Getting Rid of Mould in Your Bathroom

It’s always a heart-sinking moment when you spot those ugly, dark mould patches in the bathroom; mould isn’t only an ugly impediment in your otherwise sparkling bathroom …it’s also bad for your health, especially for those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions. The nasty black stuff which tends to like growing in the corners of your shower room or infesting tricky areas like the base of taps is sometimes known as mildew and it likes a nice damp environment to grow in!

 

Bathrooms of course are havens for mould and mildew and because they’re almost always damp, fighting it is an ongoing battle for most people. When it comes to the war against mould, prevention is the best cure. Some tips for preventing mould in your bathroom are as follows!

• Always ensure that your bathroom is well aired and open a window after a shower or a bath.
• Don’t leave shower curtains hanging closed, wash and wipe them often and always dry them off afterwards.
• Clean tiles regularly with a solution of white vinegar and warm water to discourage mould spores from taking hold.

If it’s too late to consider prevention steps then the first thing to do is to remove the mould which has already taken hold in your bathroom. There are several ways to tackle mould including many off-the-shelf cleaners but before you purchase any expensive solutions, try this homespun method instead and create your own mould busting fluid!
Mix white vinegar with baking soda to form a thick paste…do it in an old saucer and use an old toothbrush to dip and scrub! This is especially good for tile grout and although it is labour intensive it’s also very satisfying to see the mould stains disappear before your very eyes! For very stubborn mould, apply the paste like a poultice, leave for 15 minutes and then scrub it off.

If the sealant around your bath is stained with mould then this is almost impossible to remove; even neat bleach won’t fully penetrate and the best solution is to cut the old sealant off and replace it.

For stained shower curtains, mix up a solution of bleach and water and spray over the curtain where it hangs; rinse with the shower head. If this is not successful try soaking the curtain overnight in the bath with some bleach or biological washing detergent added to the water. In the morning, rinse and scrub with a brush to remove the last clinging mould stains.

If mould has grown on your walls or ceiling, try removing it with a coarse backed sponge dipped in a solution of bleach and water. This may work for relatively new mould infestations but if the mould has been at home for some months then it may need an over the counter treatment as well as a fresh coat of paint.

Remember though that the best fix for mould is to avoid it in the first place! Keep rooms well aired, don’t allow walls to run with condensation after a bath or a shower and wash your shower curtain regularly…ensuring that it gets the chance to dry out fully!
Mould is never welcome in the home but it can be successfully removed and avoided in the future!

The Officers House, Rye Harbour

Brief

The client wanted the external of the 18^th century property to be repaired and painted and also the tired hardwood floors to the ground floor sanding and resealing.

 The Works

The external walls were badly flaking and had many cracks in them. It was necessary to
cut out all cracks and fill with epoxy putty and filler. All loose paintwork was scraped back and any loose render hacked off and replaced.

The walls were treated with a fungicidal wash and stabiliser and painted two coats of white masonry paint.

The hardwood floors were sanded by machine and sealed with four coats of a matt finish hardwood floor sealer.

 The Result

A bright and clean external finish and the floors looking fresh and clean.

“Very happy with the works and the end result, the building looks refreshed” Mrs C

Mrs H - Child Minder, Battle, East Sussex

The Instruction

Mrs H, a registered child-minder, wanted a level decked area to allow the children to play outside all year without getting dirty.

 The Solution

After 180m of decking, 100m of joists, 3500 screws and 80 LED deck lights, we provided a full decked area of 50 sq.m to the rear of the property with a gate and fence to the lawn area and steps formed of decking to the garage, kitchen and lounge.

 The Result

"I am very happy with the decking it is very well done and will provide the children with a lot more outside play, exactly what we wanted” - Mrs H

BBC1 DIY SOS: The Big Build - Aired BBC1 15th October 2013 9:00pm

We were approached by the BBC to take part in DIY SOS: The Big Build and of course we accepted!

After 20 years serving his country, royal engineer and paratrooper Mo Morris was given a medical discharge due to prolonged and continuous damage to his knees. He has been left struggling to walk unaided, and suffers near-constant pain. He was trapped in his home, which was totally unsuitable to his needs - along with Nick Knowles, DIY SOS team and the local community we were able to give Mo back his independence and take the pressure off the whole family.

It was an absolute pleasure to be apart of this project and help this family to make their lives better.

Geof & Joe at work!

 

 Joe representing!

 

Geof & Joe with the DIY SOS Team

Finished!

 

Crown Agents, Sutton, Surrey

The Brief

Pilot scheme to upgrade an existing tired gents wash room in 1960’s office building.

The Works

Strip out the existing brick cubicle walls and all fixtures and fittings and to completely refurbish the wash room.

The fixtures and fittings chosen were high quality in a charcoal grey and blue colour scheme.
The non-slip flooring is in a contrasting charcoal grey and the walls painted in a brilliant white
eggshell to give a bright and light feel.
The ceiling was lowered with wipe clean grid and tiles.

The Result

A smart modern washroom in line with the prestigious client and to a high standard.

Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle School - Central London

The Brief

To modernise the 1980’s courtyard girls toilet block to be a bright and airy area with modern clean fittings.

The Works

The cubicle walls and all fittings were removed and a blank canvass achieved.
All walls were tiled in a white gloss wall tile for ease of decoration and cleaning.
The modern cubicle system was installed in a vibrant pink and soft lilac colour scheme, the floor was laid in a pale blue non slip floor covering.
A disabled WC was formed with all Doc M fittings.
Large mirrors were installed above the 9 electrically sensored tap positions set on a continuous 6 metre Corian trough style sink.
All WC’s are now operated by a push button flush.

The Result

“We are very pleased with the end result it has bought the toilet area up to date and gives a modern atmosphere”

Wessex Primary School, Golders Green, London

The Brief        

To update and modernise the toilets to the nursery class and middle school. Target for completion three weeks.

The Project

The existing dated cubicles, flooring, fixtures and fittings were removed and cleared and the area prepared.
New hidden WC cisterns were installed behind purpose made panels and cubicles.
We replaced the existing basins with a purpose made Corian trough basin set on a purpose made vanity unit to match the cubicles.
Taps are electric sensor taps which will come on when the hand is passed in front.
WC’s are flushed electronically via an infra-red sensor set into the panel, a wave of the hand over this will flush the toilet and hence hygienic solution.
In the nursery toilets a fish motif was introduced onto the door panels for the younger children.
Flooring was replayed with Gerflex safety flooring which has a seamless finish and has been taken up the walls to form a skirting which will aid cleaning.
The toilets were decorated in brilliant white to give an overall feel of brightness.

The Result

A clean, modern and easily maintained toilet area.
Completed works in two weeks during the summer holidays which enabled the cleaning staff to undertake the deep clean to the classrooms a week ahead of schedule which was appreciated by the resident caretaker.