How to Get Rid of
Pink Mold in the Shower

That pink or orange tint on your shower grout or other areas of your bathroom could be residue from your soap and shampoo, but it may be pink mold. Pink mold in a shower isn’t technically a mold; instead, it is a water-borne bacteria that grows in similar conditions as mold. While pink mold in your bathroom isn’t as toxic as black mold, it’s still unsightly and has the potential to cause health problems.

Despite its common name suggesting a pink appearance, this bacterial growth can change colors at different stages. The growth may look like red mold in a shower, orange mold on a shower curtain, or white mold around faucets. The range of colors depends on conditions like room temperature and moisture levels, but pink mold typically turns from pink to yellow to gray as it matures.

No matter the color, pink mold looks fuzzy or slimy and is often found in dark, humid environments like your bathroom. Whether you spot red mold or any other color, it’s essential to get rid of mold immediately and keep it from coming back.

What Causes Pink Mold in a Shower?

Serratia marcescens and Aureobasidium pullulans are the most common bacteria that cause pink mold in a bathroom. These airborne bacterial species love moist environments like showers, where they feed on minerals and fatty deposits in soap and shampoo residue. These same conditions could cause pink mold on toilet bowls, floors, and sinks, so if you find a pink residue in a shower, you’ll often find it in other areas of your bathroom. To learn more about the causes of mold in your home, check out this handy mold guide from the EPA.

The Health Dangers of Pink Mold

If you spot pink mold, don’t ignore it because it isn’t as dangerous as black mold. Because pink mold is a bacteria, it can still contribute to various health issues just like viruses, fungi, and other germs. Mold and bacteria can be more of a health concern for the elderly, children, and people with a compromised immune system.

Here is a list of common health hazards linked to the bacteria that cause pink mildew:

• Breathing problems
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Infection of wounds or sores
• Blood poisoning
• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract and bladder infections
• Don’t let pink mold affect your family’s health more than it should. Like any health hazard, it’s critical to take care of the problem immediately before it becomes more of a danger.

How to Remove Pink Mold in a Bathroom

The Maids’ first order of business for mold remediation is to gather our supplies and don our protective gear. You’ll be happy to know that we can get rid of that mold using non-toxic ingredients and a little elbow grease. For DIY removal, here’s what you’ll need:

• Rubber gloves
• Face mask
• Goggles
• Baking soda
• Liquid dish soap
• Distilled white vinegar
• Nylon scrub brush
• Spray bottle

Once you’ve gathered your mold cleaning supplies, head to the bathroom and turn on the exhaust fan and open any windows. Remember, moisture is one of the main attractants for bacteria and mold, so it’s essential to keep your bathroom ventilated properly. Besides helping reduce moisture, the ventilation will help minimize the fumes while you’re cleaning up the mold.

Pink Mold in a Shower

For a shower curtain with pink mold, you can either remove it along with the liner and put them in the washer or clean them in place. If you have shower doors, follow this shower door cleaning guide. Now, put on your protective gear, and let’s get started.

• Rinse the areas with mold using the hottest water possible and your shower sprayer.
• Make a paste of four parts baking soda to one part liquid dish soap.
• Use your nylon scrub brush and the baking soda paste to scrub the areas with mold.
• Rinse away the baking soda residue and mold with your shower sprayer.
• Mix one part water and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle.
• Spray down the entire shower area and let the solution sit for 10 minutes.
• Scrub any visible stains with the nylon brush and rinse the shower with hot water.
• Once the wash cycle has finished, hang the liner and shower curtain somewhere and let them air dry before you reinstall them. Keep any windows open and the exhaust fan running for a few hours after you clean to help reduce the moisture further. To remove pink mold in other areas of your bathroom, follow the same process for removing mold from your shower. But use a wet microfiber cloth instead of your shower sprayer!

Pink Mold Prevention

You already know that moisture, darkness, and lack of ventilation can promote the growth of mold and germs, so those are the areas to focus on to prevent mold from returning. First, make it a habit to run your bathroom exhaust fan whenever someone bathes, and leave it running for at least 30 minutes after bathing.

Here are some other things you can do to make your bathroom less attractive to mold, mildew, and germs:

• Rinse the walls of your shower with hot water after each use to minimize soap residue.
• Wipe down the shower and bathroom walls with a squeegee or towel after bathing.
• Keep the bathroom door open when you bathe (when possible).
• Repair any leaks from toilets, shower faucets, and sinks.
• Consider ditching the bath rug unless it is quick to dry and has antibacterial properties.

Your bathroom will always be one of the most attractive areas of your home to germs, mildew, and mold, so the best defense is to keep your bathroom clean, dry, and well-ventilated as often as possible.

Whether you tackle mold, germs, and dirt yourself using our handy housekeeping guides or let The Maids handle the dirty work with our popular house cleaning services, we’ve got you covered. Get a free estimate today and find out how we can rid your home of mold, germs, dirt, and dust.