What Is Pink Mold & Why Is It In My Bathroom?

You may wonder why there are pink splotches around your toilet bowl or shower drain— even in your bathtub’s corners, where water collects. That pink stain is millions of bacteria making themselves at home in your bathroom. It’s called “pink mold,” even though it’s not a fungus, like black mold. 

The red or orange tinges on your shower curtains, tile grouts, bathroom, or shower walls may also be pink mold. Older bathrooms with bad ventilation or wobbly toilets and bathtubs are pink mold-prone.

Pink mold is an airborne bacteria (Serrattia marcescens) that thrives in warm, wet areas. It loves to feed off fatty substances and mineral deposits on different surfaces in your bathroom. For instance, pink mold bacteria love soap residue because most soaps are fat-based. Pink mold is prevalent in areas with mineral-heavy water (hard water). Pink bacteria also thrive in human waste left behind when we shower or use the toilet. 

Pink mold is not as harmful as black mold, but it poses health risks to people with compromised immune systems. People with chronic illnesses or individuals recovering from surgery are vulnerable to pink mold. Healthy people with open wounds should also avoid environments with pink mold. 

Pink mold can also cause urinary tract infections, so you don’t want it in your home. It’s a health risk and hygiene issue that should be quickly addressed.

If you have an aging bathroom with pink mold issues, you may want to consider a bathroom refresh. Depending on the amount of work needed, you can have an updated, mold-free bathroom in as little as one to five days.

How Can I Get Rid Of Pink Mold?

Several effective techniques exist for getting rid of pink mold. Store-bought cleaning solutions specifically designed to kill mold are available. You can also use homemade cleaning solutions to fight mold, including hydrogen peroxide, chlorine OR bleach, baking soda, and white vinegar. It’s important to note that mixing chlorine bleach with other cleaning solutions creates hazardous fumes. Always use bleach solutions by themselves.

Follow These Steps To Prevent Pink Mold

The most important step in addressing pink residue or mold is preventing it from growing in the first place. Try these steps to prevent pink mold:

Reduce or eliminate humidity: Keep your bathroom bone dry in between showers. You can easily do this by turning on the exhaust fan before you shower and leaving it on for 15 to 30 minutes after you’re done. Leave your windows and bathroom doors wide open for a couple of hours whenever possible.

Keep shower curtains dry: Pink mold and mildew form in the creases of shower curtains and liners. To avoid this, make it a habit to stretch out your shower curtain the moment you step out of the bathtub or shower enclosure. You should also make an effort to disinfect or wash your shower curtain at least every other week or sooner. 

Keep shower walls dry: Sometimes, you may not be able to leave your bathroom windows or doors open or your exhaust fan on for too long. An alternative to airing out the bathroom is to give the walls a quick wipe-down with a handy rag or squeegee. 

Antimicrobial accessories: There are antimicrobial shower curtains that discourage black or pink mold, mildew, and other unsavory organisms. 

Have a bathroom cleaning routine: Routinely cleaning your bathroom can prevent and eliminate pink mold. A busy lifestyle may cause you to fall behind, but remember, prevention is better than cure. 

Sometimes, pink mold can become so bad that a homeowner is forced to engage the services of a mold remediation company. That could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the infestation. To prevent this costly expense, make time to sanitize your bathroom.

Pink Mold In My Toilet Bowl: How Can I Get Rid Of It?

If your toilet bowl has an unsightly pinkish pigment, you can remove the mold with a bleached-based cleaning solution or disinfectant. You can also coat the affected area with a mixture of baking soda and dish soap. To do this:

1. After putting on cleaning gloves, mix a cup of baking soda with two tablespoons of liquid dishwasher.
2. Generously apply the mix to the inside of the toilet bowl.
3. Scour the bowl with a thick-bristled scrub brush
4. You may also need to repeat the steps a couple of times to get rid of the pink residue. 
5. Use the same mixture to treat the toilet tank, shower heads, faucets, and even the shower doors and walls. 

You can also put white vinegar in a spray bottle and douse the affected areas. After about thirty minutes, scrub and rinse the area with hot water. 

It may be time for an updated, mold-free bathroom that reflects your style. Ready for a spa-like bathroom with high-quality materials and installation? Contact Alure today for your budget-friendly bathroom.