With all that moisture hanging around in your bathroom, mold and mildew (those kissin’ cousins in the fungus family) are bound to find cozy little homes in cracks and crevices. The nasty stuff isn’t good for your health, so here’s a few things you can do to avoid it.
If you’ve already got it, clean it. Chemical or bleach solutions do the job, but a little baking soda/vinegar solution and a stiff bristle brush will do it without dumping bad stuff down the drain.
Install a ceiling exhaust fan. If you don’t already have one, this is an essential. All that moisture buildup does more than cause mildew. It can warp wood, and if you don’t have a good sealed vapor barrier, it can cause damage behind the wall in cold weather. A ceiling fan removes most of the moisture to the outside.
Dry off your tiles. A small, lightweight squeegee is handy for the bath and shower area. After your shower, just rub down the walls to avoid excess moisture buildup and mildew breeding.
Don’t put a stucco ceiling in your bathroom. While this style might work in other parts of the house, stucco traps moisture, and it’s virtually impossible to clean.
Use mildew-resistant paint. Some water-based paints are designed exclusively for bathrooms and kitchens, and can be scrubbed clean without damage. Good pre-painting cleanup is essential. Brush with the vinegar/baking soda solution to get off as much as possible, then follow up with a heavy-duty onslaught; Bleach, water and trisodium phosphate (TSP) in a 3:9:2 ratio. Use rubber gloves and rinse well.