How To Prevent Mold in Shower Grout. 9 tips from professionals

Cleaning your bathroom and shower grout of mold and mildew is all fine and good—but the fact is, it takes time and, often, a lot of effort. It would be far more convenient if you never had to deal with it in the first place. But is that possible, and is there any way to prevent mold from growing in your shower grout?

You can prevent mold in your shower grout by ventilating your bathroom and ensuring your shower area and tiles are dry after you have a shower. Additionally, it would be best to hang your towels on rods instead of allowing them to lie on the floor and ensure enough light in your bathroom.

Keep reading to learn more about preventing mold from growing on your shower grout. As an added advantage, these tips will help prevent mold growth— not just on your grout.

Tip 1: Ensure Ventilation in Your Bathroom

The primary reason for mold growth on grout and tiles is moisture. The tendency of mold to reproduce on moist surfaces is also why the grout in wet areas of the house. For example, your bathroom is more susceptible to developing fungi than a bedroom.

One of the best ways to prevent mold from getting on your shower grout is to ensure your bathroom is properly ventilated and has adequate airflow. This airflow will help your grout and tiles dry faster, reducing the risk of mold.

If you have an exhaust fan in the bathroom, turn it on as soon as you enter the shower. If not, look for other ways to ventilate the area, such as leaving a door or window open. If you go the latter route, allow your bathroom door and window(s) to remain open and ajar for 15-20 minutes after you shower. Also, leave your shower door ajar when you aren’t in the shower.

Tep 2: Keep the Shower Dry

While we don’t expect you to completely dry down your shower after you use it, quickly running a cloth over the tiles and grout can make a substantial difference. 

Doing this can be a hassle, so if you combine a few of the other methods outlined in this article, you can probably avoid doing this. However, if water happens to overflow and accidentally leak outside the shower area or create puddles of water, drying the wet areas with a squeegee is always essential. 

Tip 3: Hang Your Towels

As mentioned above, mold thrives in the damp. If you leave damp clothes and towels lying on the floor, it doesn’t matter how much you mop up your shower area—your grout will still get wet, allowing space for mold to grow. 

Additionally, mold can feed off of the organic fibers in clothes to grow at an exponential rate. The result? You’ll have moldy grout—and moldy clothes.

The simplest solution is to keep your damp clothes off the floor. Hang your towels to dry on the shower rod, and store your wet clothes in a laundry basket if you don’t plan on doing the laundry immediately.

Tip 4: Seal Your Shower Grout

Applying sealant to your grout helps keep it dry, even when there is moisture in the shower. It reduces how quickly water seeps into the grout, giving you enough time to dry out your shower area—or allowing it to dry out naturally.

Ideally, it would be best to seal your grout at least once a year. Sealing your grout won’t just protect it against mold; it will also protect it against the growth of mildew and other microbes.

Tip 5: Clean Up Soap Scum in Your Shower

Mold is a living organism – specifically, a fungus. Like other living organisms, it needs something to feed on to grow and thrive.

As mentioned above, one common food source for mold in a shower is the organic fibers in clothes. However, another source is the soaps and creams commonly stored in your bathroom.

While most people keep their soaps and creams capped, this isn’t the case for bar soaps and soap scum. If you use bar soaps, store them in tins, so they remain sealed when not in use. Also, clean up any soap scum buildup in your bathroom.

Tip 6: Let In the Light

Most mold grows with or without light—however, light can slow down mold growth. Some types of mold even die when exposed to sunlight.

Specifically, sunlight can damage the mold’s cells, preventing them from functioning as well as they should. If possible, ensure your shower area gets as much sunlight as possible. As an added advantage, this will also speed up the natural drying rate of your shower and bathroom!

Tip 7: Use Mold Resistant Grout

Some types of grout are resistant to mold and mildew growth. If you’re building a new bathroom space, applying grout to the area, or regrouting an existing bathroom, consider opting for mold-resistant grout.

Specifically, you should look for single-component grout or epoxy grout if you’re looking to prevent mold.

Tip 8: Remove Moisture Sources From Your Shower

A shower and bathroom are, by default, a damp portion of your home. However, there are specific steps you can take to reduce the moisture in the space when it is not in use.

Specifically, you should fix any leaky fixtures in your bathroom. Water leaks can increase the moisture content on your grout and, unlike immediately after using your shower, you will be unable to dry away the water constantly. By fixing the fixtures, you’ll reduce the amount of work and the risk of mold growth.

Tip 9: Use a Mold-Prohibiting Spray

An easy way to prevent the growth of mold (and mildew) in your bathroom is to spray the space with a mold-prohibiting spray. You can make this spray very easily at home.

There are two ways to make this spray. Both are just as effective, and which you choose is down to personal preference.

• Mix vinegar and water in equal parts. It’s best not to use pure vinegar on your grout, as the acidity can degrade the grout over time.
• Mix a small bottle of water with 10 drops of tea tree oil.

Once you have prepared the solution of your choice, pour it into a spray bottle. Use the bottle to mist your shower grout at least once weekly to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Final Thoughts

Preventing mold growth on your shower grout is a relatively straightforward process and can usually be done by being vigilant or using materials that you can find in your home. If you want to opt for something longer-term, you can also regrout your shower using mold-resistant grout.