Bathroom & Window Mould
Small surface spots you can often clean yourself. Bigger patches, or mould that keeps coming back, we'll remove and fix the cause.
- ✓ 24/7 emergency line
- ✓ Serving Edmonton and area
Signs you need this
- Black spots on caulking, grout or the bathroom ceiling
- Water running down windows on cold mornings
- Mould on window sills, frames or the drywall below
- Peeling paint above the shower
Why it happens in Edmonton winters
Mould grows indoors where there’s high humidity or condensation. Bathrooms make plenty of humidity. In winter, windows and outside walls get cold. When warm, moist air touches a cold surface, water condenses on it. That’s why Edmonton windows run with water on cold mornings, and why the sill, frame and drywall underneath can grow mould.
DIY or call a pro?
You can usually clean it yourself if:
- it’s small surface spotting on tile, glass, caulking or painted surfaces, and
- there are three or fewer patches, less than about 10 square feet (1 m²) in total. That’s Health Canada’s limit for small areas you can clean yourself.
Use soap and water and a scrub brush, wear gloves, and dry the area well. Replace caulking that’s stained through.
Call a pro if:
- there are more than three patches, or more than about 10 square feet in total (Health Canada recommends an expert assessment),
- it’s in or behind drywall, or keeps coming back after cleaning,
- there’s a musty smell but you can’t see the source, or
- someone in the house has asthma or breathing problems.
Our guide can I clean mould myself? goes into more detail.
What we do
We check how far the mould goes, including behind drywall around tubs and showers. Mouldy caulking, drywall and trim are removed and the area is cleaned. Then we fix the cause:
- Bathroom fans that vent outside, move enough air and run after every shower.
- Window condensation controlled by lowering indoor humidity and improving air movement over the glass.
Mould behind the shower
If tiles are loose or grout has failed, water may be getting into the wall behind. That’s a bigger job and may need the wall opened. We’ll show you what we find.
Our process
Check the extent
Surface spots on tile are different from mould behind drywall. We look and measure moisture.
Remove what's affected
Mouldy caulking, drywall or trim is removed and the area cleaned.
Fix ventilation
Fans that work, vent outside and run long enough. Humidity under control.
Questions people ask
Can I clean bathroom mould myself?
Small areas of surface mould on hard surfaces you can usually clean yourself with soap and water and a scrub brush, wearing gloves. Health Canada says up to three small patches, less than about 10 square feet (1 m²) in total, you can clean yourself. A single patch larger than about 32 square feet (3 m²) should be assessed and cleaned by a qualified professional.
Why do my windows drip every winter?
Warm, humid indoor air hits the cold glass and condenses, the way a cold drink sweats. In Edmonton winters it can run onto the sill and the wall below and feed mould.
Will bleach get rid of it?
Bleach can lighten the stain on a hard surface, but it isn't a remediation method. Alberta Health Services says biocide-only treatment is not acceptable remediation. Mouldy porous material has to be removed.
My bathroom fan is on but mould keeps coming back. Why?
The fan may not be moving enough air, may not run long enough after showers, or may vent into the attic instead of outside. We check where it actually goes.
Talk to us today
Call, or send a few details and photos and we will get back to you.