:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1290251942-d4fc1240bd3741688862c195ee6f794e.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1075&ssl=1 "5 Reasons Mold Keeps Growing in Your Toilet Bowl and How to Finally Get Rid of It")
Toilets are a perfect breeding ground for mold since they typically sit in dark, humid spots in your home. Luckily, regular cleaning and the right products can keep mold buildup at bay.
We talked to cleaning pros about the most common reasons why mold is growing in your toilet and how to get rid of it for good.
Meet the Expert
- Axel Avery is a professional cleaner at Oakville Maids.
- Alex Varela is a cleaning expert with Denton Maids.
You’re Not Cleaning the Toilet Enough
The number one way experts recommend getting rid of mold in your toilet is by increasing the frequency of your cleaning.
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How to Fix It
“If your toilet is prone to getting or growing mold, I suggest cleaning it once a week,” says Alex Varela, cleaning expert with Denton Maids.
Once your mold issue is under control, Varela says you may be able to scale back to cleaning your toilets bi-weekly.
Axel Avery, professional cleaner at Okaville Maids, also emphasizes that a little scrubbing is needed to effectively remove the mold.
“Just adding a cleaning product without scrubbing the mold is not going to work,” Avery says. Use a toilet brush to reach the rim and scrub at mold spots.
You’re Not Using the Right Cleaning Products
If you’re cleaning your toilet regularly, but mold continues to grow, you’re probably not using the right cleaning products.
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How to Fix It
Both experts recommend bleach as the best cleaning agent to clean toilets and remove mold.
Varela says it’s better to use straight bleach instead of toilet gel products.
“Bleach toilet gels are not as effective because even though they stick to the rim, their concentration is pretty low (around 1-2%), whereas regular bleach is around 7% concentration,” Varela says.
Warning
Bleach should never be mixed with vinegar, citric acid, or other cleaning products. Use one product at a time and flush multiple times between applying the next product to the toilet.
Along with the right cleaning solution, make sure you’re using the right tools. A double-sided toilet brush is a great option, and Avery also says a silicone scrubber is a good product since it’s sturdy and strong, but won’t scratch your toilet bowl.
Your Toilet Isn’t Used Enough
Have you ever walked through an open house and opened the toilet lid to find tons of mold inside? When toilets sit unused for a while, mold forms from the water and moisture inside the bowl. If you have a toilet that isn’t used frequently, it is more susceptible to mold growth.
How to Fix It
You can mitigate this by flushing the toilet more often.
It may also help to leave the toilet seat up in between uses to increase air circulation (but keep the toilet seat down while flushing).
Your Bathroom Has Poor Ventilation
Bathrooms tend to be warm, humid places, which is a perfect environment for mold to grow and thrive. Poor ventilation only makes it even easier for mold to grow in your toilet and in other areas.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
How to Fix It
Increase your bathroom’s ventilation by opening a window or running an exhaust fan, especially while showering or bathing. You can also use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture in the air.
You Have Hard Water
Hard water is a common reason why your toilet bowl may be growing mold, especially if the mold keeps forming between regular cleaning.
The hard water in your tank has a high amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause limescale. Once mold forms, it will attach and feed off the limescale, causing it to grow quickly.
“This [issue] is what most people don’t notice because [mold] grows inside the water tank and then from there it goes to the toilet bowl,” Avery says.
How to Fix It
To address the mineral deposits and remove the mold, Avery recommends adding 1 tablespoon of citric acid to the toilet bowl and letting it sit for a few hours before flushing the toilet. Continue doing this once a week for two to three weeks until the limescale and mold decrease.