Natwerk Designs

How do I get rid of the mildew smell in my bathroom?

I bought a new house in August and I am so in love with it. I have a huge master suite and the luxury of it is often overshadowed by the somewhat smelly bathroom. I clean it twice a week, change the towels and wash the floor mats and it still has a twinge of mildew in the air. I don't want to cover up the smell, I want to know how to get rid of it.

Public Comments

1. lysol
2. Have you ever thought about using the fan? Maybe if you turned it on that would help.
3. dehumidifier
4. Mix water and bleach 50/50 and wash everything, including the walls. A lot of times, the smell gets into the walls. If that doesn't work, try painting, and airing it out. If you don't have a window you can leave open, try putting in an exhaust fan.
5. bleach and water. It kills the mildew. So no smell
6. The mildew may have gotten into the walls so you may have a version of rising damp caused by water passing through cracks in the mortar between the tiles or where the tiles join the tub or around the soap dish. You may need someone to check the walls. Or something could have died between the walls and is decomposing, again, you`ll need someone to check the wall. If the grout between the tiles are all blacken from mildew, you`ll need a powerful mildew remover which you can get at a hardware store.
7. I would say it is probably the flooring. There may have been a leaky toilet there, and they just replaced it and tiled over so you wouldn't know. Peel up a little corner behind your toilet where it is un-noticable, and check the condition of the actual floor. You might need to rip it up, get some luann plywood, and start the floor over.
8. Mold and Mildew could be caused by a lot of things, you don't want to mask this problem it could cause worse problems. I would definitely investigate it. Any water problems below or around anything in the room. But bleach is the only thing I know of that kills mold. Good luck!!! It could be a good cover up job by the previous owners!!
9. -Mold and mildew: grows wherever it can hold onto to (grouting, mineral deposits, scratched and damaged surfaces) it is best to prevent growth with frequent cleaning since it is difficult to remove once it gains hold. This is especially true for grouting where the mildew can leave permanent stains even if it killed. Bleach will kill and remove mildew more effectively than any other cleaner.