the moisture levels.  This can be done with venting and /or insulation.

Insulation can reduce the 'condensate effect' of the humid air condensing on the ceiling.

'Raven E · Answer

both good advice, i just had to tear down my shower because of mold, i live in a lake cabin and the previous owner had just framed one out of wood, please Please... do as much as you can, the antimacrobial paint would be good because it prevents mold. If you dont you could end up like me needing to rebuild the whole rotted bathroom

'Raven E · Answer

the paint i got was both concrete sealant, waterproof and antimacrobial which stops the mold. I would look for something similar

Debi E · Answer

I had the same issue but keep the window open just a bit helped

Karen V · Answer

Good ventilation is the key.  If she can't put in a vent, then at least use a fan (of the plug-in variety, keeping it well away from the bath or sink) to disperse the air either out a window or into the rest of her living space.  It should be on for 15 or 20 minutes after she showers.  Having a cold ceiling will cause condensation, so if she can insulate from an attic space above, she'd cut down on mold too.

Marguerite S · Answer

I had an issue with a moldy smell in my downstairs bathroom.  I bought Damp rid and the smell went away. I guess it sucks up the moisture in the room. I really worked.

Debi R · Answer

During a town flood here in small town USA, I found out that cleaning with bleach only begin the process. Scrub with a toothbrush with bleach, allow to dry. Mix up a borax /water paste, and scrub with that. Borax actually gets into porous materials and kills mold spores. Follow thru with mildew resistant paint. I used BIN.

Lynne B · Answer

We had this problem and I used a mold clearer and the paint but I still get it in the corners so I am looking into getting more powerful lights as well.

Angela G · Answer

Great advice. I had mold in back of my toilet in the wall. I ripped it out and treated the area with bleach and replaced the damaged pieces of sheet rock with new sheet rock. No more mold.  My suggestion is also to keep the area dry. After you take a shower dry off the ceiling and leave the door open and windows if you have one to get the air circulating in the room. Also a little secret Borax cleans mold and also prevents mold. I use it in my bathroom to clean the shower tile. I never have a problem with mold in the shower.

Angela G · Answer

http://www.ehow.com/how_5564625_use-borax-kill-mold.html

Julie C · Answer

We just bought a forclosed farmsite. The house has significant mold in the basement. So, I am learning a lot about mold. Mold spores are in the air, so you cannot rid the house of mold. But, you can rid the house of growing mold. Mold needs heat, a food source (anything organic like common household dust, wood, the paper on dry wall) and water in order to grow. The only thing we can control really is the water. Bleach will kill mold on a NON POROUS surface. But, it will not work on the porous surface. It doesn't penetrate the surface. However, the water in the bleach can penetrate the surface and feed behind the scene, hidden growth. The solution to the problem is solving the water problem. If someone can't install a vent fan for her, I would try a small area dehumidifier.

Kathleen S · Answer

We had the same problem in our old fanless bathroom.  We did all of the above plus my husband cut an inch off the bottom of the bathroom door to impove venilation.  We kept the door open when not in use.  Removing all  clutter from the tub area allowed it to dry faster and clean easier.

Anna M · Answer

Mold is nothing to fool with it can lead to serious health problems. Check out Chris Fabry's mold story online.

Miriam M · Answer

Spray it with straight bleach, walk away,if you scrub it, it will spread because it is a spore. You can then purchace a paint specifically for bathrooms that has an additive in it for mold. Hope this helps. Also if she were to find a handyman in her area, she could get a vent put in for much cheaper than an electrician as long as the handyman knows what he/she is doing.

Shirley T · Answer

What is Damp rid?  And where can I buy it?  Have mold around my toilet on the tiles and tried everything.  Please let me know.  Thanks.

Susan H · Answer

I keep a spray bottle of bleach and when I see the tiny mold spots I immidiately spray the bleach on it and get the heck out of the bathroom!

Rhonda A · Answer

Just keep it sprayed with a diluted bleach solution... I also make herbal infusions of rosemary, lavender lemon and vinegar (w a little pine oil in it too)...great for that, germs, bugs or cleaning as well as controlling that black spot issue.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Shirley T...Damp rid is a container of pellets that absorb moisture...a desiccant....these work for a time but would need to be replaced on a regular basis as they treat the symptoms not the cause.  They are good at keeping rust at bay is say a closed up tool box or some small contained area...but their regular use as a whole room system is not the best way to go. An active system like AC or a dehumidifier is more effective route.

HandyANDY - Handyman & All Repairs, LLC · Answer

Bleach doesn't kill mold...it just knocks it down.  Microban will kill mold spores on contact and is the industry standard.  Spray the walls & ceiling down with Microban....let dry and then repaint with Zinser Mildew-proof bath paint.  This will be carried by most Ace hardware stores or can be ordered through them.  The big box stores don't carry it.  I have a client we use this product on every 10 years....it retards mildew for about 8 from our experience with the product.  This client doesn't have a vent fan in the bath and he refuses to open a window

Debbie E · Answer

Thanks for that advice, really good to know.

Dorothy A · Answer

Be sure the mold isn't coming from underneath the wall.  This is frequently the way mold grows so just spraying and having it momentarily disappear may not solve the health issue involved.  Also there are different types of mold and some are more dangerous than others.  You could call local health department about that.

Jackie M · Answer

There is a particular ratio of water and bleach for mold.. something about enzymes ??? A mold specialist told me this before.. If I can find the recipe and instructions I'll post them..

Kathy R · Answer

We had this problem. Our house is 60 years old. We had old 1970's popcorn ceiling in the bathroom with gloss paint over it EWWW. No exhaust fan, central a/c. Tried in vain using bleach sprays etc.

This is how we fixed it...... We threw 3 grown kids out of the house because they were the ones using that bathroom. Now it rarely gets used so no moisture. :)  LOL Joking.

Seriously, we scrapped the popcorn off the ceiling by wetting it down lightly with water, sanded and let it dry out, sealed it with oil based primer, installed an exhaust fan, put up sealed bead board. No mold since. She needs an exhaust fan period, they are not expensive and can be installed easily and wired to the light switch.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Modern tech now allows you to put the fan on a simple timer switch...this can be from 10 to 60 min...this way once your out of the room the fan will continue to run...but then automatically shut off.

Janell D · Answer

There is a product that is eco-friendly sold at Home Depot 'Concrobium Mold Control' and I used it this season in our hot tub when the antifreeze used during the winter ended up creating mold throughout the spa tub this spring due to the warmer temps.  Believe that one!  Anyway, I was introduced to this product and was thoroughly impressed.  The active ingredient is molds natural enemy unlike bleach which only lightens mold making you 'think' it's gone. I highly suggest trying this product.  It's so safe to use that you don't need to wear gloves or anything.  Hope this helps.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

This concrobium product has been discussed here before...its basically a collection of perfumed salts....the effectiveness of its control on mold is a bit iffy in the 'science dept'. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/q-i-live-in-an-apt-and-have-mold-coming-out-of-my-ac-vent-the-management-company-is-96980

Beth H · Answer

i get the damp rid at the Dollar Tree, i have the same problem and it really works, i use them in my basement, at a dollar a piece i buy 15 and use 2 in the bathroom and the rest in the basement, if i don't? the basement smells musty

Seth Fiddle · Answer

I have black mold growing on the ceiling and in the shower. My wife takes long showers and I have three young daughters who shower in our bathroom as well. There is no ventilation fan or window to open. I think it might be a little better in the summer when we use the A/C. Every time I clean it it returns and is getting really bad. I don't know if it is a health issue but It certainly looks scary if not unsightly. Aside from the solutions to remove that I've read here and the paint that is more resistant and using damprid to alleviate it, is there any other way to ventilate? Would a dehumidifier help? Help!

Eleanor Mcnealley-cain · Answer

use spray bottle with Vinegar. after shower set fan in room to air room out, or get a de midifier, i live in an area where one is needed, run it 24-7 & have to empty water in a.m & p.m.

Darla · Answer

It will really help if after you get rid of the mold, you get a dehumidifier to use in the bathroom. We don't have a vent, due to the wonderful homeowners association who won't let us vent through the front of the house, so that's what we did.

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