By Larry Parr, eHow Contributor
Several different types of mold can grow on bathroom tiles and in the grout between tiles. Some of these molds can be hazardous to your health, and almost all molds detract visually from the pristine look of bathroom tile. Molds require high humidity (above 55 percent) to grow and spread, so keeping the humidity level down in the bathroom is a good way to stop mold growth and to prevent new growth.
Seal off the Bathroom
Mold reproduces by spores, which are microscopic and easily become airborne, allowing them to spread from room to room whenever mold is disturbed. Therefore, you should seal your bathroom door with plastic and tape, allow any vent fans to run and, if possible, keep an air purifier running in the room as well whenever you are killing bathroom mold.
Dampen the Tiles Before Beginning
Spray plain water on the tiles and their mold colonies before beginning the cleanup job. Use a standard spray bottle. Dampening the mold will help keep the spores from flying up into the air and possibly spreading to other parts of the house as you clean.
Rubbing Alcohol
Fill a spray bottle with 70 to 91 percent rubbing alcohol, and spray all tiles and the grout between them even if you cannot see any mold growth in a particular area. Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye and can remain dormant in grout or on tiles for many months before growing. Do not wipe the rubbing alcohol off, but allow it to dry. Wear eye goggles when spraying, and do not breathe the alcohol vapors any more than necessary.
Bleach
Dilute normal household bleach in a spray bottle using 10 parts water to 1 part bleach. Wear old clothing when spraying bleach as even diluted bleach may remove colors from clothes. Spray the bleach and water solution liberally on all tiles, even tiles which do not currently show signs of mold growth. Do not wipe off. Allow the bleach and water to remain on the tiles until dry. Wear eye goggles when spraying, and do not breathe the vapors.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Pour hydrogen peroxide straight from the bottle into a spray bottle. Spray onto all tile and all grout liberally, and let it dry. Wear eye goggles when spraying, and try not to breathe in the vapors.
Heavy-Duty Mold Killers
If the methods described so far fail to kill the mold growing on your bathroom tiles or on the grout between the tiles, you may need to resort to a commercial mold killer. Read labels and look for ingredients such as quarternary ammonium compounds, phenolic, iodophor or glutaraldehyde. Always wear a breathing mask as well as gloves and eye protection when using any of these chemicals as many of them can be toxic, and all are hazardous in some way. Read and follow all label directions precisely.
Source: www.eHow.com
