Your bathroom is one of the most contaminated areas of your home, other than your kitchen. It’s not just full of bacteria and faecal matter, it can also harbor unhealthy mold.
In fact, mold loves warm, damp, and humid conditions, where it spreads easily and can cause major respiratory problems, such as asthma (1,2). This is especially true if you’re not cleaning your shower enough.
Common symptoms of household mold are :
- Nasal stuffiness
- Eye irritation
- Wheezing
- Skin irritation
- Frequent coughing
Most people treat their home with bleach to kill off mold, especially on bathroom grout, where soap scum creates a spore-friendly environment.
However, these chemicals are so toxic that it’s recommended to use protective clothing, eye wear and use it in a well-ventilated space. Breathing fumes from bleach can cause light headedness and nausea.
Luckily, there are lots of natural alternatives that you can use to clean your home while killing mold and harmful bacteria.
How To Make An All-natural Grout Cleaner
This easy recipe is all your need. Plus, it only requires a few minutes to make!
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide
Instructions: Combine all the ingredients in a small squeeze top bottle, like a clean ketchup bottle.
The hydrogen peroxide will whiten and clean the stains and tiles naturally while the baking soda acts as a scrub to remove soap scum between the tiles and stubborn stains.
How To Use:
Mild stains: Apply the mix on a soft wet sponge and gently scrub the tiles and bathroom areas with it. Rinse with water immediately.
Harsh stains: Apply the mixture on the grout and tiles and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. After that, scrub and wipe stains away and rinse.
Maintenance: To prevent mold and gunk from accumulating on grout, mix water and vinegar in a ratio 1:1. Next, pour it in a spray bottle next to the shower and spray down the grout 2-3 times a week.
sources:
[1]https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm
[2]https://www.medicinenet.com/mold_exposure/page4.htm