How To Clean Black Mold From Shower Head?

If there is mold on the shower curtain, wall, or ceiling, you will know right away, right? And you will also take all necessary steps to clean the location. But how many people are considering the presence of microbes and mold inside or on the showerhead?

Unlike mildew that grows on the surface, mold is a fungus that can penetrate porous materials. If you have black or green lumps in the corners of the tiles and there are caulks or dark spots along the walls, you may have mold.

Molds pose a health risk, especially to patients with acute illness and immunodeficiency. To avoid these health risks, we will tell you how to clean the molds in the shower room. Also, share some tips on how to prevent molds in the bathroom and at home.

The Ideal Habitat for Shower Bacteria

You will find that mold spores and various microorganisms thrive in warm and humid conditions. And it can grow better in your showerhead that is constantly nourished with every shower.

Once established, these spores can develop within 24-48 hours. All they need is humidity and oxygen. Bathrooms and showers are perfect breeding grounds for mold to grow.

Categories of Mold in the Bathroom?

There are different types of bacteria and mold, but not all of them are dangerous to humans. So don’t panic when you say your bathroom has bacteria.

There are three different categories of molds.

Allergens: Causes symptoms such as allergic reactions or asthma.

Pathogenic: Harmful to people with acute illness or weakened immunity.

Toxic: It can be dangerous or even fatal to everyone.

Unluckily, it can be difficult to distinguish between different types of mold. For example, black mold in your shower can be  Stachybotrys chartarum; it is a greenish-black mold; two other common household molds are Alternaria or Aspergillus.

You can test to see what kind of mold it is, but treating all molds as potentially harmful is recommended. It is best to remove and clean the mold as soon as possible. 

How to Stop Bacteria and Mold Growth?

First of all, we have been exposed to all kinds of bacteria, fungus, and molds daily. And no one will harm us. Some types are useful and help to boost our immune system. But here we are talking about a different kind – the unpleasant ones. Here we will describe how to effectively clean black mold from your showerhead that you don’t have to replace your old showerhead unless you want to upgrade and renew.

Luckily, there are simple ways to stop the bacteria and mold growth of showerheads.

Symptoms that Shower Head Requires Cleaning 

You may not notice bacteria and fungus build-up in your shower head, but there are other indications that it is time to clean.

• Water sprays in various directions from the splashing direction
• Some nozzles in the showerhead do not spray at all
• Even when the water is turned on all the way, the water pressure from the shower is low
• If you see pink or orange slime around the nozzle, or
• Gray, green, or white scabs grow on the showerhead.

Way to Cleanse Shower Head Cleanse Quickly?

Want to clean your shower head with a little effort quickly? By following these easy steps, you will find a simple way to keep your showerhead clean regularly without removing the showerhead from the shower arm.

Things you need

• Large, durable resealable plastic bag
• White Vinegar
• Rubber band
• Old toothbrush

Now follow the below steps:

1. Get a resealable poly bag and white vinegar. Pour about 12 oz of vinegar into a plastic bag. If the showerhead is large, add some more.
2. Take a plastic bag of vinegar, put the showerhead into the bag and secure the end of the plastic bag with a rubber band around the shower arm.
3. Immerse your showerhead in a bag of white vinegar overnight. If you need to wash it immediately, let it absorb for at least 1 hour.
4. Remove the plastic bag from the showerhead and run hot water through the showerhead for 6-12 minutes to completely remove the vinegar.
5. Take an old toothbrush and scrub the remaining sediment on the showerhead until it is completely clean.
6. Flush the showerhead once more to remove any remaining calcium build-up.

How to Clean Showerhead Thoroughly?

Materials Needed:

• deep bowl/bucket
• Distilled White Vinegar
• baking soda
• soft toothbrush
• dry mop
• Tweezers 
• Wrench 

Steps:

1. If necessary, unscrew the showerhead and remove it. Shake off excess water.
2. Remove the filter screen using tweezers. This is at the end of the showerhead that attaches to the pipe. Rinse filter screens on both sides to remove mineral build-up and set them aside.
3. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda on the inside and outside of the showerhead. Wet a toothbrush in water and gently scrub the surface of the showerhead. Do not rinse.
4. Dip the showerhead in a 2-inch bowl of vinegar. This will foam up a bit, and as it foams, more build-up is removed. Soak your showerhead in vinegar for a few hours or overnight.
5. Using a toothbrush, gently scrub the showerhead and rinse with plain water. Allow it to dry completely in the air before reinstalling the filter screen. Reconnect the showerhead to the pipe.

Maintain Showerhead Clean

How often a shower head needs to clean depends on how quickly mold and mineral deposits are restored. Generally, one or two times a year is enough. 

Alternatively, you can stop mold growth on the showerhead with a homemade daily shower cleaning spray that helps prevent mineral build-up. 

Do not use bleach on the showerhead as it can damage the gasket and filter screen. Bleach can fade some metals permanently, so use the vinegar and baking soda method to clean your shower head.

How to Get Rid of Black Mold from the Bathroom?

Black mold may seem like it can’t be removed, but there are ways to ensure your shower is safe again. Before removing black mold, it’s important to identify the type of mold that’s growing in your bathroom. One of the most dangerous types of black mold is Stachybotrys chartarum (SC).

It has toxic properties and can cause lung inflammation, allergies, asthma, or skin infections. It’s important that you find a mold remediator who follows safe removal procedures.

However, most bathroom mold is non-toxic and can be removed with store-purchased cleaners or by home remedies. Get rid of black mold in the bathroom by following some simple steps.

Steps:

1. Spray the mold with a fungicide and allow it to sit for 2-5 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush or sponge, then rinse away the residue. This spray works well on developing mold. (warning: this is an acid-based formula, so avoid contact with skin)

2. After cleansing the area, fill a spray bottle with an equal amount of bleach and water solution and spray the left stains to remove them. Allow it to wet for some minutes, and after that, rub with a toothbrush until the dirt is cleaned.

3. To prevent mold from growing back on your shower, diffuse distilled vinegar on the shower surface. It will kill the mold spores and stop their growth. Allow the vinegar to become dry before continuing further. 

4. Thoroughly dry the remaining wet surface with a dry clean cloth. It would be best if you vented the bathroom circulating outside air to dry up all moisture.

You Required the Following Things to Remove the Bathroom Mold

Here are some products that will help you remove mold in your bathroom: 

Antifungal: Removes unwanted mold in your life.

White Vinegar: It kills mold spores and keeps mold from growing back for a while.

Soft cleaning brushes are toothbrushes: They are used for cleaning. A soft brush can also be used to scrub away black mold stains.

Standard spray bottle: Filled with homemade cleaning solutions, they can clean a lot of mess.

Bleach: The safe mold removal product you need when used to kill black mold.

How to Remove Black Mold Without Any Chemical Substances?

If chemical cleaners are not a choice for your family or pet, you can choose an efficient natural process to remove bathroom mold. White vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are non-toxic products that can effectively kill mold in your shower area. Hydrogen peroxide is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, which makes it suitable for handling mold. Baking soda absorbs moisture and eliminates mold, which promotes mold growth.

Put one part water and the other part hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle, and diffuse the solution into the mold. 

Alternatively, make a solution with one tablespoon of baking soda in a water spray bottle. Spray one of these solutions and allow it to absorb for some time, then rub the mold stain and clean it with water. After all, to prevent mold growth, spray undiluted vinegar over the area and allow it to dry in the air. Vinegar is a strong natural acid that can kill most mold spores when sprayed directly on a moldy surface.

Caution: Hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and baking soda are efficient at killing and preventing mold, but do not mix them as they can create potentially toxic foam.

How to Protect the Bathroom from Black Mold?

Once the mold is removed, it must be removed through routine care. Regularly spraying your bathroom surfaces with vinegar and air-drying them can kill mold spores and stop their regrowth. Ensure that your bathroom has adequate ventilation; set an exhaust fan if your bathroom doesn’t have it.

If possible, wipe the shower with a rag or squeegee after having a shower. Clean your bathroom weekly using your favorite detergent (or natural home remedies) and use an antifungal cleaner once a month.

Final Words

To prevent mold growth in the shower, keep the moisture level in the bathroom below 50%. An appropriate ventilation system or exhaust fan in the bathroom can maintain these suggested moisture levels in the air.

Black mold in shower holes can grow easily on moisture. So make sure to dry up wet surfaces completely after using.