Bathroom and Kitchen Mold
It is common to find mold-causing water leaks in the toilet water supply and drain lines or the toilet itself, bathroom sink water supply and drain lines or the sink itself, or the bathtub-shower area [from openings in the tile or due to water leaks in the tub-shower water supply and drain lines in the wall and floor]. These bathroom water problems allow water penetration into the bathroom walls and floor, thus facilitating large scale mold growth, which can spread internally through walls, ceilings, and floors, and from the air current movement of airborne mold spores thrown into the air by the bathroom mold infestation. You may need to inspect inside the walls and floor with fiber optics inspection through a small opening you make in either side any walls or floors with visible or suspected mold growth. Learn how at Mold Inspection and
Mold Testing.

   Spout Mold Growth

Q. Jan. 4, 2012.  I have a Brizo vesi channel faucet which has the spout coming out almost horizontally and the tip of the faucet is sliced to show the water coming out like a waterfall.  The problem seems to be that the channel or the spout is almost at 90 degrees from the base and the water does not completely drain after use.  There is always standing water on the spout and I have to brush the spout to prevent mold growth. I'm concerned that I'm not getting all the mold in the back where the brush doesn't reach.  During the warmer months I brush the spout every day.  When I first discovered black slimy thing come out of the faucet, I was horrified.  We do not drink from this faucet but we do brush our teeth. Any suggestion how I can treat this problem other than replacing the faucet?  The manufacturer says they did extensive study before marketing and they did not encounter mold growth in the spout.  We have chlorine treated city water.

A.  Be sure to read my recent blog entry below about dangerous to health Fusarium mold growing in sink drain pipes (not the same as spout location you ask about, but same idea of water-borne mold growth in the sink area). You are wise to worry about likely mold growth inside the spout. My suggestion is that at least monthly you spray boric acid powder mixed into hot water into the spout and let the boric acid powder mix work for at least 10 minutes inside the spout. Use the pressure of a hand-pumped garden sprayer to inject the boric mix deep into the faucet plumbing. Then, run water to rinse out the spout. Then repeat the process several more times. The use of boric inside the spout will make it mold safe for your water for brushing your teeth, etc. You can buy boric (e.g., one pound is fine) at http://www.moldmart.net.  If I can be of further service, please email me. Thanks, Phillip Fry, Certified Environmental Hygienist  

              Mold Prevention
 
Do-it-yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing, & Remediation Guide

The ebook Do-It-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing & Remediation enables you [or others working under your directions] to do your own mold repairs on your home or other real estate property so that: (1) you can be assured that the mold-related work was done both safely and effectively; (2) you protect your family's health and the value of your home or other property; and (3) you get your property mold work done at a small fraction of the cost of hiring so-called "mold professionals" to do the mold necessary mold prevention, inspection, testing, and remediation. This book is extremely valuable and helpful to you even if you plan to hire a Certified Mold Inspector or Certified Mold Remediator to do the work because you need to know precisely what steps and procedures are required to be done by the contractor or remediator to achieve safe and effective mold remediation. More information...


Bathroom wall mold growth.

Severe mold growth in the bathroom floor underneath the pulled back carpeting.

Serious wall mold problem on the surface, and likely inside the bathroom wall next to the bathtub.

Yes, the mold is actually growing inside the bathroom wall. This is the same area opened up shown in the photo on left.

Mold growth on and probably inside the wall next to the tub-shower fixture.

Large scale mold growth inside a bathroom shower.

 

Bathroom Mold Questions & Answers

         Q. My home is three years old and I have a problem in my walking glass shower enclosure. I have black mold growing behind the clear silicon caulk in the shower enclosure frame at the bottom of the door frame. I have tried everything in the super market (even a Clorox-water solution). I have injected these products in the drain holes at the bottom section of the door frame as this is the only way I can get behind the silicon caulk. Help! Do you have any suggestions? [Nov. 8, 2005]
        A. Remove and discard the caulking. Then inspect and test the wall at the back side of tile lines for possible mold infestation. It is very common for showers to have leaks into the walls and floor behind and beneath the shower. You may need to open up the shower walls from the backside of the shower area [such as a common wall with a hallway, bedroom, or closet] for very thorough mold inspection and testing. If you find no evidence of mold infestation inside the walls and floors, re-caulk the tile lines When washing the shower surface, clean with Borax laundry detergent, a natural mold cleaner, in warm water. You should also mold test the air of the bathroom by using do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store. Also use a digital hygrometer [$30 from a large hardware or home improvement store] to check your bathroom before and after showers for high humidity [50 to 60 percent upward] that by itself can cause mold growth. While taking a bath or shower, be sure you are running a strong bathroom exhaust fan directly vented to the outdoors to quickly remove moisture-laden air. Read the 25 steps for safe and effective mold remediation

         Q. I have a bath with black all around the tub and underneath the caulking.  I have removed and cleaned twice and it keeps coming back. Now that I have read all the side effects to mold, I think I might have an allergy to it. Is there someone in the St. Louis area that is in the "mold business"? Also does your do it yourself test kits include the dangerous black mold test? [June 25, 2003]
         A. You may have a water leak INSIDE your bathroom wall or floor that enables the mold to grow and to keep re-appearing. Alternatively or in addition to a water intrusion problem, you may also have too high a humidity in the bathroom [above 60% humidity level enables mold to grow], thus enabling mold to grow.. During and after tub baths and showers, you should be running an exhaust fan that exhausts the humid bathroom air directly to the outside. Be sure your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans exhaust air directly to the outside and NOT [as is frequently found] into wall cavities, floor cavities,  the attic, the basement, or into a crawl space. Exhaust fans can put large amounts of moisture-laden air into such areas, and thus cause serious mold growth and problems. You can read all about mold inspection, mold testing, and removing bathroom mold on the how to, informative pages of Mold and Mold Inspector. Use do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store.

Helpful Environmental Websites

 |Caribbean Mold Inspection | Certified Hygienists Directory | Certified Mold Inspectors Directory | Condominium Mold Inspection | Environmental Products | Environmental Hygienist Training | Factory Mould Inspection |Government Building Mold Inspection | Hospital Mold Inspection | Hotel Mold Inspection | Inspector Del Molde | Los Angeles Mold Inspection | Mesa Mold Inspection | Miami Mold Testing | Mold Inspector Training | Mold Inspection | Mold Inspector | Mold Inspector Training | Mold Products and Services | Mold School | Mold Training | Mold Training And Certification | Office Mold Inspection |Orange County Mold Inspection | Public Building Mold Inspection | Sacramento Mold Inspection | San Diego Home Inspection | San Diego Mold Inspection | San Francisco Mold Inspection | San Jose Mold Inspection | School Mold Inspection |Seattle Washington Mold Testing | Seattle Mold Inspection | Senior Housing Mold Inspection | Southern California Mold Inspection | Store Mold Inspection | Toxic Mold Inspection | Toxic Mold Inspector | Warehouse Mold Inspection | Male Performance Supplement | Dietary Supplements | Natural Supplements | Tongkat Ali |