Check Your Bathrooms For Mold

Have you looked into your bathroom shower and noticed pink slime? Does this mean that you have a serious mold issue in your bathroom that needs to be taken care of right away? Surprisingly, the answer to that question is twofold. First, that pink slime is probably not mold, but you should have a mold specialist check your home. And when it comes to mold, the sooner the inspection the better.

Mold can be tricky and identification by amateurs is not always correct. It is likely that the pink slime in your bathroom is Serratia marcescens which is not a mold, but instead a bacteria. This bacteria is considered by most to be relatively harmless, but if it is left to grow, there are some problems associated with it. If this bacteria gets into an open wound (think of a cut you receive while shaving in the shower) or gets into your eye, it can be very problematic. In an open wound, this bacteria can cause a nasty infection, and has been known to produce conjunctivitis if it gets into your eye. If you or someone in your home is immune compromised Serratia marcescens can be more problematic. Exposure to it has been known to lead to infections of the urinary tract, gut, and chest. Worst of all, it is resistant to many different antibiotics. If it is able to enter your blood stream, an infection caused by this bacteria can have a mortality rate of over 50%.
Why does Serratia marcescens grow in bathrooms? It grows there because bathrooms are the perfect environment for it. It needs moisture, relatively warm temperatures, and food. In the bathroom it often times feeds on fatty deposits in shampoos and soaps that help it grow tremendously.

So if Serratia marcescens is a bacteria and not a mold, why is it a good idea to call a mold specialist if you find it in your bathroom? First, as stated before, mold identification can be tricky. Pictures on the internet or in reference books can give you an idea, but many molds are very nuanced and need a trained eye to really be identified. Second, Serratia marcescens and mold have similar environments in which they flourish. Mold also needs moisture, a suitable temperature, food, and oxygen to develop. The high humidity that is often found in bathrooms is what helps mold to grow. Mold doesn’t need an overwhelming event like a burst pipe to get enough moisture in a room, simply having a high level of humidity from showers can make the moisture in the air sufficient for mold growth.

A mold problem can be complicated, which is why it is important to use the right company for mold remediation, like Mold Solutions by Cowleys. We can identify mold and also find mold in areas you might not have seen. If it turns out that you do have a mold problem, don’t worry. Our mold-polymer patented technology latest makes mold removal, quick and safe.