Mold is a common problem in bathroom sinks. It can cause health problems if left untreated. Mold can also damage your bathroom fixtures and cause structural damage to your home.
Table of Contents
What Is Mold?
A fungus, or molds are microscopic organisms that grow on damp surfaces such as walls, floors, countertops, sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, pipes, etc. They thrive when there’s moisture present. The most commonly found types of mold include black mold, white mold, pink mold, blue green mold, gray mold, brown mold, red mold, orange mold, yellow mold, and purple mold.
Types of Bathroom Sinks where mold grows:
1) Plastic Toilet Sink – This type of sink has an outer shell made from plastic material which makes it easy for the water to seep through the drain hole. These kinds of sinks usually have a small opening at the bottom where you need to put soap before washing yourself. If this kind of sink gets wet with water then it will start growing mold because of its porous nature. You should clean these sinks regularly so that they don’t get infected by bacteria.
2) Ceramic Toilet Sink – A ceramic sink is one of the best options available today. Unlike other materials like plastic, glass, metal, etc., ceramics do not absorb any amount of water. So, even after cleaning them thoroughly, they still remain moist. Because of their high porosity, they allow air to enter into the sink making it prone to getting dirty very easily. In order to keep them free from dirt, regular maintenance must be done.
3) Glass Toilet Sink – Glass is another popular choice among homeowners who want something elegant but durable. However, unlike ceramic sinks, glass doesn’t let out much heat. Therefore, it becomes difficult to maintain temperature inside the room. Also, due to its weight, it requires more effort to install than other types of sinks. But, once installed, it lasts longer than others. To keep it free from mold growth, make sure to use anti-mildew products while installing it.
Identify the sources
The first step towards removing mold from your bathroom sink is identifying where it came from. If you have noticed any signs of water leakage around your bathtub or shower area, this could be an indication that there are cracks in your pipes. This means that the leak has been going on for some time now.
If you notice black spots appearing on your walls, ceiling or flooring, these may indicate that moisture has seeped into your house through damaged areas such as windows, doors or roof leaks.
You should also check whether there are any holes in your wall tiles or plasterboard. These small openings allow air and moisture to enter your property which will eventually lead to mold growth.
Remove mold from Toilet sink-Different methods and Techniques:
There are quite a few ways to eliminate this blackish thing from your toilet sink. This methods can be used on bathroom walls and ceilings also.
Remove excess moisture
Once you’ve identified the source of the mold, then you need to get rid of all the excess moisture before trying to clean up the affected area. You can use dehumidifiers to dry out your bathroom sink. However, make sure that they don’t create too much heat so that you won’t burn anything down!
Another way to deal with excessive humidity levels is by using fans. Fans help circulate fresh air throughout your bathroom sink and keep away unwanted bacteria and germs. They’re great at drying out bathrooms because they pull moist air outside while pushing hot air inside.
Eliminate mold spores
To prevent further mold growth, you’ll want to eliminate all traces of mold spores. To do this, you’ll need to thoroughly wash everything that’s connected to your bathroom sink including sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, faucets, drains, etc. Make sure that you scrub every surface until no trace of mold remains.
After cleaning, rinse off your bathroom sink thoroughly with warm water and soap. Then let it sit overnight to ensure that all traces of mold have completely disappeared.
Clean Bathroom Sink with Bleach
Bleach is one of the most effective ways to kill mold. The best thing about bleach is that it doesn’t leave behind harmful residues like other cleaners might. So, when you’ve finished cleaning your bathroom sink, just pour some bleach over the entire area and wait for 30 minutes. Afterward, wipe everything down again with a damp cloth.
This method works well but only if you know how to properly mix bleach. For example, mixing 1-part bleach with 10 parts water creates a solution that kills 99% of mold. But if you add more than 5 parts water, you end up creating a very strong chlorine smell.
So always remember: Don’t go overboard when adding bleach to your bathroom sink. Too little bleach isn’t enough to kill mold; instead, you’ll need to apply a lot of pressure to really get rid of them.
Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda work together perfectly to fight against mold. Mix equal amounts of vinegar and baking soda and sprinkle it onto your bathroom sink. Let it soak for 15 minutes and then scrub it off with a sponge. Rinse everything once again with warm water and soap and let it sit overnight.
Baking soda helps neutralize acidic substances found in many household products. As a result, it prevents mold from growing back after being cleaned.
Clean up the mess
After cleaning up the excess moisture, you’ll want to start scrubbing off the mold. Use soap and warm water to wash everything thoroughly. Make sure not to miss any nooks and crannies when washing your bathroom sink.
Use bleach solution to disinfect surfaces that cannot be cleaned properly. Bleach kills most types of bacteria but does not kill spores.
How to Remove It from The Sink Step by Step
- Use warm water for cleaning the drain, this will help loosen any clogs that may be present. If you are using cold or hot water it could actually make things worse by causing more blockages.
- Make sure there is no soap residue on the bottom of the bowl before washing with detergent. This will prevent soap from building up inside the pipes which would then lead to other issues down the road.
- Do not use bleach as it has been known to eat away at metal parts over time.
- Never scrub the area around the overflow hole because doing so could create an even bigger mess than what was already created.
- After removing all debris from the drains try flushing them out again just to ensure they work properly.
- Once everything looks clean, give the whole thing one last rinse under running water.
How to Prevent It in The Future
If you have noticed some signs of mold growing in your bathroom sink, here’s how to stop it from happening again.
- Keep your sinks free of food particles such as crumbs and grease. These items tend to attract moisture which leads to bacteria growth.
- Try keeping your faucets clear of hair and dirt buildup. A dirty faucet can easily become a breeding ground for germs.
- Avoid leaving wet towels lying around in bathrooms. Wet areas provide ideal conditions for mold growth.
- When showering, always remember to turn off the water while stepping into the tub/shower. Leaving the water running when exiting the bathtub or shower creates standing water where mold spores thrive.
- Always keep your toilets unclogged! Clogging causes excess pressure within the system which allows mold to grow.
- Don’t forget about those hard to reach places like behind mirrors and cabinet doors. Keeping these areas clean helps reduce the chances of mold forming.
- Finally, don’t forget to check your air filters regularly. Dirty filters allow dust and pollen to enter your house through the vents.
- Remember, prevention is better than cure. So, take care of your plumbing systems now rather than later.
How to Clean Up After You’ve Removed It
Once you’re done cleaning your bathroom sink, follow these steps to get rid of the smell.
- Run the tap until the water runs clear. Then pour 1 cup baking soda into the basin followed by 2 cups white vinegar. Let sit overnight.
- Drain the mixture and flush thoroughly. Repeat step 15 twice more.
- Pour boiling water directly onto the surface of the stain. Wait 30 seconds and repeat 3 times.
- Rinse well with cool water.
Wrap Up
Don’t let your bathroom sink go unnoticed. However, it’s important that you know how to get rid of the mold before it spreads further into other areas of your house or causes more serious issues. If you notice any signs of mold growing in the bathroom sink, or seat take actions asap to prevent it further growing.