How Do You Get Rid of Pink Mold

While black mold gets a lot of attention, pink mold is a common household problem and requires attention, too. In many homes, this mold, which can also be a shade of orange or red, is found in the bathroom and sometimes in the kitchen.

Technically, this mold is a bacterial growth, and it grows in places that are moist. This includes everywhere from the shower curtain liner to the toilet bowl, tile and other areas. It’s not as unsightly as black mold, but it’s also not something you want growing in your home. How do you get rid of pink mold?

What Is Pink Mold?

The scientific name for pink mold is Serratia marcescens. This is a bacteria species that is commonly airborne. When it lands on a moist surface, a new colony of bacteria grows. When the colony is large enough, it becomes visible to the naked eye as a pinkish patch. This patch looks and feels slimy.

Is Pink Mold Harmful?

While touching pink mold isn’t something that you want to do, it isn’t dangerous for most people. Most commonly, it causes urinary tract and bladder infections.

In addition, it can cause a serious infection if it gets into an open wound. This is particularly true for people who are immunocompromised.

Differences Between Pink Mold and Other Types of Mold

When most people think about mold, they think about a green or black substance. While these are true molds, pink mold is not.

Instead, pink mold is a bacterial colony. Just as you don’t want mold growing in your house, a visible bacterial colony is equally undesirable and deserves your attention on cleaning day.

What Causes Pink Mold?

Because pink mold is airborne, a colony can grow in any suitable environment. The ideal environment is a space that is often moist, such as your bathroom and certain areas of the kitchen. Even one bacterium of Serratia marcescens is enough to start a new colony of pink mold.

What Is the Most Common Place for Pink Mold to Grow?

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are the most humid rooms in the home, so these are the places most likely to have pink mold. Often, you will find pink mold on tubs, shower stalls, sinks, tiles, faucets, showerheads, shower curtain liners, toilets and even toothbrush holders. Because the bacteria consume the residue of your body soap and shampoo, it is most common where you bathe or shower.

Kitchens

Your kitchen is not nearly as humid as your bathrooms are, so you typically won’t find pink mold growing widespread in this room. However, it is common to see it around the sink and kitchen faucet.

How Do You Get Rid of Pink Mold?

Here’s a step-by-step process for getting rid of pink mold:

Bathrooms

• Increase ventilation in the room, such as with an exhaust fan or an open window.
• Wear gloves, goggles and a mask to minimize health effects.
• Combine a tablespoon of liquid dish soap with a quarter cup of baking soda to make a loose paste.
• Scrub the visible pink mold with the paste and a soft brush.
• Rinse the paste and residue off of the surface and down the drain.
• Take down the shower curtain and its liner. Wash and dry these according to the care labels.
• Spray the shower, tub and tile with diluted chlorine bleach. After waiting 10 minutes, scrub the surfaces.
• Rinse and dry the surfaces.
• Clean the toilet using a bleach-based cleaning product or diluted bleach.

Here’s another easy way to remove pink grime on your bathrooms using hydrogen peroxide

Kitchens

• Follow the same preparatory safety instructions described above.
• Determine which cleaning solution is safe for the material that your faucet, sink and counter are made out of.
• For most faucet types as well as laminate and other synthetic surfaces, you may be able to clean with the solutions noted above for bathrooms. However, bleach is toxic and should not be used.

How to Prevent Pink Mold?

To minimize pink mold growth, wipe down all moist areas after using the bathroom. This will remove the moisture and any soap and shampoo remnants. In addition, run the bathroom fan during and after each shower to lower the humidity level.

On a weekly basis, clean the surfaces with a few drops of liquid dish soap combined with a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar. You also should repair leaky faucets and pipes as soon as possible.

FAQs

Why Does My Shower Get Pink Mold So Fast?

Pink mold grows in moist areas, so your shower is the ideal environment. The bacteria are airborne. Even if you recently cleaned your shower, new growth begins quickly because the bacteria will continue to land on the shower’s surfaces

What Happens If Pink Mold Gets on Your Skin?

Pink mold is typically harmless on healthy skin. However, it can cause an infection if you have a cut or wound. In addition, there is an increased likelihood of pink mold getting in your eyes if it is on your hands. When it enters your body through the skin or eyes, it can lead to bladder and urinary tract infections. Those who have a weakened immune system are at a greater risk.

What Is the Best Pink Mold Remover?

Chlorine bleach is effective at killing the bacteria. However, if you do not want to introduce this harsh chemical into your home, you can clean pink mold with diluted white vinegar or diluted hydrogen peroxide.

Pink mold seemingly develops out of the blue and returns quickly in some cases. If you’re frustrated with your continuous battle against pink mold and other signs of filth in your home, it’s time to call the Cleanzen Boston team.