Mold Issue (long)

ccamp93 · January 2013

FTM. So my S/O is a 23 year old college student who was used to living on his own. Not many college boys think about things like cleaning other than taking out the trash, picking up messes, and doing the dishes. When I moved in I realized that our bathroom had black mold. So I tried to clean it, I haven't been able to get it all because the mold is under the grout and possible inside the grout. He didn't really clean the shower. I explained to him that because there is mold behind the grout we cannot bathe our child in that bathtub. He claims I am being rediculous. he thinks that because the mold isn't in the bathtub, its in the grout lining the bathtub, that it wont affect our newborn. What he also doesn't realize is that black mold sends out spores into the air that you breath in. This can cause alot of problems for our babies developing lungs. I just don't know what to do to convince him that this is serious and he is being irresponsible as a new parent and he needs to take this seriously. He thinks I am being paranoid like my mother and that I am being too over protective. I understand that keeping my child in a bubble is rediculous, but protecting my baby from mold is too? am I being crazy and overprotective or should I be concerned?

minerswife17 · January 2013

I agree with you 100%. I dont think you are over reacting in any way shape or form. Mold is a very serious thing that is usually taken too lightly! tell him that he needs to take care of it or you will call a pro to come in and do it. let him know how serious you are about it.

maxinelund · January 2013

I think I would also be concerned. Do you own your home or are you renting? If you are renting, you should probably talk to the landlord about it.

JSS1002 · January 2013

1) dunk paper towels in bleach

2) lay paper towels on affected area overnight

3) remove paper towels and scrub

4) if this doens't help, go to Home Depot and buy a caulk removing tool -- remove grout

5) Regrout tub

6) Do not use shower/tub for 24 hours

#4 is the hardest step. #5 will take like 5 minutes and $5.

I did this over the summer.

If he won't listen to you, you should be able to do this all yourself (except maybe the bleach part, but I'll let you decide whether or not to do that).

The end.

JSS1002 · January 2013

JSS1002:

1) dunk paper towels in bleach

2) lay paper towels on affected area overnight

3) remove paper towels and scrub

4) if this doens't help, go to Home Depot and buy a caulk removing tool -- remove grout

5) Regrout tub

6) Do not use shower/tub for 24 hours

#4 is the hardest step. #5 will take like 5 minutes and $5.

I did this over the summer.

If he won't listen to you, you should be able to do this all yourself (except maybe the bleach part, but I'll let you decide whether or not to do that).

The end.

6) Straigh men who live alone without women are disgusting. My husbadn bought his house when he was 21. He lived there alone until I moved in, after we were engaged, at age 35. It was disgusting. But trust me when I see that not only does your BF not care, he doesn't even SEE the dirt/ mold whatever .

skoogirl · January 2013

I would agree that you should not jump to the conclusion that it is black mold and/or harmful, although I would take steps to remedy it, including regrouting.

ccamp93 · January 2013

We are renting, is it the landlord's responibility to remove the mold or is it ours? I've tried getting rid of it, but it is still there under the grout and SO says it wasn't there when he moved in, it formed because he was lazy and wasn't cleaning the shower.

JSS1002 · January 2013

skoogirl:
I would agree that you should not jump to the conclusion that it is black mold and/or harmful, although I would take steps to remedy it, including regrouting.

Also -- to clarify -- is it grout or caulk that is dirty? I don't know as much about rmeoving grout -- what i said above applies to caulk, which is super easy to use and to remove, just time consuming to remove. Grout is different. If it is in the shower, sealing the walls tot he tub, it is probably caulk. If it is on the walls in between tile, it is probably grout.

ccamp93 · January 2013

Lol exactly!! straight young bachelor's (especially one's who used to roommate with a bunch of guys) just don't know what really cleanliness is. I actually had to quite my job in order to keep up with household chores and lately I've been slowly tackling each room and deep cleaning it before the baby arrives. With little to no help from him

JSS1002 · January 2013

ccamp93:
We are renting, is it the landlord's responibility to remove the mold or is it ours? I've tried getting rid of it, but it is still there under the grout and SO says it wasn't there when he moved in, it formed because he was lazy and wasn't cleaning the shower.

Again -- is it for sure GROUT or is it caulk? If it is UNDER something it won't be able to be removed unless you remove the grout / caulk.

YOu could call the landlord and ask but frankly, I'd just deal with it myself. Never had much luck dealing with landlords.

ccamp93 · January 2013

it is in the grout in the tile on the shower wall and behind the seal around the bathtub ( is that caulk?) is it easy to remove, clean, and replace both?

JSS1002 · January 2013

ccamp93:
it is in the grout in the tile on the shower wall and behind the seal around the bathtub ( is that caulk?) is it easy to remove, clean, and replace both?

See my note above -- can't really comment on the grout, but caulk is incredibyl easy (just time consuming) to remove, and recaulking will take like 5 minutes. The important thing is to NOT USE THE SHOWER OR TUB for 24 hours after you do this, to give the caulk a chance to seal without water interfering.

ccamp93 · January 2013

JSS1002:
ccamp93:
We are renting, is it the landlord's responibility to remove the mold or is it ours? I've tried getting rid of it, but it is still there under the grout and SO says it wasn't there when he moved in, it formed because he was lazy and wasn't cleaning the shower.

Again -- is it for sure GROUT or is it caulk? If it is UNDER something it won't be able to be removed unless you remove the grout / caulk.

YOu could call the landlord and ask but frankly, I'd just deal with it myself. Never had much luck dealing with landlords.

I think I am going to just deal with it myself. I did make steps to buying really strong mold cleaners and some supplies, but I think i'll get grout and caulk to and just remove, clean, and replace. If he doesn't want to help me then whatever, I'm doing this for the safety of my baby. Also can it get under the tile? I don't think I can change that or do anything that will damage the tile...that'd be extra money we can't afford to spend.

JSS1002 · January 2013

ccamp93:
JSS1002:

ccamp93:
We are renting, is it the landlord's responibility to remove the mold or is it ours? I've tried getting rid of it, but it is still there under the grout and SO says it wasn't there when he moved in, it formed because he was lazy and wasn't cleaning the shower.

Again -- is it for sure GROUT or is it caulk? If it is UNDER something it won't be able to be removed unless you remove the grout / caulk.

YOu could call the landlord and ask but frankly, I'd just deal with it myself. Never had much luck dealing with landlords.

Yes, it can get under the tile which is part of the problem. Before you dig into grout stuff, I'd contact the landlord. Caulk= cheap and easy; tile / grout is harder.

I think I am going to just deal with it myself. I did make steps to buying really strong mold cleaners and some supplies, but I think i'll get grout and caulk to and just remove, clean, and replace. If he doesn't want to help me then whatever, I'm doing this for the safety of my baby. Also can it get under the tile? I don't think I can change that or do anything that will damage the tile...that'd be extra money we can't afford to spend.

MechanicMama1 · January 2013

Regrouting is not an easy task.. You should deff calk the tub. Clean the tiles with bleach. If you are going to change the grout you mine as well rip the old tile out and put up new ones

azerimama · January 2013

Wow. My doc told me not to clean mold, and especially not to use harsh chemicals like bleach to do cleaning. As both of these things can cause birth defects.

Link to What to Expect's list for cleaning during pregnancy, this slide is specifically about mold and pregnancy: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/photo-gallery/cleaning-during-pregnancy.aspx#/slide-7

if it is indeed black mold, you're advised to avoid it: https://www.blackmoldstachybotrys.com/black-mold-and-pregnancy-questionable-relationship/

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