Any good decorator will tell you, the solution to keeping mould off bathroom ceilings or any other area of the home for that matter is to provide an environment in which it finds it difficult to grow. Unfortunately the warm and humid environment that bathroom ceilings and walls provide are the perfect breeding ground for fungus spores and why these are a common place for mould to flourish.

Mould is of course a type of fungus and left untreated it will spread across almost any surface very quickly, it’s not poisonous, although in recent years there has been a relationship found between indoor mould and damp conditions causing an increased risk of eye, nose and throat infections along with coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Regardless of the nasty ailments it can bring with it, ceiling mould is unsightly and nobody likes to see it, let alone live with it.

Ceiling mould flourishes in warm and damp conditions, 21 Degrees Celsius plus and with humidity levels over 60%, which is common in most bathrooms during bath times. To reduce the chance of ceiling and wall mould appearing follow the simple prevention tips below to stop the optimum conditions arising.

1) When you shower, make sure to open the bathroom window or at least use the ceiling extractor fan found in most homes. This will help keep the temperature and humidity levels down.

2) After bathing leave the bathroom window open for an hour or more. This will allow for the extra moisture and heat to escape, preventing mould growth or at least slow it down, stopping it from spreading.

3) Taking damp towels, flannels, wash mitts and cloths out of the bathroom and leaving them to dry on the cloths line, an alternative room or an airing cupboard will help reduce the levels of humidity.

4) Wiping dry the bathtub or shower tray will significantly reduce the water in the bathroom, which would usually evaporate adding to the damp environment and high humidity levels.

5) Use an old toothbrush or nail brush with anti-fungal bathroom cleaner to clean in between the tiles surrounding your bathtub and shower, taking care not to disturb the grout or silicone sealer.

6) Next time you decorate or if the problem persists then try an anti-mould paint. It will cost you more than a standard bathroom paint but that’s better than the unsightly appearance and/or nasty health conditions mould can cause.

If you found this article helpful then you may also find our post on how to fix a draughty door of help.