What are the black dots in my bath?

cinnamonrolls5 · 2024-02-02T22:08:14+00:00

Our bath is full of tiny black dots. They come off with bleach, then reappear again/ spread even more the next day. I threw out all of DDs bath toys and bought new ones but the black dots are back and spreading all over the new toys. The polar bear in the photo is only 3 days old and covered! Can anyone help - what could this be and how can I get rid of it? Is it mould?

NoHeavenNoMore · 02/02/2024 22:13

Do you use the bath yourself? Could it be your eyeliner or mascara? My basin looks like this after I've washed off my makeup

Heartbreaktuna · 02/02/2024 22:14

We also have a problem with black dots. But ours are sort of an inky texture (they smudge). I have literally changed the taps, scrubbed the whole bath over and over. I've started cleaning the bath with fairy liquid because nothing else shifts them. They keep reappearing. I have a theory it's something I to do with a the bath waste pipe...but my DH is an engineer and says I'm talking nonsense 😀

Original poster

cinnamonrolls5 · 02/02/2024 22:16

NoHeavenNoMore · 02/02/2024 22:13

Do you use the bath yourself? Could it be your eyeliner or mascara? My basin looks like this after I've washed off my makeup

No, we only use it for the kids. Very strange as it has never been an issue before. They did play with some bath crayons recently which made a huge mess but I scrubbed the bath and yet the dots keep growing back!

OP posts:

SavingEveryLastPenny · 02/02/2024 22:16

Looks like mould?

Original poster

cinnamonrolls5 · 02/02/2024 22:19

Heartbreaktuna · 02/02/2024 22:14

We also have a problem with black dots. But ours are sort of an inky texture (they smudge). I have literally changed the taps, scrubbed the whole bath over and over. I've started cleaning the bath with fairy liquid because nothing else shifts them. They keep reappearing. I have a theory it's something I to do with a the bath waste pipe...but my DH is an engineer and says I'm talking nonsense 😀

Ah, sounds similar and ours smudge too!

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BeechLeaves · 02/02/2024 22:22

Spider poo? I had a windowsill like that. Turned out to be spider poo. A small spider.

BeechLeaves · 02/02/2024 22:23

Although they were more in one place under its little web.

cariaaad · 02/02/2024 22:23

Have you checked the overflow? I had a build up of black manky stuff that would come out when the bath was full up to the level of the overflow and leave these marks.
Gave it a good scrub and no problems since.

Original poster

cinnamonrolls5 · 02/02/2024 22:27

BeechLeaves · 02/02/2024 22:22

Spider poo? I had a windowsill like that. Turned out to be spider poo. A small spider.

😧

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Original poster

cinnamonrolls5 · 02/02/2024 22:28

cariaaad · 02/02/2024 22:23

Have you checked the overflow? I had a build up of black manky stuff that would come out when the bath was full up to the level of the overflow and leave these marks.
Gave it a good scrub and no problems since.

That’s a great idea and would make sense. I’ll check. Thank you

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Ametora · 02/02/2024 22:31

It may be a mould within the taps
When we moved we had it and my DF who is a public health engineer tried twice to clear the system but in the end we had to remove and replace the taps and pipes in that bathroom and not seen it since

Original poster

cinnamonrolls5 · 02/02/2024 22:34

Ametora · 02/02/2024 22:31

It may be a mould within the taps
When we moved we had it and my DF who is a public health engineer tried twice to clear the system but in the end we had to remove and replace the taps and pipes in that bathroom and not seen it since

I’m worried about this, but our house / taps are only 3 years old so figured less likely?

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DeathMetalMum · 02/02/2024 22:34

Anyone have electric toothbrushes? Dd1's seemed to often have black stuff inside the brush head and I kept having to change it, despite her saying she dried/cleaned it. She was wiping the handle with a towel but not actually shaking any water off her brush for some reason. Problem solved here but before hand there would sometimes be small black spots in the basin.

DrSpartacular · 02/02/2024 22:37

I doubt it's mould, it's too quick and wouldn't form on a shiny clean bath.

It's gunk from somewhere...

Roo07 · 02/02/2024 22:40

Some of these rubber toys mark the bath. Could it be the toys? I usually just wipe away any marks with nail polish remover

Choux · 02/02/2024 22:41

So if the bath is clean and you go to bed or go out when you come back it's got spots in the bath even though no water has been run? That means it's either falling from the ceiling or growing.

Mummy2mybear · 02/02/2024 22:45

I had this it was mould but it was inside one of the old bath duck squeaky toy bath floats, looks clean as a whistle but inside was growing mould I cut it open and threw it out you have to be careful with them. The spider poo comment made me laugh 😆

Risun · 02/02/2024 22:46

Is there any chance you have a spider's web somewhere on the ceiling OP? My little black dots turned out to be spider poo, disposed of the web and the dots never came back. I have a similar problem outside on a windowsill under where spiders live.

ScandiNoirNuit · 02/02/2024 22:49

Mummy2mybear · 02/02/2024 22:45

I had this it was mould but it was inside one of the old bath duck squeaky toy bath floats, looks clean as a whistle but inside was growing mould I cut it open and threw it out you have to be careful with them. The spider poo comment made me laugh 😆

We had this too. Replaced the toys but it came back pretty quick as I guess the insides of the toys trap water.

I would stop the toys and see if you still have issue.

Tarkan · 02/02/2024 22:50

I came to guess spider poo as well. There have been some MN threads about it over the years.

Original poster

cinnamonrolls5 · 02/02/2024 22:54

Choux · 02/02/2024 22:41

So if the bath is clean and you go to bed or go out when you come back it's got spots in the bath even though no water has been run? That means it's either falling from the ceiling or growing.

It seems to get worse every time the bath has been run but all our toys are brand new so it isn’t coming from them. I am wondering if there’s some gunk in the overflow or plug now but nothing obvious so I will get DH to investigate.

The spider poo comments are quite concerning though! 😱

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3beesinmybonnet · 02/02/2024 23:20

Try scrubbing upwards, into the end of the tap, with a brush. Especially the cold tap which allows mould to grow unlike the hot tap. Put your hand over it though or you risk getting sprayed with muck.

BeechLeaves · 03/02/2024 08:53

I was quite surprised at how much spiders poo! Never thought of it before. But you’d know coz you’d be able to see a spider on your ceiling.

ICutYourNameInMyHeart · 03/02/2024 08:56

do you have an extractor fan? when they get full of dust and it is windy outside they can blow back into the room

637ea · 03/02/2024 09:03

I found smudgy black specks too. My lying ex was taking heroin in the bathroom and hiding it behind the bath panel. I'm sure your black specks have a less sinister reason though!