Because water deposits build up under a toilet's rim, it can take only 24-48 hours for colonies to start breeding. As it grows, you will see what looks like black debris or rings inside the bowl. This can cause respiratory problems for people as the mold and mildew release tiny spores into the air.
Flush the toilet and wipe the seat and rim with a 1:10 bleach-water solution. Scrub any remaining mold stains with a toilet brush or similar non-abrasive material. Add 1 cup of bleach to the tank and flush. For maintenance add 1 cup of bleach to the tank a few times a week or consider a bleach toilet tab.
If you see mold on your bathroom floor and covering the base of your toilet, it usually means one thing. The wax band that seals your toilet at the bottom is leaking. Since black mold thrives in damp environments, a broken wax seal seeps out water from your toilet which fosters its growth.
Toilets are the perfect place for mold to grow because they are often damp, have little ventilation, and are usually located in warm areas of the home (such as near the water heater). In addition, toilets can be a breeding ground for mold if they are not cleaned regularly.
The mold in your toilet is harmless if you are in good health. But if you're allergic or sensitive to mold, exposure can lead to health problems such as respiratory distress. Exposure can also set off infections in the eyes, lungs, skin, and other organs.
Black mold can be found in your toilet bowl or tank when you have been away for even a few short days on vacation. It can also happen if there has been waste left in the bowl for a while. Since humidity and dark places are where mold thrives, your toilet bowl and tank are prime breeding ground for it.
Typically this occurs when the cold surface temperature of the toilet cools the temperature of the wall directly behind the toilet. Once the wall temperature drops below the dew point, moisture condenses and mold growth ensues.
Or perhaps you are seeing some black stains in your toilet bowl or dishwasher? These unsightly stains may be a result of high levels of manganese in your water. Manganese is a natural element that is commonly found in water, soil, and some foods and, at appropriate levels, plays a role in keeping us healthy.
Pour a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Use your toilet brush to scrub the stains. Add a sprinkle of baking soda and scrub again if the stains persist. Turn on the water and flush away stains and germs.
Having mold around the toilet is something relatively common but that doesn't mean it's normal. Although most people don't realize it, you should treat the mold problem as your top priority to get rid of it since it's not good for your health, especially if you have respiratory problems, such as asthma.
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin.
Health Risks
Hygroscopic Stains – Pet urine deposits will actually absorb moisture from the air. If left alone long enough, those areas will likely breed mold spores. Over time, this will cause rotted areas to appear.
When humidity lingers inside a bathroom and it hits the cold porcelain toilet tank, it creates condensation. Although this is a seemingly small problem, it can cause damage to flooring or drywall and potentially lead to mold if it's not addressed.
Clean your toilet bowl once or twice weekly using a scrub brush and the EC3 Mold Solution Concentrate or Vinegar. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the toilet tank a few times a week to help prevent the mold. For toilets that are not used often, be sure to flush them every other day.
Black mold, as the name implies, is often dark in color. When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
Vinegar is a great toilet cleaning solution. Not only is it free of chemicals and naturally antibacterial, it's also an acid, so it will remove minor lime and calcium deposits. All you need to do is pour a couple cups of vinegar in your tank and let it sit for an hour or so, then scrub and flush to rinse.
These varieties of mold mostly look dark brown or green with Stachybotrys — the most dangerous kind common to bathrooms — appearing so dark that it's almost black and Penicillium sometimes having a blue, green or yellowish tint to it.
Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can cause a person to become allergic to mold. Molds can trigger asthma symptoms including shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough in people with known allergies. People who do not have allergies can also become irritated.
Black mold is a fungus that may cause your immune system to react. Common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation. It rarely causes serious illness or death but may worsen asthma symptoms.
An acrid, musty stench is likely caused by mould buildup in the toilet. “But I clean all the time,” you may protest. “Why does my toilet still stink?” The reason is that mould forms under the rim, (very quickly) an area that many people may neglect to clean really well.
To safely and inexpensively clean your toilet bowls, pour a generous glug of vinegar, followed by a heavy sprinkling of baking soda, into the bowl. While the mixture is bubbling up, scrub the bowl (get under the rim, too). Let it soak for 30 minutes and flush. That's it.
When cleaning a toilet bowl, WD-40 works by softening the rust and lime deposits, so they can be easily wiped away. You don't need to use much of it. Simply spray on the affected area, wait a minute or two and brush it away with a regular toilet brush.