Bathroom Decorating Tips - How To Deal With Mold

Bathrooms are more susceptible to mold than other rooms due to the high levels of moisture in the air. Condensation forms on walls and ceilings when the steam from a hot bath or shower has nowhere to go. Hot air will be drawn to cold surfaces. Over time, these cold, damp areas will be prone to mold growth, which not only looks unsightly, it can be bad for our health.

Prevention is always better than cure. To stop mold growing in your bathroom, ensure that it is always well ventilated, so condensation doesn't get a chance to form. This can be as simple as opening the window after a bath or shower. Or you could have an extractor fan installed. Some extractor fans are connected to the light switch, so come on automatically each time the light is turned on - this is a good idea as it means you don't have to remember to open a window or switch on the fan. Extractor fans are also great in bathrooms without windows. A dehumidifier is another idea you could try.

If, however, your bathroom is already showing signs of mold, it can be tricky to get rid of it completely. Simply painting over it won't solve the problem - as long as there's moisture in the air, the mold will continue to grow and will show up through the paint, or cause it to peel or flake. Before painting over mold, clean as much of it off as you can, using a mixture of water and bleach or an antifungal solution. Make sure the surface is dry before painting over it. You could also try treating it with a sealer before you paint. To stop the new paintwork from getting moldy, paint your bathroom walls and ceiling with a special bathroom emulsion paint, as this is easier to wipe clean and is formulated to help stop mold from forming.

Caroline Smith has a keen interest in home decorating and DIY. Visit www.showers-bathrooms.com for more bathroom decorating tips and advice on choosing bathroom sink vanity units, wall mounted bathroom cabinets and more.