The Best Way of Preventing Growth
Mold is especially unsightly because of how harmful it is. These growths form when moisture and humidity mix. From there, these spores will begin to cause issues on your stone. The best way you can prevent the growth of these unhealthy spores is through sealing your natural stone.
STONETECH® Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a ready-to-use, powerful specialty cleaner specifically formulated to remove mold, mildew and even algae on natural stone, tile, masonry and grout. It quickly dissolves unsightly mold and mildew stains without degrading or harming the surface.
Clean stone weekly.
Cleaning your stone shower once a week can help reduce grime, water deposits, and mildew build-up. Use stone-safe products, rather than vinegar or ammonia. Such products are too harsh on stone; their acids break down sealants and discolor surfaces.
Over time, the water can weaken the stone, which can lead to fissures or cracks in the tile. Eventually, the water can penetrate to the subfloor, and once it does that, it can spread to other parts of your home. Water can trap bacteria in the tile, and it can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew in the subfloor.
Yes, your natural stone shower should always be sealed! To keep your shower in great shape – and keep mold and mildew at bay – we recommend having your shower sealed at least once a year. Instead of a topical sealant that may flake off or discolor the stone, choose a penetrating sealant.
Depending on where you live, you may to battle hard water stains on your pebble stone shower floor. If you start noticing white spots on your floors, it's time to take action. Spray your pebbles with white vinegar and let sit for about 10 minutes. Then, simply scrub and rinse.
To Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home
Keep humidity levels in your home as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. You can buy a meter to check your home's humidity at a home improvement store.
Although your stone walls do not contain sufficient nutrients for mold growth, the thin layer of dust that settles on the surface contains more than enough nutrients. This means that mold will always grow on your walls unless you're willing to wipe your walls frequently.
Mold generally looks slimy or fuzzy, tends to have a raised texture, and can come in a rainbow of colors, including deep green and black. Mildew is powdery, looks white or gray, always appears flat, and grows on surfaces.
Preventing Mold Growth with Vinegar
Store a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom and mist it over the shower stall after taking a shower, or add vinegar to your mopping solution to prevent mold growth on the floor.
The simplest answer is no, it is best to avoid bleach when cleaning any type of natural stone. Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state.
Vinegar has been found to kill 82% of mold species! Plus, it is great at preventing mold in the first place. Vinegar contains no toxic fumes like many other agents used to kill mold, such as bleach. Pour mild white vinegar into a spray bottle, do not dilute with water.
Clean stone surfaces with warm water and a mild soap such as a clear Dawn Liquid Soap. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone.
Unfortunately, vinegar is an acidic substance, which means it can cause a chemical reaction on your natural stone surfaces known as etching. Etching is a form of physical damage on a natural stone's surface that appears as a dull mark.
Diluted hydrogen peroxide works well on Sandstone, Marble, Bluestone, and Travertine. In the case of Granite floor, simply brush the area in dry condition. No solution is required to cleanse moulds or algae from Granite floor.
It is estimated that around 70% to 80% of dust is made up of human skin – a great food source for mold. Why Does Mold Grow In Your Bathroom? Moisture and heat that is present in your bathroom causes a humid environment that is ideal for mold spores to begin to grow.
You can also use Lysol® Disinfectant Spray to control and prevent the spread of mold and mildew, as well as its nasty odor. Simply pre-clean the surface, hold can 6” to 8” inches from surface and spray for 3 to 4 seconds until covered with mist. Let it stand for 3 minutes before allowing to air dry.
Water, Dish Soap, And White Vinegar Shower Spray
The next DIY daily shower spray you can make at home is a mixture of water, dish soap, and vinegar. This is a slightly stronger shower cleaner than the spray above and is recommended for families of four and people whose showers are used more than twice a day.
For lower traffic areas, like a kitchen backsplash or bathtub surround, you should re-seal your natural stone tiles every few years. Depending on the amount of traffic, some installers choose to re-seal their natural stone tiles every 18 months, while others choose to re-seal their tiles every 4 to 5 years.
Wet & Forget Shower has been tested on ceramic, natural stone, chrome, brass, bronze, nickel, copper, acrylic, rubber, vinyl, stainless steel, granite, slate, glass tiles, cultured marble, and fiberglass. Wet & Forget is not recommended for use on natural marble.
Stone should be sealed when used in bathrooms that receive daily use. “We recommend a penetrating sealer once a year,” says Tabbah. “It helps repel water so it beads up instead of soaking in and turning the stone darker.”