A reader inquiry about removing bathroom mold without toxic chemicals sends Umbra on a cleaner-testing jag, squirting this and that all over the Grist Test Bathroom. The things she does for you people! Find out the results and get lectured on the benefits of planning ahead -- in Ask Umbra, on the Grist Magazine website.
Dear Umbra,
Do you have any tips on dealing with the nasty black mold that appears in bathrooms without dousing it in highly toxic chemicals?Kirsten
Dearest Kirsten,
I read that hydrogen peroxide would work, so I tried it for you in the Grist Test Bathroom. The recommendation was to dilute the solution in a spray bottle, spritz the mold, then return a few hours later to wipe it away. It didn't work. But my control mold is deeply embedded within the grout and caulking. Perhaps if I had acted earlier, when the mold first arrived, I would have had more success.
Another suggestion I've seen is to use Borax. I'll try it right now. Hold on. Nope, that didn't work either. (Another issue with my control mold is that I decided after my failed hydrogen peroxide attempt that it had permanently fused with the caulk and that said caulk therefore needed to be torn out. Hence I don't have much of a mold sample to work with today.)
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I suspect that the real answer to your question is this: Avoiding the mold, and avoiding having to resort to highly toxic responses to the mold, will best be achieved by regularly cleaning your bathroom with a basic vinegar/baking-soda/hot-water cocktail. Isn't that just so typical of environmentally conscious solutions? They often center on planning ahead and acting before a problem arises, and, frankly, that's a pain in the neck. Want to bike instead of driving? Have to leave more time. How about carpooling? Have to arrange in advance. Don't want to use pesticides in the garden? Get plants that will thrive in your area in the first place. Don't want mold? Clean the bathroom. I get tired just thinking about it.
I'll keep working on this for you. I'll replace the caulk and try very hard to wash with vinegar and soap on a regular basis. If that doesn't work, I'm going to paint the bathroom black.
Innovatively,
Umbra
Do you have a nagging question pertaining to the environment? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ENN, and you might find the answer in a future "Ask Umbra."
The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of Grist Magazine or ENN. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.
Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.
Source: Grist Magazine
