If you are wondering why there is mold in my toilet bowl and tank, you should realize that you don’t clean your toilet regularly – at least, not as often as you should. Mold or fungus will grow in humid and warm places and not be periodically brushed or cleaned.
Mold thrives in environments with high humidity, poor ventilation, and limited sunlight, making bathrooms particularly susceptible. As a home maintenance professional, I’ve found that mold growth in toilet bowls is a common issue in homes where bathrooms lack proper ventilation. This often happens because stagnant air creates a perfect breeding ground for mold spores.
So, if you encounter mold in your toilet, there is no need to worry. You can learn about the causes and how to deal with them.
What Causes Black Mold in Toilet Bowl
Here’s the thing: mold thrives in ideal conditions that it loves. As a fungus, mold likes warm, dark, and moist conditions. Toilets are perfect for mold to grow. Take a look at your toilet.
If your bathroom has little ventilation, your toilet is often damp and typically placed in a warm spot within the house. It’s not really a surprise if you find mold in the toilet bowl.
But the real reason you find mold is the not-so-regular cleaning. Mold spores are everywhere, and it’s easy for them to be trapped within the toilet seat and bowl’s crannies and nooks. Whenever the spores make contact with moisture, they multiply and grow.
Food sources for mold also include organic matter in the water and mineral deposits, which can accumulate in less visible areas, making thorough cleaning essential.
It’s also possible that there are leaks around the toilet. Leaks are also the common cause of mold growth. When there is a persistent or slow leak, it leads to the creation of perfect conditions. Mold has this perfect condition to grow.
Faulty gaskets or seals are often responsible for toilet leaks. If you often wonder why there is mold in your toilet bowl, here are the answers.
Is It Bad to Have Mold in Your Toilet?
Black mold isn’t the only type of mold that you can find in toilets. Unfortunately, toilet mold is known to be unsanitary. With the combination of the toilet (known to be one of the most disgusting spots in a house) and dangerous spores, you can have health hazards.
Mold can be harmful to humans, especially to their health. When exposed to mold for a long time, it can lead to ailments. Knowing how to remove or prevent mold is a smart thing to do.
How to Get Rid of Mold in Toilet
You don’t always need chemicals to remove the mold. You can start with natural substances that are easily found at home. But remember, you need to wear a mask, goggles, and gloves. Spores are airborne, so it’s easy to inhale them when you don’t wear all of these things.
To clean the bowl and under the seat, fill the tank with water and then flush your toilet. Your toilet bowl shouldn’t have any excess water. Sprinkle baking soda in your bowl and tank. Prepare vinegar and a scrubber in a spray bottle.
| Cause of Mold | Preventive Measure |
|---|---|
| High Humidity | Install an exhaust fan, open windows after showers, or use a dehumidifier. |
| Infrequent Cleaning | Establish a regular cleaning schedule, ideally every week, using mold-inhibiting cleaners. |
| Poor Ventilation | Improve airflow in the bathroom by keeping doors and windows open when possible. |
| Plumbing Leaks | Regularly check for and repair leaks under sinks, around the toilet base, and near the shower or tub. |
| Using Only Short-Term Cleaning | Incorporate both cleaning and long-term preventive measures, like fixing underlying issues and better airflow. |
Spray the vinegar and let it be for a while. You can now scrub the mold until it is removed. Repeat the steps until you remove all of the black mold’s spots. Finally, flush the toilet so the bowl is free of any remaining vinegar or cleaner.
To clean the tank, pour a cup of bleach into it. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, wash the tank using a toilet brush.
As one experienced homeowner shared, ‘Despite scrubbing the toilet regularly, the mold kept returning until we fixed the ventilation in our bathroom. Installing a fan made a significant difference, reducing the mold growth substantially.’
This firsthand account underscores the importance of addressing environmental factors rather than relying solely on cleaning products.
Read also: Why is My Toilet Bubbling When the Shower is Running?
Be careful because you don’t want to damage the components with the brush. Clean the toilet lid’s underside, too. Flush your toilet several times so the waste can be effectively removed.
After you finish the cleaning task, ensure you get rid of everything, including your goggles, gloves, brush….everything! They may have mold spores, and you don’t want to risk it. Take a shower and clean yourself thoroughly.
Conclusion
As you can see, dealing with the issue isn’t all that difficult. Now that you know why there is mold in my toilet bowl, you can solve the problem and find ways to prevent it.
