Is Pink Mold in Shower Dangerous and How to Fight Back
Have you been noticing a slimy pinkish-orange stain in and around your shower lately? If yes, it’s likely a case of pink mold.
Similar to black mold, but less troublesome, pink mold most commonly affects damp spaces like the corner of your shower stall. But don’t be fooled by its innocent color, this mold can be stubborn and painful to get rid of if not treated on time.
So is pink mold in the shower dangerous?
Let’s start with the basics.
What Is Pink Mold?
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Pink mold is a slimy buildup that’s often the result of bacterial (serratia marcescens) or fungal growth (aureobasidium pullulans). As these bacteria and fungus grow they produce a pigment that can appear pink, orange, or red.
There are other things that can cause pink mold but these two are the most likely culprits that affect your shower and bathspace.
What Can Cause Pink Mold?
Pink mold thrives in moisture-rich environments and feeds off of fatty substances, such as soap residue. So it’s little wonder why it takes up residence on your bathroom walls, shower curtains, and faucets.
These places are most likely to be damp and retain residues from your bath products — an ideal landing strip for the bacteria to settle.
Therefore an unclean or damp bathroom can become the breeding ground of pink mold.
Is Pink Mold In Shower Dangerous?
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It can be.
The pink mold in your shower might not be as big of a health hazard as black mold, but it can cause pretty serious damage.
If left unchecked, pink mold can cause urinary tract infections, intestinal problems, wound infections, or pneumonia. People who’re exposed to pink mold might develop the following symptoms:
- Respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, etc.
- Allergic reactions like itchy eyes and sneezing
- Gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting
- Food poisoning and more
The likelihood of infection and serious complications further rises in the elderly and immunocompromised (also pets!).
What’s more, you can easily get infected by touching the mold with your bare hands or coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.
So you must get rid of pink mold as soon as you spot it in your bathroom or anywhere else in your home.
How Do You Get Rid Of Pink Mold?
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The saving grace is that you can easily get rid of pink mold by yourself. The first step involves getting your hands on:
- Cleaning solutions (chlorine, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar)
- Nylon brush
- Face mask
- Rubber gloves
- Protective eyeglasses
- Towel
- Squeegee
- Disinfectant solution
- Spray bottle
You can use any household cleaner or make one at home. Here’s how you can DIY it at home from scratch. Take a small bowl and add 1/2 cup of baking soda to it along with 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Mix the ingredients to make your homemade DIY cleaning solution.
If you also want to DIY the disinfectant solution, prepare a half-and-half solution of warm water and chlorine bleach. Pour it into a spray bottle and keep it aside. You’ll have to measure the contents based on your requirements.
Before you begin, make sure to put away the shower curtain and liner for a wash. They may not have visible stains of pink or red, but these materials can carry bacteria and fungi. You can use your regular laundry detergent along with some warm water to wash it. Later, follow the appropriate care label instructions to dry the items.
Note: If you’ve got a lot of pink mold and it has spread all over the space, it’s best to do away with the curtains and liners.
Once you’ve got everything set up, move on to the next steps:
- Turn on your bathroom’s exhaust fan or ventilation to help remove the fumes from the cleaning solutions.
- Wear protective gear.
- Take a nylon brush and scrub the affected area with the cleaning solution.
- Rinse the affected area until it is clean of mold and the cleaning solution.
- Spray the cleaned area with the disinfectant solution and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Follow up with a thorough scrub down of the surfaces.
- Now rinse the surfaces once again.
- Make sure to dry the area when you’re done.
That’s all!
You can now hang your shower curtains and liners back in their place.
Keep Your Bathroom Free From Pink Mold
Now that you know how dangerous pink mold in the shower can be, make sure to take all the necessary precautions to prevent it from regrowing.
To keep your bathroom free from pink mold in the future, start by following a regular sanitization routine. Here are a few things you can do to get started:
- Ensure there’s no soap residue or water buildup in the space.
- Keep the surfaces dry at all times and wipe them down after each use.
- Keep your shower curtains dry by closing and straightening them.
- Wipe off drops of shampoo and conditioner from the walls and floor of your shower.
- Get rid of clutter in the bathroom.
- Avoid leaving your personal care products in the shower.
In addition, keep your bathroom properly ventilated at all times and fix any leaks right away!
You may also want to follow a regular curtain and liner washing routine along with the above-mentioned steps.
Should You Get Professional Help?
Getting rid of pink mold is easy if you follow the right steps and use the right tools. However, there are some situations where a DIY might not be enough and it may also be dangerous for you!
Here are some instances when it’s advisable to call the professionals:
- You’re dealing with more than just pink mold (for example, black mold).
- The mold appears in more than one place in the house.
- The mold is accompanied by water contamination, sewage trouble, etc.
- The mold keeps reappearing.
