How to Remove Bathroom Ceiling Mold

In addition to being unsightly, bathroom ceiling mold looks awful, can cause permanent damage to your home and is a health hazard. It can be caused by the warm temperature of the room, the humidity from baths and showers, low levels of natural light and poor air circulation. Mold should be treated as soon as possible and the source of it must be removed for health and safety reasons. Some mold spores can increase the risk of serious health problems.

Step 1 – Examining your Bathroom Ceiling

Take a close and careful look at your bathroom ceiling to check for any green or black spots. These spots can range in size from small specks to large clusters. They can be found in one area or they could be spread out all over the entire the ceiling. These spots indicate the growth of mold spores and must be removed. 

Step 2 – Making the Mold Remover 

Put on your rubber gloves. Fill the bucket with 1 gallon of hot water, ½ cup of bleach and 1/3 cup of laundry soap. Combine the ingredients with a disposable stick, being careful not to let any of the liquid spatter outside of the bucket. The bleach will get rid of the mold but it could also accidentally damage material that you do not need to clean.

Step 3 – Removing the Mold

Open a window in the bathroom. Place the step ladder below the area to be cleaned. Immerse the scrubbing sponge in the cleaning solution. Carefully climb the step ladder and begin to scrub the area. Rinse the sponge in the solution. Examine your ceiling again to see whether any spots still remain. Continue the process until all of the mold has been removed.

Step 4 - Rinsing the Ceiling

Squeeze out the sponge and carefully empty the bucket of the cleaning solution into a sink. Refill the bucket with cool clear water. Immerse the sponge in the clean water, climb the step ladder again and rinse the ceiling area. Pat the ceiling dry with a towel. Turn on the fan and allow it to circulate the air in the room for the next 30 minutes.

Step 5 – Preventing Further Mold 

Mold spores will grow in damp conditions. The shower and bathtub area in bathrooms tend to produce steam which rises to the ceiling and settles there. It is rare that a ceiling gets dried or that it is exposed to sunlight so spores begin to grow. To avoid the accumulation of mold spores it is vital to circulate the air when the shower or bath is being used, especially if the weather is hot and humid. Be sure to open any windows in the bathroom when you are showering, even if it is just slightly. A bathroom ceiling fan or room vent would reduce a great deal of the moisture in the room. Another solution would be to consider using a mold-resistant paint and covering the entire ceiling for protection.