Bathroom tiles provide wonderful protection against one of the most dreaded potential problems that can arise from too much moisture: mold growth. But as practical as this wall covering is, there are always some weak points in the bathroom that can be affected by it. After we have already explained to you how youRemove mold from the jointswe are dedicating today's article to all the other surfaces in the bathroom where mold can form. How to remove mold in the bathroom that has formed on non-tiled areas such as the ceiling or even wallpaper, on the window and on the plastered wall? And who actually pays the costs for removing mold spores in a rented apartment? We explain!
The most commontype of moldBlack mold is found in wet rooms such as the bathroom, but greener mold can also form there. Either way, you need to act immediately to prevent it from spreading and getting worse. The more the mold settles, the more stubborn it becomes. But of course it is not enough if you simply remove the mold in the bathroom. You should also determine the cause and do something about it to prevent new mold growth.
You can do it yourself: regular ventilation to eliminate moisture caused by laundry or water vapor, good heating and the removal of the slight mold caused by such causes. But what if the reason is poor construction or you would like to re-plaster the wall with lime plaster to prevent new mold? Who has to pay the costs?
Control and regulate the humidity
This should be between 40 and 60 percent in the bathroom. To keep them relatively constant you can:
- ventilate several times a day. When doing this, open windows and doors wide, as tilting them does not have the same effect. Allow fresh air to circulate like this for 10 to 15 minutes. This is especially true after showering or bathing. And the door to the rest of the apartment should remain closed so that the steam does not spread any further.
- Use a bathroom fan or fan for windowless bathrooms. This removes the moist air from the bathroom and allows you to use the window in the adjacent room for rapid ventilation.
- Use dehumidifier. There are chemical and electrical.
- Dry the wet walls and floors immediately with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Leave shower doors and curtains open after showering so that moisture can easily escape.
How do I remove mold in the bathroom?
You can also remove small areas of up to 40 cm² yourself. It doesn't matter whether you want to remove mold in the bathroom from the ceiling or from the wall. You can remove mold in the bathroom using home remedies from our article onMold on the wall. There you will also find out which home remedies really help. For example, you can only remove mold in the bathroom with vinegar to a limited extent when it comes to walls and ceilings. If you want to permanently remove mold in the bathroom, you should also check furniture and textiles. These are not just cleaned, but are best disposed of immediately, as any remaining spores can quickly spread from there.
The same applies to wallpaper, which actually has no place in wet rooms anyway. Dispose of them, then treat the wall behind them and then choose a covering that is appropriate and mold-resistant. In addition to tiles, lime is ideal. To prevent spores from flying all over the room when removing the wallpaper, you should moisten it well with alcohol or denatured alcohol beforehand.
And how do I remove mold on the ceiling in the bathroom? Light infestations can be removed with alcohol, which you spray on and allow to work. Then wipe off the mold with a damp cloth, which you must then dispose of. It is better not to work with products containing chlorine as they require protective clothing.
In case of large-scale mold infestationyou should consult a specialist. This can determine the cause and remove the mold in the bathroom.
Who is liable and bears the costs – your rights as a tenant
you livein a rented apartmentand have mold in the bathroom – who has to pay? Of course, that depends on who is to blame. If the reason for the mold formation is that you do not ventilate sufficiently or, for example, dry your laundry indoors, you are to blame. Blaming the tenant is also often a tactic used by landlords to get out of the situation if the cause could be construction defects. So if you want to have the mold removed from the bathroom and be sure that the landlord will actually cover the costs for it and for any renovation work, you must first provide evidence by explaining in detail that you have dutifully looked after the apartment. You can also involve witnesses here.
If you don't ventilate and heat properly, you have the best conditions for mold to form. The landlord also knows this, which is why he might initially try to transfer the blame to you. A common argument is that the tenant did not maintain a sufficiently large distance between the furniture and the wall. While it is true that a certain distance is beneficial for prevention purposes, you generally have the right to furnish your apartment as you wish.
Depending on the cause of the mold infestation, the landlord's or tenant's liability, household contents, residential building or elementary insurance could also cover the costs. You can clarify this with your insurance company.Basically applies: First, inform the landlord so that he or she has the opportunity to act independently, hire an expert, etc. If you do this even before speaking to the landlord, it could well be that you end up stuck with the costs. You can then set a deadline for the landlord to take action before you intervene yourself and, if necessary, have the mold removed from the bathroom at your own expense.
