A bright and shiny bathroom is everyone’s dream, but sometimes you may notice an unusual discolouration on the surface. The bathroom is the place that needs the most hygiene and cleanliness, so it requires the most maintenance. Pink mold in the shower is one of the most common “illnesses” households struggle with while keeping their bathrooms clean.
If you see rough pink or orange material on shower screens, curtains, toilets, or tiles, you’re dealing with pink mold. What is it anyway, and how can you remove the pink mold in the shower? Our article will guide you through the process. [1]
In fact, there are a few different types of mold found in different places. So let’s specify each of them to make sure what form we’re facing and how to deal with it.
- Black mold – is usually found outdoors but can also occur indoors.
- Pink mold – is usually found in showers and bathrooms around the edge of the tub.
- Green Mold – is commonly found on walls, insulation and damp carpets.
- Brown or grey mold – is usually found in basements or under carpets.
Today, we are precisely discussing pink molds that are common in showers, so let’s learn how to fight against pink mold in the shower.
What Is Pink Mold In The Shower?
What exactly is pink mold? This pinky mold is actually a biofilm formed by a specific bacteria called Serratia marcescens.
Although commonly referred to as pink, this type of biofilm actually gets its color from reddish pigments. Depending on the strength and coverage of the area, the actual color of the mold can range from light pink to dark red. Sometimes it might even get orange. Now that you know the concept of this pink mold, let’s talk about its health risks and removal tips.[2]
Is Pink Mold Dangerous For Health?
While pink molds can cause bacterial infections, they are generally harmless to healthy individuals. However, bacteria can pose a more severe threat to people with weakened immune systems, frequent illnesses, asthma, or open wounds.
Like any other type of microbe, the bacteria that cause pink mold can cause bacterial infections. A bathroom full of pink mold can spread bacteria, open pores and wounds on the body, and eat healthy tissue.
Pink mold bacteria are especially harmful to children and pets whose immune systems cannot cope with bacterial infections. Pink mold can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), respiratory problems, bladder infections, pneumonia, and even septic shock in immunocompromised individuals. [3]
What Causes Pink Mold In Shower?
As disgusting as it might sound, the type of bacteria that causes pink mold is most likely caused by bodily fluids such as urine, pus from infected wounds, or faeces. If bacteria can attach to surfaces through these bodily wastes, they can multiply and form their colonies.
Like mold and spores, pink mold bacteria thrive in moist environments. These bacteria feed on organic matter such as houseplants, rotting wooden fixtures and even actual mold.
Different types of bacteria start on different surfaces, but all start with a few bacteria that grow colonies under the right conditions.
Serratia marcescens is the most common type of pink mold. This type of bacteria is airborne and loves humidity, making your shower wall a prime target for bacterial colonies to grow. They are usually found in dark, damp places near sinks, showers, tiles, and drains. Soap scum can make the problem worse because bacteria feed on it.
When bacteria enter the area and start feeding on organic matter, they form dead skin cells, cotton and wood fibres, hair follicles, etc. Serratia marcescens also feeds on oils and phospholipids in soap scum. [4]
Plumbing Problems That Lead To Pink Mold
Various plumbing problems can also cause pink mold in your shower. Even though you might keep your bathroom surfaces dry, some internal leaks can lead to mold and internal problems that could go on long before you find out. Drain leaking under the bathroom sink is one of such problems.
You should check it out if you have a closed vanity under your sink that hides the drain.
Otherwise, mold can grow on the vanity or wall and spread to the exterior one day.
Your toilet might leak too. This can happen for different reasons, and it can cause mold to start to develop on the wall behind the toilet.
Dripping faucets are another annoying plumbing issue. Although water droplets fall into your sink or shower and won’t cause water damage, they can still increase humidity in the room and encourage mold growth.
Where can Pink Mold Appear?
Pink mold grows in areas of high humidity and often on constantly wet surfaces. Places that collect moisture and are not usually cleaned make the best breeding grounds.
The places to look for pink mold might be:
- Along seams and corners of bathtubs and showers
- On vinyl or plastic shower curtains (watch out for pink stains)
- in toilets and sinks
- On or off the bath mat
- Behind wall mounted bathroom mirrors and cabinets
- Wallpaper in bathroom and kitchen
- For sealing and caulking window sills
- In the kitchen sink, countertop or cabinet
- in dishwashers and washing machines
- In a dehumidifier or air conditioner that is not drained
It’s also possible to find it on floors, around condensation toilets, or on carpets in high humidity areas. Look for leaks or surfaces that have been wet for extended periods.
How To Get Rid Of Pink Mold In Shower
Almost every household has ever dealt with the pink molds in the bathroom, so you’re not the only one. There are a few well-tested and approved methods to kill pink mold and maintain a sparkly shower, so follow our tips.
DIY Methods To Remove Pink Mold In Shower
If you can’t afford some professional chemical solutions straight away and prefer more home-based DIY methods, then baking soda or vinegar is there for you.
Removing Pink Mold With Baking Soda
Baking soda is a popular way to control pink mold. Get equipped and scrub biofilm from hard shower surfaces with baking soda. The stubborn biofilm of Serratia marcescens can only be removed by shaking and muscle force. Start by mixing a slightly runny paste consisting of 1/4 cup baking soda and one tablespoon liquid dish soap in a small bowl.
Wear gloves, goggles, and a respirator to limit your exposure to bacteria, then dip the bristles of a soft-bristle brush into the prepared paste and scrub hard in the shower to scrub any visible biofilm stains on hard surfaces, shower chairs, doors, and tile and grout lines on walls and floors. This process is designed to relax and lift the biofilm.
When you’re done scrubbing, wipe the scrubbing area with a damp towel or turn on and remove the shower head to flush the mucus down the drain, flushing any loose biofilm from the shower. [6]
Remove Pink Mold With Vinegar
You might be wondering: Does vinegar kill pink mold? Actually, yes. Vinegar is another natural cleaner for bathroom mold.
The mild acidity in vinegar kills about 82 percent of known mold and helps prevent future outbreaks.
You can remove small forms of that annoying mold yourself using vinegar.
Use regular white distilled vinegar to clean mold, usually sold at 5% acidity. You can also use “household vinegar” with 6% acid. Both are effective in killing mold. Cleaning vinegar is available online and at many home improvement, discount stores, and grocery stores.
Once you apply vinegar on a moldy surface, let it sit for at least an hour before wiping or scrubbing.
Baking soda and vinegar are ingredients that every home always has, so you can easily find an accessible way to remove pink mold and give your bathroom a new look.
However, these DIY methods are not 100% solutions. They’ll temporarily help you whiten up your bathroom, but they’ll come back eventually.
To keep pink mold from spreading again in the shower as much as possible, you must use chemical bleach, or you’ll have to clean your bathroom weekly with baking soda or vinegar over and over again.
Thus, the next step in fulfilling your sparkling shower dreams is to sanitize the pink mold surface area with a robust chemical bleach solution.
Chemical Bleach To Remove Pink Mold
It’s not enough to just wipe off the paint. You must disinfect the surface to remove any remaining germs to prevent them from returning. Chemical solutions will help you deal with the rest. Bleach is the best choice because it kills the last germs and dissolves any remaining stubborn stains. Pour 6 ounces of chlorine bleach and warm water into a 12-ounce spray bottle, close the lid, and shake the bottle gently.
Spray the solution directly on the hard surface of the scrubbed shower, then leave the solution in the shower for 10 minutes. Then use a new soft brush to gently scrub the sprayed area, rinse again and dry the shower surface with a clean towel or rag.
What Pink Mold Cleaner Can You Use?
While there are thousands of pink mold cleaner bleach on the market, RMR-86 Mold and Mildew Stain Removal Spray seems to be the best solution on the market.
RMR-86 is a revolutionary affordable mold remover that removes mold stains even without grinding or scrubbing. [7]
You can simply spray it on any hard surface and see the mold stain disappear in 15 seconds—no need for vigorous scrubbing and polishing.
RMR-86 also kills bacteria or spores before they get into the nooks and crannies of the bathroom. A regular spray of this effective solution will keep mold and bacteria out and remove all germs from your bathroom.
This formula restores the wood to its original state. However, be aware that this product can bleach heavily and seriously damage your furniture if you don’t store it tightly and air-shut.
How To Prevent Pink Mold In Shower
You’ll agree that pink mold is nasty and more brutal to remove. If you’re changing house and moving to a place with a fresh, newly renovated bathroom, it’s best to take good care of it from the beginning to prevent this problem. Let’s talk about exactly how to prevent pink mold from “taking over” your shower.
First, as you know, pink mold bacteria are carried by us, so encourage washing hands, mainly after you use the toilet. This way, you will prevent the spread of Serratia marcescens to other surfaces.
Second, it is important to keep the surface dry at all times. Because Serratia marcescens needs moisture to thrive and spread, take the time to dry your shower after each use. A scraper can do the job in seconds, or you can use a towel.
You should also always close and straighten your shower curtains after showering, so they dry faster. Also, wash curtains and liners at least once a month, and dry them well to avoid moisture.
It is also recommended to remove soap residue at least once a week. Soap scum contains body oils that act as food for mold and bacterial growth. [8]
Also, make sure you clean up drips and spills of liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner from shower or tub walls and floors after each use.
Finally, since moister is the main reason for the spread of pink mold, it’s best to reduce humidity in your home by using exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, and repairing leaking pipes.
These tips will help you disrupt the germ-spreading process and keep your bathroom looking shiny for longer.
Bottom Line
Pink mold can become quite disturbing and gross if you don’t take care of it from the very beginning. However, there are approved tips to fight against them. If you notice the pink coloring forming on the surfaces in your shower, I recommend you not to postpone but to deal with it straight away. I hope you will find our tips useful to whiten your shower and let it glow again.
Michael Davis is a heating & plumbing expert who currently works as independent contractor in SC. He also writes for Plumbertip.
For almost 10 years he worked on various plumbing tasks across South Carolina.
