Mushrooms Growing In Bathroom – Causes, Risks, and Solution

Do you find it unpleasant to see Mushrooms Growing In Bathroom? I do.

Mushroom loves moisture; According to Bupa, Mushrooms are made up of roughly 92% of water. They are basically the fruit of the fungus that grows rapidly in the presence of moisture and humidity.

A bathroom is a hotspot for moisture and humidity, so mushrooms growing in a bathroom can be common.

You might have heard mushrooms prefer to grow in the ground, but that’s not true for all cases. Some of them prefer to grow in decaying logs or wood.

The tiny fungus spores present in decaying logs or wood, which are likely invisible, act as the root system that helps mushrooms to grow. These spores are so tiny that you’ll need a microscope to see them.

Mushrooms require high humidity and low light as their environmental condition to grow. And a bathroom is a suitable spot for it.

The primary reason for growing mushrooms in a bathroom is likely some leak that is keeping the underflooring damp. Another reason could be wet drywalls or wooden doors having fungal spores that support the growth of mushrooms.

However, you will find it disgusting to see mushrooms growing in your bath space because it ruins the aesthetics and builds up molds that are toxic in nature.

Before diving into the possible solution to prevent mushrooms from growing in the bathroom, let’s take a look at why necessary to remove them?

Is Mushroom Growing In Bathroom Dangerous?

In short, Yes. But there is no need to panic as there is no immediate risk linked with a mushroom. If this is not taken care of for long, it could affect people at different levels, causing a risk of respiratory illness and allergic reactions. It can also cause mold infestation, which is a serious health threat.

In general, Cup mushrooms (also called domicile cup fungus) are common to see in a bathroom. They usually grow on drywall, plasterboard, rotten woods, and other regions with fungal spores.

According to Hunker, Cup mushrooms can be dangerous and need to be removed as soon as possible to prevent children or pets from accidentally ingesting them.

Also, If this is not taken care of at an earlier stage, then it could lead to mold infestations (causing health problems like allergies, asthma, bleeding lungs, breathing difficulties, and more).

On noticing mushrooms growing in your bathroom, you’ll need to take immediate action by removing and ensure to prevent further growth. To prevent mushrooms from growing very often, you’ll need to identify the root cause and fix it.

What Causes Mushroom to Grow In A Bathroom?

As discussed earlier, the primary reason that causes mushrooms to grow in a bathroom is moisture. In a bathroom, the air holds a lot of moisture because of the bathing, while the room also contains a lot of wet surfaces such as walls, doors, and floors.

You might have observed; even if you cut down a mushroom, the next day, another mushroom grows from the same place because of the microscopic fungal spores present on the surface.

These spores are so tiny and lightweight that they can get easily carried to various places in your bathroom by the wind. As a result, these fungal spores get deposited at different places such as drywall, door, bathtub, walls, floors, etc.

With the support of moisture, these fungal spores produce their fruit, which we refer to as mushrooms.

Now, you can agree to the fact that bathrooms deliver the suitable environmental condition for a mushroom to flourish. It needs an environment having high humidity, low light, and a damp surface.

Therefore, only cutting down the mushroom won’t solve this issue. The big question is how we can prevent mushrooms from thriving often? Is there any permanent solution? Let’s take a look at them.

How to Prevent Mushroom Growing In A Bathroom?

Physically Remove Mushroom

The first thing you should do is physically remove mushrooms and clean the area with bleach water.

You can prepare a bleach solution by adding 1 cup of bleach into 1 gallon of water inside a spray bottle. And spray the entire surface thoroughly. If the surface is rough, take a stiff brush and rub it back and forth.

Only cleaning the surface with bleach water won’t solve this problem. It might happen to see mushrooms returning after a while.

Therefore, after a basic bleach wash, you must disinfect the area with a powerful disinfectant or fungicide.

Disinfect the Area

Disinfecting the affected surface with a powerful disinfectant is necessary to prevent mushrooms from growing.

The one with benzalkonium chloride is much recommended, it kills the fungal spore, which is the root cause of seeing mushrooms.

Along with fungal spores, benzalkonium chloride is capable of eliminating bacteria, yeasts, and viruses. Inhibiting their future growth.

It is recommended to use BenzaRid EPA registered disinfectant that can kill toxic molds, including fungal spores.

Whether your bathroom has a porous or non-porous surface (including metals, hard plastics, wood, and tile), this disinfectant is suitable for all.

Take the undiluted solution, spray 6-8 inches from the surface, and then rub with a sponge or cloth. Make sure you’re wearing a mask to avoid inhaling while applying the solution.

Replace Drywall & Wood

If your bathroom’s drywall is exposed to water for too long, then it can get damaged by moisture. Not taking care may lead to weak and soft drywalls, which again lead to fungal growth and mold build-up.

Most of the bathroom interiors use the standard gypsum board as their drywall. Gypsum boards hold moisture content up to 5 percent, which is quite low. However, there is a much better option to replace with, if you’re planning.

Greenboard drywall panel is one of the best alternatives to go with. It is more durable and a little expensive than a standard gypsum board, giving you a thicker coating of paper that is protected by wax for water resistance.

Fix Source of Dampness

When your bathroom is ideal, it should not remain wet always. If you notice dampness in your bathroom even after leaving it for hours, then it could be a problem of leakage.

There might be certain faucets or bathtubs with broken seals that are leaking. Another reason for dampness could be too much condensation.

When humid air comes in contact with a cold surface forms water droplets. This often occurs after taking a hot shower, causing water droplets to remain in the air.

Too much condensation could mean dripping water along your bathroom’s surfaces.

Therefore, properly maintaining ventilation in your bathroom is essential to avoid mold or mushroom buildup.

One of the most cost-effective ways is leaving your doors and windows open, especially just after taking a bath or shower.

However, you should consider installing a ventilation fan on your wall or ceiling because it effectively handles moisture-related problems by eliminating foggy windows, steamy mirrors, wet walls, etc.

With this, let’s see how you can add better air circulation in your bath space.

Ventilate Your Bathroom

If you observe too much humidity and moisture in your bathroom, it will be effective to install a ventilation fan.

When humid air is present in your bathroom, it makes the surface damp, attracting mold and mildew to form.

A ventilation fan is much powerful and can remove smoke, odors, fumes, and most importantly moisture, which is the main reason for mushrooms to grow in a bathroom.

It brings fresh air, maintaining a proper airflow in your bath space.

Here is a quick guide on how you can find your perfect vent fan?

Ventilation fans have two ratings; Sones and CFMs. CFMs are referred to as cubic feet per minute. For larger bathrooms, you’ll want a rating of 100 CFMs, and for smaller bathrooms, 50 CFMs rating will do the work.

Next, Sones indicates the loudness of the fan. If you are looking for a quiet fan, a rating of 1 or less will be fine. Beyond this, you’ll find it very loud.

FAQs: Mushroom Growing In Bathroom

Conclusion

I hope this post helped you in getting an idea, why mushroom grows and what risks are associated with it.

Do not panic about seeing a mushroom growing in the corner of your bathroom. Instead, relax and take the necessary steps to prevent its growth.

Your goal should be reducing dampness and maintaining proper ventilation.

If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, contact any housekeeping services near you. That’ll help!