Mold is everywhere around us and it is important to see the signs of mold as soon as they show up. Whether it’s in the laundry room, your attic, or garage, mold only needs a few conditions to flourish: the right temperature (around 70*F), moisture, and a ‘food source’, such as the nutrients found in organic materials.
Your bathroom is a great environment for mold growth, due to the high humidity caused by the shower and sometimes the lack of a window. The orange mold in your bathroom is just one of the few types of mold you may find. Another common type of mold you may find in your bathroom is the black mold, such as Stachybotrys chartarum.
In this article we are going to talk about what exactly is the orange mold, where it is most likely to find it and what you can do about it.
Contents
What is Orange Mold?
The term ‘orange’ only describes the color of a variety of mold types, such as Acremonium, Fuligo Septica (also known as ‘dog vomit slime mold), Aleuria Aurantia, and others.
Aside from color, the main difference between orange mold and other types of mold is the texture. The black, pink, or white mold have a dusty, furry texture. On the other hand, the orange mold on wall of the bathroom looks wet, slimy, and lumpy.
When pressed, you will notice that it is moist and it bounces faintly. Once you prick it, it dries and becomes very difficult to remove.
How Dangerous Is The Orange Mold?
While disgusting in appearance, the inside of the orange mold is actually what causes health problems. Children, the elderly, and people with respiratory diseases are most prone to developing allergic reactions and infections, such as Aspergillosis . Even if you are not sensitive to mold, you might experience a skin rash, red eyes, sore throat, and difficulty in breathing.
Unlike the other types of molds, the interior of the orange mold bathroom is the most dangerous part. When you handle the orange mold improperly, the black spores trapped inside will be released and cause breathing problems and other health issues.
Orange Mold In Bathroom
The lack of ventilation, high level of humidity, and dirt residue create the perfect conditions for mold growth in your bathroom. The orange mold in the bathroom is one of the most repugnant types of mold, due to its slimy texture.
Orange Mold In Shower
Whenever you take a shower, more often than not, there is moisture lingering on the tiles and floor. When combined with soap and bacterial residue, it becomes a flourishing environment for mold.
Especially if you do not have a soft water filter, the hard-mineral content in the water attracts orange mold and not only. This is why it’s very likely you will find the orange mold inside the sink drain as well.
Orange Mold In The Toilet Bowl
Aside from the shower and the sink drain, the toilet bowl is the next best place for mold growth. If you are not careful to flush the toilet every time you use it, the bacteria inside the bowl becomes food for mold.
How To Prevent Orange Mold In Bathroom?
One of the most important things you can do to avoid mold growth is very simple – ventilate the room. You can open the window or simply wipe the water from the floors and tiles after you shower. Make sure you clean the shower regularly to prevent the build-up of bacteria and dirt.
Flush your toilet immediately and each time you use it to replace the bacteria-filled toilet water with a clean one.
If the water system delivers hard water, you can install a water softener to prevent build-up.
How To Clean Orange Mold?
Handling any type of mold by yourself is very difficult and could put your life in danger. The EPA recommends homeowners to get professional help in removing mold. Professional mold removal and remediation companies follow strict safety protocols and use advanced equipment and training to get to the root cause of the problem and remove the mold.
These are the basic steps the mold removal experts will perform:
Pre-testing
The Pre-test is meant to inspect what type of orange mold it is exactly and how serious the damage is. The orange mold might have infiltrated in the walls or floors even though it is not visible.
Orange Mold Removal
Mold removal technicians follow strict industry & New York State guidelines to clear up the mold. They use advanced tools and are trained to detect any sign of moisture, dry the property, and, most importantly, to remove the mold.
Post-testing
After that last step is done, it’s time for the Post-test to check the air quality and make sure the mold is gone. In this case, surface sampling is used to determine if the area has been properly cleaned.
Once your home is mold spore free, it’s time for the cleaning and disinfecting.
Orange Mold Removal In New York
The Manhattan Flood Restoration technicians are New York State licensed mold remediation contractors, License #MR01129.
We use professional equipment to identify the orange mold in your bathroom and restore your property to its original, healthy state. We also offer you advice on how to prevent it from happening again, depending on the circumstances in your environment.
Are you concerned you may have mold in your home? Give us a call and we’ll perform a free assessment! We serve all 5 boroughs of New York, Westchester, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Long Island.
FAQs
If you have orange mold in your bathroom, use hydrogen peroxide, bleach, vinegar solution, and soda water to remove the stains. Use a toothbrush or other brush to scrub the mold away gently, then wash it off. Remember to ensure adequate ventilation in your bathroom.
A combination of factors can lead to orange mold in bathrooms, but the most common is moisture without ventilation. Mold can also feed on certain materials, including body oils and soap scum, multiplying rapidly. Water leaks and infrequent – or improper – cleaning are also significant contributors to orange mold.
For minor mold problems, use soda water and a toothbrush to scrub between the tiles and hard-to-reach places, eliminating the issue. However, if this doesn’t work, you can mix bleach with water and spray it on the affected areas. Leave it for 20 minutes, then wipe off.
It depends on the scale of your problem and how badly the mold has spread. For example, some remediation services will charge per square foot, while others might price the job by areas the mold has penetrated. At Manhattan Flood Restoration, we offer free estimates so you know exactly what you’ll spend.