It is bacteria known as Serratia marcescens, according to Roxanne Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension Service water quality associate. You may find this bacterium in moist areas such as toilet bowls, sinks, tiles, shower stalls, bathtub enclosures and even your pet's water dish.
Toilets often develop a pink or slightly orange ring around the bowl right at the waterline, especially if the toilet is rarely used. It probably isn't rust or a mineral. The bad news is that slimy, anaerobic bacteria called Serratia Marcescens cause this ring.
To control Serratia marcescens in toilets
Clean the bowl thoroughly and spray chlorine bleach into the bowl and under the bowl rim. Also add 1/4 cup of bleach to the toilet tank.
That's usually some bacteria called Serratia Marcescens. Your water isn't really to blame when it comes to these types of pink stains. Because the Serratia bacteria are airborne, they're carried in from outside. They thrive in damp environments, but a couple simple practices will keep them from always showing up.
Sometimes, a chemical cleaner can't compete with that stubborn red ring. However, if you're in search of a miracle, then a simple solution of Borax and vinegar will help remove that dreaded mark with ease. To start, you'll want to pour ¼ cup of Borax evenly into your toilet, followed by 1 cup of vinegar.
To remove limescale from the bottom of your toilet you will want to pour vinegar into your toilet bowl and leave that on there for three to four hours. After the vinegar sits, you can scrub those stains with either a toilet brush or a wet pumice stone and flush the toilet.
About the Bacteria
Many experts agree that the bacteria that causes these pink stains is most likely Serratia marcescens, a bacteria which is found naturally in soil, food, and in animals. Serratia, which produce a characteristic red pigment, thrive on moisture, dust, and phosphates and need almost nothing to survive.
While many people believe the stains to be a sign of poor-quality or overly metallic hard water, most likely it is a bacteria known as Serratia Marcescens.
marcescens has been shown to cause a wide range of infectious diseases, including urinary, respiratory, and biliary tract infections, peritonitis, wound infections, and intravenous catheter-related infections, which can also lead to life-threatening bacteremia.
For most healthy people, Serratia marcescens or Aureobasidium pullulans shouldn't pose any health risks if you touch them while bathing or cleaning as long as they don't enter the body. (Avoid touching your eyes or an open wound with contaminated surfaces such as your hands.)
S. marcescens bacteria is known to cause a variety of different types of human infections, including: urinary tract infections (UTIs), respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis, tear duct infections, and keratitis. Although extremely rare, it can also cause pneumonia and meningitis.
For your toilet bowl, use the chlorine bleach and line your entire toilet bowl with the bleach solution. Check in the toilet tank for any pink residue, and add bleach in the tank as well if you see the presence of any pink residue in it.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa was killed in 10 seconds by all concentrations of ethanol from 30% to 100% (v/v), and Serratia marcescens, E, coli and Salmonella typhosa were killed in 10 seconds by all concentrations of ethanol from 40% to 100%.
Approximately 30% to 50% of patients with Serratia urinary tract infections are asymptomatic. Symptoms may include fever, frequent urination, dysuria, pyuria, or pain upon urination. In 90% of cases, patients have a history of recent surgery or instrumentation of the urinary tract.
Serratia infections should be treated with an aminoglycoside plus an antipseudomonal beta-lactam, as the single use of a beta-lactam can select for resistant strains.
The best product to use is bleach. Bleach can kill pink mold bacteria, and also tackle any stains it leaves behind.
As gross as it sounds, the bacterial species that causes pink mold was most likely brought about through bodily fluids such as urine, pus from infected wounds, or feces. When the bacteria is able to latch onto surfaces through these bodily wastes, they can multiply and grow their colonies.
Suit up and use baking soda to scrub the biofilm off of hard bathroom surfaces. The stubborn biofilm of Serratia marcescens can only be removed through agitation and elbow grease. Start by mixing up a slightly runny paste consisting of ¼ cup baking soda and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a small bowl.
Gram-negative organisms
Gram-negative bacteria have cell walls with thin layers of peptidoglycan (10% of the cell wall) and high lipid (fatty acid) content. This causes them to appear red to pink under a Gram stain.
After gram staining, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus turn purple and gram-negative Escherichia coli turn pink.
Gram-positive organisms are either purple or blue in color, while gram-negative organisms are either pink or red in color.
Cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the bathroom can work really well. To clean your toilet with vinegar, pour a cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let sit overnight. The next morning, sprinkle a little baking soda into the bowl, scrub, and then flush clean.
If the clog still seems to be intact, start over at step 1 and repeat the process a couple of times. For extra-stubborn clogs, you can let the fizz mixture sit overnight or combine this method with plunging.
Bleach can be used for mold and Serratia marcescens. If you opt for this course of action, make sure you have good ventilation in the room, and never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia as it can cause toxic fumes.