Cleaning Angels

No judgment. Just help, where you need it most; when you don’t even know where to start. 😇 -Angels

The gleaming tile. The shiny new fixtures. The spotless shower. When you spend good money redecorating a bathroom, you can get a little obsessive about keeping it clean.

I know because I’ve been there.

We did a partial remodel in our bathroom by putting in new tile in the shower and new porcelain over the old bathtub. I’m bound and determined to make sure that mold and mildew don’t take residence in there!

Not only is mold ugly and embarrassing, it can be a health hazard, causing asthma attacks, nasal congestion and headaches.

So how do you keep mold and mildew from growing in your shower?

The best place to start is prevention. Mold prevention in the bathroom is tricky but use the tips below to try to keep mold from growing in your shower in the first place. If mold does show up in the shower, attack it immediately using the natural mold cleaning tips I outline below.

NATURAL MOLD CLEANING TIPS

Here are a few of my favorite natural mold cleaning tips – using only non-toxic ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.

NATURAL MOLD PREVENTION:

Make sure the shower area is well-ventilated – turn on the fan and open the windows and doors!
Use a squeegee to take excess water off of the shower walls.
Wipe down problem areas like corners and ledges with a dry cloth. Mold needs a wet environment to grow so keep things dry!
Shake out shower curtain after each shower. Wash or replace shower curtain frequently.
Make your own homemade bathroom cleaner spray using vinegar and the essential oils to prevent mold (see DIY shower cleaner recipe below)

NATURAL MOLD CLEANING:

Spray mold with straight vinegar to kill spores.
Mix up a paste of baking soda or borax (a naturally occurring mineral) and scrub with a toothbrush. Use caution if you use borax – it can be harmful if ingested.
To bleach mold and mildew stains, mix 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide with 1/2 cup water in a spray bottle. Spray stains with solution, scrub it in a bit and then leave to dry.
Once mold has taken hold in your shower, it may not be possible to scrub it away. Replacing mold stained caulk or grout may be your only option in some cases.

HOMEMADE MOLD CLEANER SPRAY

Use this spray regularly to help prevent mold from taking hold in your shower.

2 cups water

1/2 cup vinegar

1 big sq**rt (approx 2 tablespoons) liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) or eco-friendly dish soap

20 drops of antiseptic essential oil like tea tree or grapefruit

Mix all ingredients together in a spray bottle. Spray liberally over entire shower area. Leave for 3 to 5 minutes, then wipe area dry.