It is bacteria that naturally exist in everyone’s bathroom that causes mould in the right conditions. The moist, warm air that gets trapped after a shower or bath creates perfect conditions for that bacteria to bloom.
To reduce the mould in the first place you can take steps to reduce the amount of moisture and heat – you can do this by turning on a fan, opening windows and drying damp surfaces to remove excess moisture. This is often harder to do in the cooler months when you want to naturally keep your house warm.
But when mould takes hold in your bathroom or other areas of your house, then you need to take action fast. If you are exposed to and breathe-in mould fragments, the mould spores could cause health impacts including inflammation of airways, nasal congestion, wheezing, sore throat and asthma-related symptoms.
The first instinct will likely be to reach for a harsh chemical solution like bleach or chlorine. Common household cleaners like Exit Mould use these types of chemicals to eliminate mould. The problem is that introducing these toxic chemicals into your home can have long-lasting health impacts.
There are two things you can do to eliminate mould from your bathroom without having to resort to chlorine or bleach-based cleaners like Exit Mould, but before we look at them you really need to ensure that the excess moisture is removed from your bathroom.
If you have an extractor fan, remember to turn this on when you are showing or using the bath, to exhaust all the moist air from the bathroom. Leave it running for a little longer after you have finished in the bathroom to make sure that all excess moist air is removed.
Opening a window and allowing fresh air to circulate will help your bathroom to dry. In addition, use a squeegee (window wiper) in the shower recess to remove excess moisture from your shower tiles and glass before you step out.
Next, there’s a natural spray remedy you can use to stop the mould from growing in your shower while you’re out. Some people recommend using a Vinegar-based spray which is quite effective. The mixture is one part vinegar to one part water, but the downside to this remedy is the strong smell left behind in your bathroom.
A Tea-Tree Oil solution is a better option that does the job just as well and leaves your bathroom smelling like a swanky up-market health-spa. Here’s how you make it.
The Ingredients
The first thing you need is a trigger spray bottle with a misting setting. If you don’t have one or you can’t find it at your local hardware store, Amazon.com.au can deliver one quickly, just click this link. Next, you’ll need some 100% Tea-Tree Essential Oil – again you can click this handy link to get it from Amazon.
The Process
Into your bottle, mix 10 drops of Tea-Tree Oil in a full bottle of water. Give the mixture a shake and you can start spraying the mouldy surfaces immediately. You should lightly coat the whole surface of your shower recess, including the glass and tiles. The active anti-fungal properties of the tea tree oil will start working immediately to protect your shower from the mould.
Do you have a great idea for home remedies that don’t use chemicals? Let us know in the comments below.
