How do I stop black mold from regrowing on my bathroom ceiling?

Question

I've scrubbed it all off with bleach before but it reappeared in the exact same spots. When I scrubbed, there were still stains. Is that the problem? It's spreading across the ceiling again and starting to work it's way down the walls. In some places, behind the black mold, areas of the ceiling have a faint pinkish orange hue.

I'm aware of toxic mold but I can't tell if this is the "bad" one. Is there an easy way to find out? How much does it cost to have it tested? Most importantly, how do I keep this from constantly coming back?

I rent this apartment and I don't have a good relationship with the landlord. He is a slumlord and refuses to fix most problems anyway. I'm really looking to take care of this myself without stirring up trouble with him. It needs to be as cheap as possible since I don't want to put money into something that I don't own.

Constant ceiling scrubbing is not really an option. I have 9' ceilings and no easy access to a ladder. I'm looking for more of a long term solution. I live on the top floor of a building (if that matters)

Answer 1

I have found that mold grows rather quickly with my children taking long showers. You can purchase a paint with a mold additive to inhibit the growth. I also have cleaned the mold and sprayed the ceiling with silicone spray. If you use this method make sure you have proper ventilation. This also works great on shower curtains. Operating a ceiling exhaust fan with a timer during showers to remove the moist air helps also.

Answer 2

Black Mold Ceiling

Answer 3

The cause is two-fold.

1. Mold spores embedded into the ceiling itself.

2. Recurring moisture.

1. Use a good commercial grade mold and mildew agent. There used to be one sold on teevee called 'insta-gone' that I still sometimes see in dollar stores around town.

Filtering the air will also help eliminate spores. A HEPA filtration device works best.

2. Dehumidify the bathroom. In the winter months a good heater should suffice. I use a large dehumidifier routinely in the summer months.

You should be aware that sufficient mold infestation can cause great harm to you and is cause to condemn a building.

I found a pretty good link regarding the problem of rental mold issues.

Answer 4

I agree with the first answer. Try your local housing authorities and see if they can check or give you advice about seeing if the mold is toxic. If it is and your landlord won't do anything about it, then that may be grounds to shut him down. But you have to give your landlord an opportunity to turn down your request so you can say that you told him and he refused to do anything about it. I had a bad landlord,too, so I know how it is. I will never understand why someone would get into the rental property business and refuse to maintain the properties.

Answer 5

The mold is likely caused by dampness. Try opening the window when you run a bath or put the cold water in first. If you are drying laundry indoors (we all have too) this will be another cause of damp air inside, cooking which produces steam is another culpret. Plenty of ventilation is the answer in your case as you dont want to speak to the LL. try speaking to your local enviormental health officer of private housing section of the local council they may be able to do something for you confidentially..

Answer 6

Sounds to me like you need a ceiling fan in the bathroom to get rid of the extra moisture, then clean the walls again with bleach water...

Answer 7

Use BLEACH to clean it, Then buy the PAINT that has a mold & mildew resistant in it, I had the same problem ( You can buy the paint at Home Depo, ) just ask the sales person in the paint department. ) Or they have a small bottle that you put in your paint when you re-do the area.