Toilet mold typically appears as dark, fuzzy spots or streaks on the sides or bottom of the toilet bowl. It may also grow in other areas of the toilet, such as the tank, under the rim, or along the base.
Mold comes in a lot of colors. Black toilet mold is the most common color that forms a “ring” in your toilet. This ring can also be from green mold or grey mold.
Toilets are the perfect place for mold to grow because they are often damp, have little ventilation, and are usually located in warm areas of the home (such as near the water heater). In addition, toilets can be a breeding ground for mold if they are not cleaned regularly.
Mold and mildew thrive in dark and humid areas (in this case, your toilet bowl and tank). Black mold can be found in your toilet bowl or tank when you have been away for even a few short days on vacation. It can also happen if there has been waste left in the bowl for a while.
If you suspect mold in your toilet, it's important to take immediate action. Not only can mold cause structural damage to your home, but it can also lead to serious health issues such as allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems.
Can black mold make you sick? If you have mold allergies, black mold can make you sick. Black mold produces spores, which can enter the air. Molds also produce microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs), which create an unpleasant “moldy” or musty smell.
Flush the toilet and wipe the seat and rim with a 1:10 bleach-water solution. Scrub any remaining mold stains with a toilet brush or similar non-abrasive material. Add 1 cup of bleach to the tank and flush. For maintenance add 1 cup of bleach to the tank a few times a week or consider a bleach toilet tab.
You can find pink mold in the shower, tub, toilet and other places around the bathroom. It's usually not as hazardous to your health as black mold and other fungi, but there are some pink mold dangers, such as urinary tract infections, intestinal problems and in rare cases pneumonia.
Pour a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl. Use a toilet brush and scrub the entire bowl. Make sure to get underneath the rim! Let the hydrogen peroxide sit for 15 minutes without flushing the toilet.
Having mold around the toilet is something relatively common but that doesn't mean it's normal. Although most people don't realize it, you should treat the mold problem as your top priority to get rid of it since it's not good for your health, especially if you have respiratory problems, such as asthma.
While it's not impossible for a lucky spore to make it inside the toilet tank, it's far more likely that a mold colony elsewhere is pumping spores into the indoor air.
A variety of mold species can grow in toilets, including Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys (also known as black mold). These species are known to thrive in moist environments and can spread quickly if not removed promptly.
"The biggest don't when it comes to toilet tanks is bleach—do not use bleach or products containing bleach inside the tank, as it can corrode the internal parts of your toilet. If you are aiming to remove tough stains from the tank, I also recommend white vinegar diluted with water."
You might want to lift the lid on the toilet tank. Most people don't pay much attention to the tank, but the water standing inside there can trigger smells — typically musty ones related to mold and/or mildew, which can grow in any consistently moist, closed space.
That's because there is always water in your toilet bowl and it is easy for mold to develop. Also the toilet lid is usually closed keeping the bowl in the dark. Mold likes water, dark spaces, and organic materials. You and your family provide the organic material, if you know what we mean.
According to McElroy, the first is an immune reaction to mold, which typically involves allergy-like symptoms such as sinus issues, runny nose, itchy skin and eyes, asthma, shortness of breath, and more. The second type of mold issue is a chemical and inflammatory reaction to mold.
These growths are known as biofilms or 'microbial slime' and are most noticeable in bathrooms and kitchens. If not dealt with at their onset some biofilms can grow into certain materials and become a permanent feature. What are biofilms? Biofilms contain bacteria and fungi that have grown and multiplied on a surface.
It may surprise you that in addition to killing more than 99.9% of germs, Lysol is a very effective killer of mold and mildew.
When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
Mildew is a surface fungi identified as a patch of gray or white fungus lying on the surface of a moist area. Mildew is easily treated with a store-bought cleaner and a scrubbing brush. Mold, on the other hand, can have colors that range from black to green and is often the result of a much larger infestation.
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.
You can also see black mould around your tub, attached to tiles, and on your shower curtain. If left untreated, black mould can eventually spread to the walls and ceiling. Black mould truly is “black.” You'll see dark spots that gradually grow across the wall. Walls absorb moisture and make an excellent home for mould.
If you want to really get your toilet tank clean, then you need to make sure you have the right cleaning products for the job. Vinegar is a great toilet cleaning solution.
“It's very important that if you see this type of mold — which is usually dark green or black in color and, really, texture-wise it's kind of slimy — that you avoid the area because if that starts to break off, the mold spores can be very harmful,” he said.