Attack of the mold!!!

**deadmort616** · 06-07-2007, 01:20 AM

So, for the last few months something has been happing that has been driving me crazy. The towels in the bathroom smell like mold after using them once.

I assumed it was because they were not being washed properly. So I start to use bleach when washing the towels. This does not change the problem. In fact it just gets worse with time. Now when I wash clothes sometimes the wash smells like mold so I have to wash it all again and again sometimes. The problem still persists.

Today I slipped on the wet floor and cracked my head on the side of the bathtub. This afforded me an interesting opportunity to view the ceiling of the bathroom as I never look at it.

The ceiling is covered in mold. It’s bad and black.

Soft scrub will not kill it. Umm.. yea, that’s bleach with bleach crystals. Bleach is the anti-mold.

Lime away got some of the weaker stuff off but that’s not much.

The fun part is when the lime away and the soft scrub touched each other and then fell off the ceiling into my hair.

What do I do?

**baxjul** · 06-07-2007, 07:22 AM

Try spraying it with full strength hydrogen peroxide, see if that helps.

**wildflowerpa** · 06-07-2007, 07:28 AM

After you get the mold off of your ceiling, they mnake a special paint that keeps it off. I think you can then paint it to the color you want. I have to do this with my basement as I am allergic to mold.

**cheappearls** · 06-07-2007, 09:45 AM

Ouch sorry about your fall but maybe something higher up was giving you a hint.

You can try vinegar to kill it.

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-07-2007, 10:24 AM

Thats scary, maybe you need some better ventiation in that bathroom? Try using a dehumifier. Keep the bathrom door open and try that paint the other poster was talking about.

**banana** · 06-07-2007, 10:32 AM

what about straight bleach in a spray bottle? Be careful not to get it on yourself. I use tilex on my tub area to kill the mold and it works really well. Ventilation is very important to stop the growth. If you have an exhaust fan turn it on, if not if you have a window open in. One of my friends uses a squeegie (sp?) to get all the excess water off her tiles and she says that really helps prevent the mold. If you place a bowl with white vinegar in it, it will help with the odors, but you must remove the mold first.

**Holly** · 06-07-2007, 10:55 AM

( Not to be the voice of doom here but )
Seems to me there has to be more mold than just the ceiling if your towels and clothes are getting it from the washer.
You may also want to get it tested as some molds are deadly. There is a house down the road that got a mold in it. they condemned it immediately.
They made them leave right then.
I am not trying to scare you but thats one thing I'd want checked if it was me..
I hope you get it straightened out soon

**Cricket1** · 06-07-2007, 11:14 AM

First of all: do you have a bathroom vent? If so, do you use it? Where does the vent lead to? Does it vent out to the attic or to the outside of the house? If it just goes to the attic, it is highly recommended that you have it vented to the outside. Furthermore, if it vents to the attic, chances are you have a mold problem there, too.

You could paint the ceiling with Kilz or you can go to Home Depot and get some heavy duty stuff that you have to wear a ventilator to use b/c it will kill the bacteria in your lungs if you breathe it in. You use it for two days in a row and sand/vacuum it off.

I agree that it seems like there's more of an issue. A few years ago (before we had a bathroom vent), my towels started smelling and it seemed that I couldn't get rid of the smell. I finally just broke down and bought new towels.

Good luck.

**FrugalMomof3** · 06-07-2007, 11:23 AM

Since the ceiling tiles have mold the mold must be above the tiles thus seeping into them, I would have the house tested for mold as it is very deadly if not treated. Also, check to see if your homeowners insurance covers mold JIC.

You possibly have a leak somewhere either in your roof or what have you that is allowing the mold to grow, I would have it checked right away.

**Marie78** · 06-07-2007, 11:30 AM

This post came at a perfect time for me. I was just scrubbing black (slick) mold from the window frame in my bedroom. This last winter the condensation on the windows was really bad and we wiped them down daily and it was futile. Well, it looks like the office and bedroom windows (the only windows we have) are very moldy on the frame. I used some antibacterial Fantastik spray on it and it didn't make much of a dent in the mold. We also get mold on the bathroom walls and ceiling, I scrub it weekly when I scrub the bathroom. I wish now we hadn't signed our lease to rent here for one more year. We plan on moving next year, I will probably call the apt. manager and see what can be done now. I wonder if this whole apt is moldy behind the walls. We get notices all the time for the tenants to keep their bathroom doors open while showering to air it out and help with the mold. I am guessing we aren't the only ones with mold issues.

**wanderlusting** · 06-07-2007, 12:21 PM

No advice further to what's been given. Just hoping the mold problem goes away quickly and inexpensively!

**deadmort616** · 06-07-2007, 02:31 PM

I live in an apartment and the fan is attached to the light fuse so... when you flip the light switch the fan comes on.

I do my laundry in another county {parents house} so its not in the laundry room here.

Should I go to my rental office and tell them that I have some mold on my bathroom ceiling?

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-07-2007, 02:45 PM

yes tell them right now. And if they dont do anything tell them you are going to call the health department or what ever it is that you are supose to call.

**Edna_E** · 06-07-2007, 07:57 PM

Here houses/apts get something called "black mold" for which the building and its contents are condemned IMMEDIATELY. Luckily, I've not had any direct experience with it, but apparently it can be deadly and/or cause irreparable brain and/or lung damage. I have had students who had it, and it seems pretty devastating. I'd get that checked out, and call the health office if you need some support.

**deadmort616** · 06-07-2007, 10:02 PM

Thanks for the advice guys…

I’m moving out in four months. Is there anyway I can put this off until I am moved out?

I am currently baby-sitting two cats for the next three months. I have not paid the deposit for them and I have no intention of doing so as this is a temporary arrangement and I don’t have the money to do so.