Orange mold is not as dangerous as black mold, but it still looks bad and is not friendly to your health - mold spores can cause allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems. You need to clean on a regular basis. If not properly dealt with, the fug can spread.
Often orange mould in damp areas such as the shower is Serratia marcescens. This bacterium likes moist areas and will feed on soap and body oils left behind and might be seen as a slimy orange film in corners, grout, or along tile edges.
Serratia marcescens can cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and sepsis. It is especially dangerous for the elderly and newborns. It is considered a possible explanation for a medieval miracle that occurred in the Italian town of Bolsena, where, according to legend, “blood” appeared on bread during communion in 1263. The miracle was immortalized in a fresco by Raphael in the Vatican, but now experts believe that a colony of Serratia marcescens, which had a red pigmentation growing on the bread, was mistaken for blood.
Orange mold is not as dangerous as black mold, but it still looks bad and is not friendly to your health - mold spores can cause allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems. You need to clean on a regular basis. If not properly dealt with, the fug can spread.
You have to know what gives orange mold life to help you combat it. Its growth is stimulated by moisture, poor ventilation and soap scum.
Orange mould grows in the presence of water, warmth and organic materials. Showers are the perfect incubator if they’re allowed to stay moist for a long time, and the bacteria eat the remnants of shampoos, body oils and soaps.
Hard water deposits can enhance mold growth because the minerals in that orange mold attach to. Shower use over time without maintenance is perfect for breeding grounds for the mould.
Prevention includes keeping shower surfaces dry and drying out moisture. By wiping off soap scum and installing an exhaust fan, you can prevent mold growth.
Orange mould is less toxic than black mould, but it can still impact those with allergies and asthma, as well as people with weakened immune systems. If inhaled, it can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, or skin rashes if it comes into contact with the skin.
If not treated, the orange mould will grow in different areas of the bathroom, which could lead to increased respiratory problems or infections for the compromised.
But the mould needs to be removed as often as possible, and you need to keep it from coming back.
Read more: Allergy Cleaning: 10 Essential Tips to a Healthier Home
Preventing mould takes simple routine measures. Keep your bathroom well ventilated by opening windows or turning on the exhaust fan as soon as you dry off after a shower. The best defence against mould is to avoid allowing moisture to collect in warm, dark areas of your home.
Second, clean the walls, tiles and shower doors after each use, which will eliminate any pools of moisture that can lead to mould. Lastly, clean your shower weekly with a diluted solution of bleach to remove any soap scum or residue that can encourage mould growth.
In this article we describe the procedure for cleaning orange mold, step by step. If you do it the right way, it’s not hard at all! To start, you should get some protective gloves or a mask so you don’t come into contact with it. After you’ve done that, the next step is to choose your cleaning solution. Some people prefer to use an all-natural solution – a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Other people prefer to use a more aggressive solution, like bleach.
When your solution is ready, use a soft brush to scrub the affected areas. Leave the cleaning agent to sit for 10-15 minutes for the mould to break up, then rinse thoroughly with plenty of hot water.
Sometimes, regular washing won’t be enough and stronger cleaning products like mould removers or hydrogen peroxide will need to be used for deeply embedded mould.
Extreme mould cases might even need professional cleaners with strong chemicals and equipment.
If you’re still without results, check the grout or tiles for mould, as it can grow on porous surfaces that might be difficult to clean properly.
There are pros and cons to both natural and chemical cleaners. Regular cleaning with vinegar and baking soda are safe, natural, and environmentally-friendly options. These cleaners can be used for light carpet or bathroom mold growth, and require little physical exertion, making them suitable for a weekly maintenance.
By contrast, chemical cleaners such as bleach or commercial fungicide sprays work better against stubborn colonies, though they are harsh chemicals that can burn the skin, tiles and the environment, so should be used sparingly.
Read more: How to clean a bathtub from soap scum, calcium and other dirt without scrubbing
Orange mould does not grow evenly over the entire surface of your shower: it prefers certain locations. It often gathers in the grout lines between the tiles, and it accumulates where the edges of the tile meet in corners and on edges. The reason for this depositing of mould in certain locations is that these areas retain the wettest conditions and the greatest quantities of the residue left behind by using soap.
Other frequent sites are around faucets and drains, and under shampoo bottles. Plastic shower curtains can develop orange mould because they sequester water and residue, so make sure to keep them clean.
Why does orange mould grow in one bathroom and not another? Often ventilation is poor (a bathroom without windows or just a little exhaust fan), humidity can be higher. If the room is old and the grout or tiles are pitted, any moisture that does get there can become trapped; any substance will grow when some of the water condenses on its surface.
Mineral deposits from hard water can accumulate in damp bathrooms, creating more favourable conditions for mould colonisation since, after water evaporation, the deposits are left behind and provide more nutrients for orange mould growth and faster development. Orange moulds grow on walls of bathrooms in houses located in humid climates.
If you have a shower curtain or liner, you might notice that orange mould often grows on them. If you are not cleaning your shower curtain or liner often, it is even more likely. To get rid of mould, you can either put your shower curtain or liner in the washing machine or clean the item by hand. If you are machine washing, you can use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean it naturally: just put the curtain in the laundry cycle with both baking soda and vinegar.
If you decide to hand-wash it, put it in a bathtub containing warm water and add vinegar and baking soda or bleach. Scrub it with a soft brush and use your fingers to remove the stains from the mould. Rinse very well and hang the curtain to dry completely.
Although most kinds of orange mould can be removed with homemade cleaning products, you might want the help of a certified professional if it’s spread beyond the bounds of your shower, into walls, floors or other parts of your bathroom. Recurrent mould problems should also push you to call in a pro, as these cases can be a sign that you have a bigger moisture problem in your home – one that might be out of your control.
Professional cleaners can use solutions that are stronger and safer than your own cleaners and more effective at removing the mould, while, in more severe cases of mould infestation, such as with black mould, you might need the services of a specialist company called in to remove the infestation. In really serious cases, they might have to strip out the section of your home that’s been affected.
Read more: Must-Know Secrets About Cleaning Prices & Hourly Rates in Calgary 2024
Once you get rid of orange mold, be sure that it won’t return. It’s all about preventive maintenance. Bathrooms are notorious for rising humidity, so make sure yours has the maximum ventilation. Wipe down the walls, floors and shower after taking a shower, and use mold-inhibiting spray after washings. Weekly vinegar or hydrogen peroxide cleanings can also inhibit regrowth.
Instant mould-proof coatings or treatments for grout and tiles are available, too. These will slow the onset of mould so it can be cleaned later.
1. Is orange mold dangerous to humans?
Although orange mould is not as toxic as black mould, it can be responsible for health issues in some people: those with respiratory problems or weakened immune systems might find themselves coughing or itchy after exposure to orange or other moulds. Others with sensitive skin might get a rash. Even with the less toxic orange moulds, avoidance is the best.
2. How often should I clean my shower to prevent mold?
Orange mould won’t form if you scrub your shower weekly; clean the tiles, grout and other surfaces after each use; clean soap scum and apply a mould-inhibiting cleaner as part of your regular cleaning routine.
3. Can I use bleach to remove orange mold?
Yes, if the orange mould is extensive, then bleach works very well. Combine one part bleach to and apply it to your mouldy areas. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes before starting to scrub and rinse. Bleach is very caustic, however, and can damage surfaces if used improperly.
4. How can I prevent orange mold from coming back?
Avoid the orange by keeping your bathroom dry and clean at all times. Install an exhaust fan to keep your bathroom well-ventilated or open a window after a hot shower. Wipe down the shower after each time it’s used and invest in a shower curtain that is built with a mould-resistant material. Wash and routinely clean your shower with a cleaner that inhibits mould.
5. What are some natural alternatives to bleach for removing orange mold?
If natural remedies are more your thing, vinegar and baking soda are your best alternatives to bleach, as the acidity of vinegar kills off many mould spores while the mild abrasiveness of the baking soda can help scrub out stains. Hydrogen peroxide is yet another option that can kill.
6. What causes orange mold to appear more in certain areas of my shower?
The spots where orange mould often accumulates are those areas where the moisture lingers the longest. That might be in the grout lines, in corners of the shower, around drains or faucets. Mould feeds on the nutrients found in the soap scum and hard water deposits that build up in these areas. Keeping these areas wiped down and dried off can keep the mould away.
7. Can I install mold-resistant materials in my bathroom?
Sure, you could buy mould-resistant grout, tiles, shower curtains, and other materials that absorb as little moisture as possible and are thus relatively inhospitable to mould.
8. Is professional mold removal necessary for orange mold?
Generally speaking, you can tackle orange mould with ordinary cleaning supplies. But if your mould seems to grow back or spreads extensively, consider calling in a pro. A good mould remediation specialist should be able to identify why your mould problems persist, whether due to poor ventilation, high humidity, or a hidden leak.
Orange mold is a common yet manageable problem in bathrooms, particularly in the shower. It thrives in damp, warm conditions, feeding on soap scum and other organic materials. Regular cleaning and proper ventilation are essential to preventing its growth, while natural and chemical cleaning methods effectively remove mold when it appears. For stubborn or widespread mold issues, stronger solutions or professional help may be necessary.
By following the outlined cleaning steps, maintaining a dry environment, and using mold-resistant products, you can keep your bathroom mold-free and ensure a healthier, cleaner space for you and your family.
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