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Original poster

Making anti-mould bathroom

60 replies

Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 12:40

We are finally having our bathroom redone in August, the shower was leaking and even without that we had a huge mould problem, despite having an extractor fan ducted to the outside.

Does anyone have any tips? Was thinking anti-mould paint for ceiling and maybe find out if underfloor heating is expensive, it sounds it though. X

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MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 27/05/2022 12:44

Ventilation is the most important thing. Our next shower will have a fan in the light right above it ( saw it in a hotel and took note!) Plus a really good fan for the rest of the bathroom. Wipe down using a squeegee after showering EVERY SINGLE TIME and open the window. If you do get mould treat with vinegar and it will kill it then use HG mould remover a couple of days later.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 27/05/2022 15:10

Strongly advise NOT using clove oil, it turned our ceiling brown!

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/05/2022 15:16

It's all about temperature and moisture. Everything else is just pushing water uphill. Have an amazing fan, ducted to the outside, which you keep on a LOT. Keep it hot or cold. Preferably hot. I have a heated towel dryer and underfloor. And a fan and a window.

I work in housing. Mould is the enemy.

Calmdown14 · 27/05/2022 16:11

Ventilation and squeegy for the shower.

But would also consider whether the ceiling might be better with the pvc stuff? It comes in sheets of click clack like floors. We have that and wet wall. Any specks of mould can be wiped off as soon as they begin to form

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 27/05/2022 17:08

I wish I knew. We moved into this house in October and I finally got round to removing a completely unsuitable blind for the window ( not sure what the previous owners were thinking.
the mould underneath was astounding. I am going to paint it with anti mould paint. We had a extractor fan fitted. But it really is just persistent cleaning I think. Don’t get me started on the mould round the bedroom windows. Never had a house like it

Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 18:11

Fan behind the light sounds very cool! Yes will need to be strict with the squidgee and we do normally open the window. The trouble is when it’s winter it’s worse cos then it’s cold air in a warm wet bathroom, but hopefully that’s where the fan will do it’s thing. I hope! HG is literally a part of my life and I was hoping we could throw it out in August. Looks like I’ll need to order me some more!!

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 18:13

Thanks for the link. always gathering tips. I see lots of vinegar references in this post but I’m sure I’ve used it without joy, maybe the one I had wasn’t strong enough

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 18:14

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Fan behind the light sounds very cool! Yes will need to be strict with the squidgee and we do normally open the window. The trouble is when it’s winter it’s worse cos then it’s cold air in a warm wet bathroom, but hopefully that’s where the fan will do it’s thing. I hope! HG is literally a part of my life and I was hoping we could throw it out in August. Looks like I’ll need to order me some more!!

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 18:15

@TheSandgroper Thanks for the link. always gathering tips. I see lots of vinegar references in this post but I’m sure I’ve used it without joy, maybe the one I had wasn’t strong enough

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WeAreTheHeroes · 27/05/2022 18:15

Get a better fan and bear in mind extractor fans work better with the windows closed. Having the window open when the fan isn't on is a good idea.

Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 18:16

@MrsTerryPratchett mould is the worst, really brings me down when I spot more mould somewhere. When you say keep the fan on a lot… ours stays on for thirty mins after showering. That’s the max setting. Do you keep yours on longer?

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 18:18

@Calmdown14 interesting about the pvc ceiling, I will look into that too. I feel like initially you could just wipe it off but if you leave it too long it becomes engrained. I feel like fan draws the water up the ceiling and so that’s where mould has been worse since getting the fan

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Try2B · 27/05/2022 18:25

We have showerboard, which is easy to clean and keep dry but we still have a problem with the silicone going mouldy and stained. Anyone have any tips? Thank you .

Calmdown14 · 27/05/2022 18:31

@Try2B Dettol mould and mildew remover (comes in a green bottle). Horrible stuff but it works!
Just spray and leave for a few hours, with the window open (watch your eyes and wear old clothes)

ginghamstarfish · 27/05/2022 18:38

It's amazing that in this day and age there does not exist a silicone sealer which resists mould.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/05/2022 18:44

I do an hour but I am a weird obsessive about mould. The things I've seen

An hour is our highest setting. You can get extractors that have humidity sensors but I do didn't bother. Don't skimp on the fan.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/05/2022 19:00

I do an hour but I am a weird obsessive about mould. The things I've seen

An hour is our highest setting. You can get extractors that have humidity sensors but I do didn't bother. Don't skimp on the fan.

Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 19:03

@Paranoidandroidmarvin I think your right about the cleaning. Things got bad when I had my little one as I wasn’t up to cleaning for a while post birth and things went downhill from there. We also have some around the bedroom window. I think the only thing I can do there is to open windows in the morning for ventilation. Sorry it’s in your new home. It’s the worst

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 19:06

@WeAreTheHeroes see I thought I bought a really good fan, it wasn’t cheap and had high spec. Just wish I’d gone for the larger size. I think we went with 4 inch rather than 6. We might see if it’s worth replacing as it’s not worth new mould, feel like prevention rather than cure is the situation with mould

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 19:08

@Calmdown14 @Try2B see I feel like these mould sprays like the green dettol one kind of just bleach the colour away I don’t know yet if it’s killing the mould? It always grows back in the same spot and shape which makes me think it’s still there somewhere. I could be wrong. HG is also very good, very potent though.

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Original poster
Authenticity2020 · 27/05/2022 19:08

@ginghamstarfish tell me about it.

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tothemoonandbackbuses · 27/05/2022 19:12

A much bigger fan than you think you need and heat

A580Hojas · 27/05/2022 19:16

A mouldy bathroom is the bain of my life! If you get one speck of black mould on your silicone sealant it will just take over. Especially difficult if you have a north facing bathroom than never really sees the sun.

It actually stresses me out and I am generally pretty relaxed about housework, but mould is the worst.

TheOriginalMrsMoss · 27/05/2022 19:18

Wedi Board line the room before tiling. Creates a thermal break and reduces condensation which creates mould.

Install an optimally sized extractor fan - go bigger rather than smaller.

You could also consider a PIV ventilation system to reduce condensation (and therefore mould) in the bathroom and the rest of the house. They are usually installed in the loft and the vent is positioned on the upstairs landing.