Knowing what is pink mold allows you to recognize it quickly and remove it before it spreads. Bacteria and other kinds of fungi can cause pink mold.
Once you recognize what pink mold is, you can begin to have it removed and find ways to prevent it from coming back. Please continue reading to learn in detail what pink mold is, its causes, and how to prevent them from coming into your home.
What Pink Mold Really Is
The slimy pink mold you see on the dark, damp corners of your home can come from three different species. The most common cause of pink mold is Serratia marcescens, which is a species of bacteria.
- marcescens has colors ranging from pink to orange at room temperature. You will often find it in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room, where it can eat the fat and phosphorus from soap residue.
You can also find them in between your bathroom tiles, toilets, and sinks. Sometimes, it can even find its way to the carpets and walls.
Despite its stunning pink hue, S. marcescens is implicated in a number of serious infections. The bacteria can cause severe pneumonia, respiratory tract and urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, meningitis, wound infection, and keratitis, among other ailments.
Pink mold can also come from two different types of fungi called Aureobasidium pullulans and Fusarium. Aureobasidium pullulans naturally occur on some crops and can grow on your houseplants before moving into your bathroom and kitchen walls, window frames, and carpets.
Fusarium fungi rarely appear in households, but they often start on houseplants before moving somewhere damper. Like the bacteria, these fungi give off light pink hues but can change to other colors as well.
If you want to be aware of other types of mold that can grow in your home, here is a helpful article about what black mold on wood looks like.
What Causes Pink Mold?
Pink mold, as well as other types of mold, enters your home through fungal spores. In addition to being airborne, the bacteria S. marcescens can also enter your home if you step on dirt where they grow.
Mold likes wet organic material, such as damp wood on window frames and ceilings, as well as carpets, papers, and wallpapers. They can also feed on phosphorus and fats from shampoo and soap.
Once the spores and bacteria find a suitable place to stay, they latch on and multiply rapidly. In doing so, they can show up as visible colonies with various hues, textures, and adverse health effects.
How To Prevent Pink Mold From Entering Your Home
In order to prevent pink mold from entering your home, you will need to fix any and all sources of moisture. That means repairing any leaks that affect the wood and organic material of your home.
You can also rinse off and dry the areas you often use before leaving them, such as the sink and the bathroom. To help you prevent all kinds of mold from getting into your home, here is a helpful article about the three easy methods on how to get rid of mold spores in the air.
How To Remove Pink Mold
Even after putting preventive measures in effect, fungal spores and bacteria can still find their way to your home. Luckily, there are a number of easy ways to remove pink mold once they manifest.
Step #1. Protect yourself
Before attempting to remove any kind of mold, you should wear personal protective equipment such as masks, goggles, and gloves. Having protection prevents the bacteria from entering through your eyes, nose, and any open wounds.
Step #2. Prepare your tools
To remove pink mold, you will need a paste made of one part dish soap and three parts baking soda. You will also need a solution of one part bleach and one part water for disinfection.
Step #3. Scrub away the film
The pink slimy mold on your bathroom is caused by a bacterial colony. It can only be removed through agitation and disinfection.
Dip a soft-bristle brush into the baking soda and dish soap paste and begin vigorously scrubbing the film. Once the film has been loosened and lifted, wipe the area with a wet towel or flush it down the drain using water from a showerhead.
Step #4. Disinfect the area
To prevent the bacteria from coming back, you will need to disinfect the area. Spray the bleach solution over the area you scrubbed and let it sit for around 10 minutes.
Afterward, scrub the area with a brush and rinse. After rinsing, it would be best to dry the surface using a clean towel.
If the mold is extensive and is irremovable after all your efforts, it would be best to contact your local mold removal and remediation specialists. They will use professional tools and solutions to handle widespread mold growth.
Conclusion
Answering the question of what is pink mold allows homeowners to identify and quickly act on the first signs of mold growth. By finding out the causes, prevention and removal methods, you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe from serious infections and disease.