You just took a shower and happen to glance up only to see ugly brown spots on your ceiling. What are they, and are they a problem beyond being unsightly?
The answer is “Maybe,” depending on the cause of the brown spots!
What Are The Brown Spots?
There are three basic causes of brown spots on your walls or ceiling after a shower:
- Iron deposits in your water: The iron will stay on the ceiling when the water evaporates, resulting in a reddish-brown stain.
- Latex paint: Sometimes ingredients in your paint may leach to the surface, causing discoloration.
- Black mold or mildew: Your bathroom ceiling is prime real estate for mold, and the early signs of mold growth are small brown spots. Poor ventilation and bad waterproofing can cause mold issues.
It’s advisable to quickly determine which of these three problems you have and deal with them. At NEWPRO Home Solutions we can help you remodel your bathroom with premium and durable products. If you partner with us you can expect everything from great plumbing to excellent waterproofing to help prevent mold. Read on to learn how to determine what’s causing the brown spots.
How Do You Determine the Cause?
Latex paint stains tend to be a little sticky and can easily be removed with soap and water. Rust and mold stains are more stubborn. An easy way to identify mold is to dab one of the spots with a cotton swab dipped in household bleach. This will lighten or remove stains from mold but not from rust. Spots in more than one color – black, green, and brown – are almost certainly mold. You should also check to see if iron is a contaminant in your area’s water supply.
How Do You Get Rid of Rust Spots?
If the spots appear to be rust – reddish brown – you will need to scrub the affected area to remove the stains. Look for one of the various rust removal cleaning products on the market to remove rust stains more easily. You should then consider installing a water softener or filtration system to remove the iron from your water. The iron is mostly harmless, but the stains can be annoying. Rust could also indicate excessive moisture buildup or a large-scale water leak.
What If It Is Mold?
Mold is the worst outcome because it can be hazardous to health. Black mold can cause several health problems, including:
- Worsening symptoms in people with asthma.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing and wheezing.
Mold in your bathroom can spread throughout the home. In some cases it may grow behind the tiles and in the drywall, requiring costly remediation. To avoid more extensive damage, any suspected mold should be dealt with immediately. Mold is ultimately a sign that you have a moisture problem. Even if you don’t see water stains, sometimes a persistent musty odor can be an indicator that you have mold in your bathroom. Mold can also affect the durability of your home and its physical structure. It can cause problems with the inspection when and if you try to sell.
To remove mold safely, wash the ceiling and bathroom walls with a household cleaner, rinse, and then wash again with a mixture of one part bleach to four parts water. Finally, apply a borate-based detergent and do not rinse. Wear non-porous gloves, protective eyewear, and a respiratory mask while cleaning, and turn off the exhaust fan so you are not spreading mold spores through the house. Open a window if there is one.If you have a large amount of mold, or if the mold returns after cleaning, it’s best to contact a professional. Also, inspect the shower curtain and liner for mold. Note that a moldy shower curtain is often impossible to clean and should be replaced. Always use a plastic shower liner to protect your curtain.
What Should You Do Next?
After cleaning the surface mold, you should monitor the area for recurrence. You should also take steps to reduce the growth of mold in your bathroom, which include:
- Running the vent fan every time you take a bath or shower.
- Periodically cleaning your bathroom with mold-retarding products.
- In some cases, ceiling mold can be caused by a leaking pipe. Check your pipes for leaks and fix them immediately.
- Wrap pipes to prevent condensation.
- Sometimes a roof leak can cause mold to grow on the ceiling or bathroom walls. Regularly check your roof and clean out your gutters to avoid moisture buildup which can lead to water damage.
If you’re unsure about brown spots on your bathroom ceiling, contact a professional who can help you establish the cause and devise a remediation plan. Mold should never be left to get worse, so the best solution is to deal with the spots immediately.
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