What Is “Pink Mold”? Steps by Step How to Get Rid Of Pink Mold

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
9 min read

Your bathroom door was only open when you started reading online information on how to remove pink mold. Molds are well-known for their similar shapes, but their colors are what set them apart.

What Is “Pink Mold”?

Our first instinct is to call it mold if we see something growing in a wet environment, like a restroom. Water-borne bacteria, Serratia marcescens, is responsible for pink, light red or light orange development on the grout in the shower. Depending on the temperature and humidity, the bacterial colony may appear fuzzy or slimy. Temperature has an effect on the color range.

Poor hygiene after handling bodily fluids can lead to the spread of Serratia marcescens, an opportunistic bacteria (such as urine, feces, or pus). Babies, those with wounds that are open, and pets are all at risk from the presence of the bacteria.

If let to spread, germs can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, blood poisoning, endocarditis, pneumonia, meningitis, and bone infections via open wounds.

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What Does Pink Shower Mold Look Like?

It’s common for pink shower mold to emerge as a slimy buildup, although it doesn’t necessarily seem pink.

A red pigment generated at ambient temperature gives the bacteria their distinctive color. Salmon pink, orange, or even blood red are all possibilities depending on the growing conditions.

Where Does Pink Mold Grow?

There is a good chance that you will find Serratia marcescens in your bathroom because it thrives in damp conditions. It thrives in moist, mineral-rich soil and mild temperatures.

Pink shower mold is sometimes referred to as “pink shower mold” because of the pink residue that can be found in the shower.

The mineral deposits left by soap scum and the fat deposits in personal hygiene product residue make the shower an ideal environment for the growth of these bacteria.

When there is a lot of moisture in the air, “pink shower mold” is more likely to spread because the bacteria can float through the air.

Associated Health Risks

Although pink shower mold isn’t as hazardous as black mold, exposure to it can cause a number of health issues.

Serratia marcescens infection can cause numerous health difficulties if it enters the body through the eyes or an open wound, but it is usually safe to healthy persons who come into touch with it externally.

Elderly adults, children, and those with impaired immune systems are more susceptible to these problems.

In addition to humans, pets are also at risk.

Potential health risks to high-risk individuals include:

  • Infections of the urinary tract and the bladder
  • Difficulties Breathing.
  • Septic shock (Blood Poisoning)
  • Endocarditis
  • Pneumonia
  • Diseases of the Small and Large Intestines
  • Myalgic arthritis (Bone Infection)
  • Open Wounds or Sores Getting Infected
  • Meningitis

The Basics Of Pink Mold

Is pink mold, as its name implies, actually pink? That pink or orange sherbet-colored grout or caulking in your bathroom may automatically be categorized as mold. As it turns out, this is far from the truth.

It’s not mold that’s causing the pink streaks in your grout, but rather a water-borne bacteria. Serratia marcescens is the genus name for this species. However, just like mold, it thrives in damp and moist conditions.

There are a variety of ways it can appear, including fuzzy or slimy. The temperature has an effect on the color, which is why it might appear pinkish, light red, or light orange at times.

It usually grows in bathrooms, as in the previous illustration. Some types of plastic and cloth, such as the ones found in your shower curtains, can support the growth of this microbe. If you’re worried about it, you may learn how to keep mold from growing on your shower curtain in this article.

Not to worry, this tutorial on how to remove mildew from shower curtains may alleviate that crease on your forehead if you are already in this scenario.

In addition to the warm and moist conditions, poor hygiene is also a factor in its proliferation. If urine and feces aren’t properly handled, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

Keep an eye out for pink molds in your bathroom, and don’t dismiss them as a nuisance. With open wounds and urinary tract infections in particular, they represent a health hazard to individuals in their midst.

Babies and the elderly, both of whom have weakened immune systems, may be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of pink mold. That pink mold should be wiped off as soon as possible for this same reason!

What Pink “Mold” Really Is

Shower curtains and tile grout are frequent places to find pink mold, which appears as a fuzzy or slimy growth (and it’s not good!). Serratia marcescens, a form of water-borne bacteria, is usually referred to as “pink mold” or “pink mildew.”

In addition, it isn’t necessarily a true shade of pink. Owing to a red pigment created at room temperature, its color might sometimes be more orange in appearance.

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The Health Dangers of Pink Mold

Get rid of pink mold as soon as possible if you find it in your home.

Even while it is not as harmful as black mold, coming into touch with pink mold in the shower or anywhere else in the house can cause a variety of health issues. Elderly family members, young children, or anyone with a damaged immune system are at the greatest risk of infection. It’s important to remember that everyone, even your pets, is at risk.

The following is a comprehensive overview of the many health risks pink mildew poses:

  • Difficulties inhaling
  • Endocarditis
  • Ailments of the digestive system
  • Sores or wounds that have become infected
  • Meningitis
  • There is a disease called osteomyelitis (bone infection)
  • Pneumonia
  • Septic shock (blood poisoning)
  • Infections of the urinary tract and the bladder

Steps to Pink Mold Removal

When it comes to getting rid of pink mold from tile grout and hard surfaces (such as walls, counters, and ceilings), here are some tips:

  1. Wear gloves, a breathing mask, and goggles to protect yourself against pink mold. Mold and bacteria should never be allowed to come into touch with your skin.
  2. Use a loose paste of baking soda and dish detergent to scrub away all of the pink mold (in a 4:1 ratio).
  3. Rinse well.
  4. Spray with a 50/50 mixture of water and bleach or vinegar. (Never mix bleach and vinegar; the resulting poisonous vapors should be avoided.)
  5. Allow 10 minutes of soaking time.
  6. Rinse and repeat the process.

In order to get rid of the pink mold on shower curtains:

  1. If your shower curtain comes with care recommendations, make sure you follow them.
  2. Put two or three towels and the shower curtains in the washing machine.
  3. A tablespoon of baking soda is enough.
  4. In the dispenser, put 12 cup liquid laundry detergent.
  5. Warm water and a gentle setting should be used for washing.
  6. Dry out of direct sunlight in a well-ventilated location (outdoors if possible). Shower curtains made of vinyl or fabric should never be dried in the dryer.

Habillage De Moule Et D'humidité Sur Le Mur Rose Photo stock - Image du moderne, rouille: 67953342

Pink Mildew and Mold Prevention

Whew! It’s not easy to get rid of the pink gunk in the shower. However, once it is gone, you may easily keep it at bay by following these simple steps.

  1. After a thorough cleaning, apply a biocide to the affected hard surfaces.
  2. Your bathroom should be well-ventilated to prevent the buildup of moisture in the air. Before you shower, turn on the exhaust fan and leave it running for at least 20 minutes.
  3. Shower or bathe, then squeegee or towel the bathroom walls to remove soap scum.
  4. Get rid of any soap or shampoo residue that could serve as a food source for mold growth.
  5. If you discover a leak, call in a professional plumber to fix the problem.
  6. Make sure to remove the bathroom carpet if you’ve had a problem with pink mold (or have had one in the past). The rug or bathmat should be washable and dryable.

Conclusion

Getting rid of pink mold is not a simple chore, but it doesn’t have to be a source of additional stress. As soon as you learn how, your home will become not just mold-free but also healthful.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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