Have you ever noticed a pink, or even red, residue clinging to the wall of your shower, or perhaps around the drain, or on the tiles in your bathtub? If you have, you might be wondering just what in the world this pink residue is!
The common name for this residue is pink mold. Despite the name, however, there is no immediate cause for concern and, fortunately, you can clean and get rid of it yourself! For the most part, everything you will need to clean pink mold is likely already in your house.
You might be wondering what exactly causes this pink mold found in bathroom showers and bathtubs. There are a number of reasons why and our guide will go into detail about pink mold in your bathroom shower, as well as how to clean and ultimately prevent it! I also have a full video where I show you how to clean pink mold below so feel free to check it out.
What Is Pink Mold?
Pink mold is the common, easy name for the bacteria Serratia marcescens, which is a water-borne bacteria. Since it is a bacteria, pink mold is not technically mold. This bacteria is not a cause for immediate concern but to prevent any respiratory issues it’s recommended to remove once found, which is a simple process in most cases.
Is Pink Mold Toxic to Humans?
Fortunately, since Pink Mold is technically a bacteria and not a mold, it is not as toxic to humans as certain molds that can be found in the home, such as black mold. However, it can lead to health problems such as intestinal problems and urinary tract infections. In certain, rare cases it can also cause pneumonia. Other problems that are known to be linked to pink mold are various respiratory concerns such as lung irritation, infections, allergic reactions, and more.
If you feel you have come into contact with pink mold or have been breathing in the air for a period of time, also if have some symptoms that may be related to pink mold symptoms, it is best to contact a health care professional for further information.
Is Pink Mold Easy to Spot?
Because of its pigment, which can range from a light pink to a darker red, pink mold is definitely easy to spot. You can usually find it in the bathroom, especially in the shower. It collects in the grout between tiles, around the drains of your shower, bathtub, and sinks, and anywhere else in the bathroom that is regularly wet or home to soap and shampoo residue.
What Causes the Pink Mold in a Shower?
Pink Mold is often found in the shower, usually on the walls or near and around the drain. This is because it does very well in damp environments and lives off of the fatty deposits and minerals left behind by shampoo and bars of soap.
How to Remove Pink Mold from Your Bathroom Shower (Step-by-Step)
Before you begin cleaning, you will want to put on a pair of gloves just in case, also safety glasses when cleaning with bleach. Avoid wearing nice clothes as bleach can quickly ruin it. But here is my 6 step guide on how to clean pink mold:
To clean your shower free of pink mold, you will need water, liquid dish soap, and bleach, as well as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Let’s get started:
Step 1: Add Your Warm Water to a Bowl or Cleaning Container
Start things off by adding your warm water into your cleaning container, I simply use a steel mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add a Couple Drops of Dish Soap
Next using a good dish soap like Sunlight, Dawn, or Palmolive, add 2-5 drops of dish soap to add a nice degreasing product to the mixture.
Step 3: Add 40% to 50% Bleach
Be careful when adding bleach into solution as it can drop in causing a splash. You do not want bleach causing damages to your body, clothes, or home decor.
Step 4: Stir Things Together
After throwing a glove on I begin stirring the solution together with the Mr. Clean magic eraser. Stirring helps make it a bit sudsy meaning its ready for use.
Step 5: Soak in Bleach Solution and Scrub
You can now begin scrubbing and soaking the bleach solution into the pink mold. The solution begins tackling the pink mold almost instantly. So I start scrubbing away the pink mold throughout the edges, grout, flat surfaces, and around the drain. Basically scrub everywhere because the bacteria can be present but hard to see. The bleach will attack and scrubbing will ensure it is removed.
Step 6: Rinse and Repeat Scrubbing
After scrubbing and using the bleach soltuion to tackle the pink mold you can turn on the shower or the bathtub faucet and begin rinsing everything away. I scrub and risne everywhere to remove the bleach solution. If you have a shower with a removable handle then use it to your advantage.
Take a look at the difference, the pink mold is now gone and your shower looks clean! If you have pink mold in your sink or toilet following these steps will also work on them!
You may want to take a clean rag and dry the area after cleaning to prevent a damp and humid space for the mold to begin growing again. Use a shower squeegee regularly too, this helps prevent pink mold as well.
Watch My Step-by-Step Video on How to Remove Pink Mold Here:
How to Clean Shower Curtain that is Pink?
Cleaning pink mold from your shower curtain and liner is easy!
1. Start by mixing equal parts water and bleach in a spray bottle. Remember to use a color safe bleach if your shower liner and curtain are not white!
5. Next you will spray this mixture directly onto the shower curtain and liner, coating both pink areas and seemingly untouched areas. It is best to spray the entire curtain and liner, to be on the safe side.
3. Let it sit for several minutes, at least 10-15, to make sure that the bleach has time to work and kill the bacteria.
4. After letting it sit, wipe the curtain and liner free of the mixture and then rinse with hot water.
5. If your shower curtain and liner are machine washable you might want to consider running them through the washing machine as well! Wash them as you normally would, but make sure to add some bleach with the load as well. Again, if your shower curtain and liner are not white, go ahead and use color safe bleach!
Read Related: 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Pink Mold on Shower Curtain
How Can You Prevent Pink Mold in Your Bathroom Showers?
All you can really do to prevent pink mold from appearing in your bathroom shower is to clean properly and regularly. There are a few tips and tricks that can help on top of regular and proper cleaning!
- If you can, keep surfaces in your shower as dry as possible to deter the appearance of bacteria
- Clean shampoo and soap spills in the shower as soon as they happen
- Keep your shower curtain closed so it can dry quicker and easier after showers
- Make sure to scrub away soap residue and scum as often as possible; at least once a week
Read Related: How to Clean Pink Mold from Shower? (With Video Guide)
Why Does the Pink Keep Coming Back?
The easiest, and most probable reason, why pink mold keeps coming back in your shower, sink, or tiles is because these surfaces are not being cleaned properly or as often as they should be. Since pink mold is technically bacteria and not actually mold, there are not any spores or roots that have to be removed to keep it from coming back.
Why is the Pink Always Located Around the Shower Drain?
The reason why pink mold is always found in and around the shower drain is because pink mold thrives in damp, moist environments, especially those with warm temperatures. Since shower water and bath water gather around the drain, it makes sense that pink mold is almost always found there.
Pink Mold in Shower FAQs
Will Vinegar Kill Pink Mold in the Shower?
White vinegar will kill pink mold in the shower! Just use a solution, usually in a spray bottle, made up of equal parts water and white vinegar, as well as 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and spray it directly onto the bacteria. Let it sit for several minutes, usually about 15-20, and then scrub. Once the pink is gone, rinse the area with hot water, and that should take care of the problem.
Will Bleach Kill Pink Mold in the Shower?
Bleach will definitely kill pink mold found in the shower! Fill a spray bottle with equal parts bleach and water and use it as a disinfecting spray after you have scrubbed the pink mold away. You can scrub the pink mold away with a mixture of bleach, water, and liquid dishwashing soap. Directions to and details of both of these methods can be found above in this guide.
Dropped Soap on Pink Mold Sink, What Should You Do?
If you get pink mold on your soap, you should discard the soap without further use to be on the safe side. Next, you will want to clean the sink or shower to get rid of the pink mold. Pink mold is not toxic but it can cause health problems so it is best to take care of it as soon as you can!
Is it Dangerous to Wash Pets in Shower with Pink Mold?
Washing a pet in a shower with pink mold is not immediately dangerous, just like with humans, but it can also pose health problems, as pets are also vulnerable to the bacteria. It is recommended that you clean the shower or bathtub of pink mold before bathing a pet in it.
Can I Use a Magic Eraser to Remove Pink Mold in Shower?
You can use a magic eraser to aid you in your fight against pink mold but a magic eraser will not disinfect what it has cleaned. So, you can use a magic eraser to get rid of the bacteria that you can see but further disinfecting afterward will be needed.
It is easy to do this; just use a mixture of equal parts bleach and water and spray the cleaned or scrubbed area. Let it sit for several minutes, rinse, and dry with a towel!
Final Thoughts
Even though it can appear easily and often, getting rid of pink mold in your bathroom shower is not hard. It just requires some extra cleaning. Fortunately, pink mold is also not seriously harmful and preventing it is simple enough with proper and regular cleaning.
With this guide, you should have everything you need to aid you in your fight against pink mold: where it comes from and what causes it, what it actually is, and how to properly clean and prevent it from appearing.
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.