How to Clean Black Mold on a Tub

Black mold is a fast-growing mold that can cause serious health problems. This mold thrives in damp dark conditions. While there are steps you can take to prevent black mold from growing in your tub, once it is there you have to kill it and then take preventative measures. Luckily, cleaning black mold on a bathtub is a fairly easy process, and won't require much more effort than a normal cleaning, it is just a matter of using the right products.

Things You'll Need

• Scrub brush
• Face mask
• Hot water
• Blow dryer
• Bleach or vinegar
• Towel

Instructions

1. Put on your face mask before you even enter the bathroom. Mold spores are carried on the air, and you are getting ready to stir them up a great deal. Enter the bathroom and close the door behind you to keep the mold from traveling into the rest of your home. If you have a fan in the bathroom, turn it on.

2. Use the hair dryer on high heat to apply hot air directly to the mold. While this mold likes warm environments, it dies in hot ones. About five minutes should do it.

3. Spray the entire tub area with either bleach or vinegar. Some people prefer to use the natural method of vinegar instead of chemical bleach. Either one seems to work.

4. Allow this to sit for about 10 minutes. Then use the scrub brush to scrub the entire tub.

5. Rinse with hot water, and use the blow dryer to completely dry the tub. When you are finished, use a towel to make sure that no moisture is remaining.

Tips & Warnings

• Preventive steps include: drying the tub each time you use it, sunlight, increased circulation, and spraying the tub with vinegar each time you use it.

• Do not remain in the bathroom after spraying if you use bleach. Even with the face mask bleach vapors can be dangerous.