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- Seeing mushrooms growing in the bathroom is probably the most repulsive view, whether you’re renting a flat or having your own. It doesn’t look good at all. We know for sure is that the bathroom mushroom has to leave.
- Luckily, mushrooms growing in the bathroom usually aren’t a health threat, and only when mold comes in, it can cause some respiratory issues or serious allergic reactions.
- This article explains what the conditions that mushrooms thrive in are, how to use bleach chloride bleach cleaner to remove them (remember to wear rubber gloves and other protective gear), and how to prevent future incidents of mushrooms growing in the bathroom;
Mushroom growth—facts
At first, we want to calm you down a little.
While mushrooms growing in your bathroom are repulsive and bring to mind the worst hygiene neglect, many of them aren’t actually harmless on their own.
What their presence means predominantly is a moisture problem.
Important: Serious mold infestations are a bigger deal, so you shouldn’t ignore these.
According to Hunker, it’s not hard for microscopic fungal spores to inhabit your bathroom, being light enough to be carried by even the slightest wind gusts.
These spores generate mushrooms, and they are present everywhere, from
- clothing,
- window screens and
- plants;
As in every love story, it takes two tiny single-celled organisms to initiate mushroom growth.
So what’s so romantic about our bathrooms that make these creatures combine and live happily ever after?
You’ll notice that the most mushrooms-affected areas of your house, if not the only ones, feature high humidity and low lighting—and they are predominantly bathrooms.
Besides excess moisture and low light, what makes bathrooms so well-suited for sprouting mushrooms?
High heat is another bathroom characteristic that provides the growing conditions for mushrooms to flourish.
While a single mushroom in the bathroom isn’t a heath threat, the situation changes when the mold mushrooms get involved.
Mushrooms are a sign of a significant moisture problem in your bathroom.
Damp conditions significantly support the growth of black mold or mildew, which is a real danger, much more harmful to our wellbeing.
Mold and mildew flourish in the same conditions that support mushroom growth.
Differently than with mushrooms, exposure to mold and mildew poses a risk of serious allergic reactions, chronic coughing, chronic fatigue, or respiratory illnesses.
How to remove mushrooms?
One thing is sure: our bathroom floors, walls, and even the ceiling will do so much better without the musty odor and so-not aesthetically pleasing mushrooms and mold growth.
Important: Most bathroom mushrooms are harmless, but don’t let it ever pop into your head to consume them in any form!
So the question is: What to do when you find mushrooms growing in your bathroom consistently?
Mushroom growing calls for a harsh response from your side if you really want to remove them successfully.
First, have an attentive look at moisture-prone areas in your bathroom.
For instance, if there’s a leak in the toilet bowl which causes water damage to the floor or wall, it can lead to an infestation of mushrooms from the mold that forms behind it.
So as soon as you see the mushroom sprout out from the ground or wall, see what’s behind it (literally).
If there’s any damaged wall or flooring, you know what to do.
Then, put on protective gear such as a mask, goggles, and gloves and pick your nasty bathroom fungus out of the floor, wall, or ceiling. Just take them away with your hand.
Then, clean the area with a fungicide or a solution of one part bleach to three parts warm water. Finally, use a spray bottle to sprinkle the infected area.
Let the product sit on the bathroom surfaces affected area for around 30 minutes before scrubbing it away with a brush.
Rinse with water, then let the treated part of the bathroom dry.
You can also prepare a more organic solution by combining one teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of hot water, pouring it into a spray bottle, and repeating the steps above.
Once you’re done, observe if mushrooms return.
If they do, clean the area with a household disinfectant containing benzalkonium chloride to kill off any remaining mushroom spores.
You can also apply a fungicide if necessary.
Proceed with several applications to eradicate the remaining mushroom spores.
With mushroom mold, there is a bigger problem that needs to be fixed with stricter measures.
You’ll need to toss any rotten wood or damp and moldy furnishings in your bathroom.
If you see mold on your shower curtains, don’t hesitate to remove them straight away!
At this point, you may need to call professional help.
Who knows, maybe it’s time to replace the drywall.
Prevent mushrooms growing
Being tough for mushrooms grow is one thing (after all, there is a lot of motivation to make your bathroom look good and mushroom-less).
But what about prevention?
Is there any way to ensure your bathroom’s interior design never sees a single mushroom growing?
The first thing to take care of is keeping the humidity levels in your bathroom low—in other words, keep your bathroom dry at all times.
Remember that breakages or even damp towels on the floor create damp conditions that help support mushrooms, providing the same opportunities for toxic mold growth.
Your bathroom should be fitted with a ventilation fan to ensure proper ventilation and deal with humidity.
Tip: Damp towels are such an everyday cute mess, but they are also a breeding ground for mold and mushrooms. So hang towels to dry or toss them immediately to a washing machine after using.
If the seals around your toilet or bathtub leak, it’s time to reach out to a plumber (not your uncle, an actual plumber!).
You may also want to invest in the mold-resistant film on your bathroom’s walls.
Consider using nylon shower curtains. This durable type of shower curtain is made from a single layer of fabric, allowing water to glide off easily and dry quickly.
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