How To Remove Mold From A Bathroom Ceiling Without Bleach

Having mold on your bathroom ceiling doesn’t have to mean your bathroom is now out of bounds to everyone in your family but it will mean that you will need to consider how you are going to get rid of it and prevent it from coming back.

I know having mold in your home is scary but actually tackling the problem properly will help to reduce the possibility of it coming back more aggressively and potentially causing a bigger problem which is even more difficult to resolve.

Don’t be embarrassed about mold issues, or moldy areas in your bathroom, just know that I’m here to help the best way I can and to teach you how to get rid of mold from your bathroom.

Stop Using Bleach On Mold

When it comes to mold bleach isn’t the best product to remove the mold, in fact in most cases it doesn’t even kill the mold it just removes the colour from the mold and it can and will continue to grow and spread.

There is a reason why mold cleaners contain bleach, it means it looks like the mold is gone when in fact it’s probably still there, it just gives the appearance that the mold has gone. This means when the colour of the mold returns, the product is used again with the same results.

The mold appears to have gone and the home is mold free. This is not the case and the affected area is still affected you just can’t see it.

Why You Have A Mold Problem

Mold happens because of a couple of reasons and the main one is that it’s found the perfect home in which they can live. It has to be damp, or at least have moisture. This is why mold happens in bathrooms particularly and on window sills and frames.

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There is no air flow in these areas that forces the mold spores past the potential home. Air flow is so important in bathrooms because of the high levels of humidity and potential lack of ventilation it can and will cause the perfect new mold homes.

Air flow reduces the chances of the mold spores taking hold, which is one of the reasons you should have some sort of exhaust fan in your bathroom. This will reduce the amount of moisture that is sitting in the room by forcing air out of the room, creating an air current.

Related article: The Best Ways For Tackling Mold On Window Sills

Bathroom Ceiling Mold

Why mold likes your ceiling is simple, damp air rises, and it will sit close to that area and this enables mold spores to settle into a new home.

You need to ventilate the area when you are creating steam, this means opening a window or turning on an extractor fan to create movement of air.

Mold is a common problem in bathrooms because there isn’t enough ventilation. If you have mold you need to take action by providing ventilation in the form of an extractor fan, dehumidifier or opening a window.

What Kills Mold

It might surprise you, to kill the mold on your bathroom ceiling, tea tree oil diluted with water. This is all you need, no more expensive mold removal products, just a spray bottle for application, tea tree oil and dilute it with water and you have the perfect mold removing product right there.

Hydrogen peroxide is good too, but tea tree oil is the best for removing mold from your ceiling. If you have popcorn ceilings it is going to be more difficult to wipe the product and mold away but at least you know you are killing the mold so you shouldn’t need to tackle the problem again if you install proper ventilation in your bathroom or ensure that your window is always open when you are creating a steamy environment.

Why Not Use Bleach

There are so many bleach based products around that claim to kill mold, when in fact most mold roots aren’t killed by using bleach. This is why the mold grows back, it wasn’t killed and that simply means that it has had time to regrow and appear back on your bathroom ceiling.

The problem with a bleach solution is that it isn’t going to go into the root of the mold and kill it. So, this method of treating mold in the first place will just increase the mold population already growing in your bathroom.

You will need to make a solution of the tea tree oil, mix with water and use on all types of mold in your bathroom and watch it disappear.

This will reduce potential future mold growth because you are killing the roots, even in porous materials and problem areas.

Related article: How To Deep Clean A Bathroom

Mold Causes Health Problems

The spores that are released from the mold can cause health issues in some people, respiratory problems are the most common but you can prevent these health problems if you can get rid of the mold and reduce the chances of it returning by having open windows when you use the bathroom.

Removing mold is something you need to be careful with, make sure you have proper ventilation and wear protective gloves and a face mask to prevent inhalation of any mold spores. You might want to call in professional help to remove the mold for you.

How To Clean Mold

Start by gathering your cleaning solution and applying it to the mold-prone areas, not forgetting ceiling corners and wipe these areas first. Then tackle the visible mold, give it time to work before wiping the product and the mold away.

The next step is to ensure that all bathroom surfaces are wiped down in case any mold spores manage to escape. Following this process, it’s a good idea to think about how you can improve the poor air circulation in your bathroom.

If you have mold stains you will need to cover these with a mold resilient paint before applying your normal paint to prevent the staining from coming through. Yes, mold can sometimes stain the walls and ceilings of our homes and it can look unsightly, which is why we use mold paint before ceiling paint to prevent the staining from showing.

Related article: How To Get Rid Of Mold And Damp

Let’s Recap…

If you have a mold problem on your bathroom ceiling it’s important that you take care of the mold and what’s causing the mold too. 

Installing a bathroom fan is one option, another is to ensure that you open a window when having a shower or a bath to reduce the amount of steam that accumulates at the ceiling causing excess moisture and potentially the perfect home for mold.

Don’t use bleach to remove mold, you need tea tree oil, yes, the essential oils option, this actually kills mold at the root of the problem.

Ensure to wear protective gear when cleaning mold as it can cause ill health.

The bathroom ceiling makes the perfect environment for mold growth, following tips to prevent mold and cleaning any sources correctly should reduce the risk of mold coming back.