How can I know what this bright pink stuff is and what should I do about it? - Ask Extension
We have recently been seeing a lot of a bright pink substance around our shower drain, vanity sink and in gaps in the tub sliding door. Most recently...
Knowledgebase
How can I know what this bright pink stuff is and what should I do about it? #890715
Asked December 11, 2024, 2:35 PM EST
We have recently been seeing a lot of a bright pink substance around our shower drain, vanity sink and in gaps in the tub sliding door. Most recently we have discovered it around seems between the underlayment and formica in the kitchen of a rental on our property. Besides the bright pink nature, I'm not sure if we're dealing with the same substance everywhere and I'm not sure how to tell. Can I easily test to find out if the formica pink stuff is organic and, if so, if it is harmful? How should we deal with it? If we eliminate it, is that enough or do we need to replace the entire underlayment of the counter?
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
I am sorry you are dealing with this. The picture was difficult to see, so I am going to format my response to the bright pink substance you are finding around your shower drains, vanity sink, and shower doors.
People typically call this "pink mold" but it is not a mold at all. It is a bacterial colony, and it is very common in wet areas. The good news is, it is very easy to remove!
I'll summarize some ways to remove the pink bacteria, but I'm also including some links so you can learn more.
First, to clean the area you can make a mixture of 2 Tbs liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup baking soda. You simply scrub the area, (an old toothbrush can work well for small spaces) and rinse it clean. Then, spray the area with a solution that is half water, half vinegar, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Scrub again, rinse, and dry the area. I recommend wearing gloves while doing this. I do not recommend using bleach, as that can be harmful to our health - it irritates our lungs.
The bacteria grows in wet and moist environments, which is why you are seeing it around the sink drain, and in the tub sliding door. Water gets trapped there, keeping the area wet. To prevent the mold from returning, here are some tips. When you are showering, if you have a bathroom fan, run it before, during, and about 20 minutes after you shower. You can also dry your shower walls and doors with a towel or a squeegee. By keeping the area dry, you can reduce the reoccurrence of the bacteria.
I am not sure if this is the same bacteria you are seeing on your countertops. If your countertops are often wet from cooking/doing dishes, that may be the case. As much as possible, keep countertops dry. You can spray down your countertops with a vinegar solution (half water, half vinegar), scrub, and dry.
I hope this helps!
Additional resources:
1. This link is about removing mold in the home - while you are dealing with a common bacteria, these recommendations will still apply to you. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/how-get-rid-mold-my-home
2. This Old House has a really nice resource on dealing with "pink mold." https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/91886/how-to-get-rid-of-pink-mold-in-the-shower
I am sorry you are dealing with this. The picture was difficult to see, so I am going to format my response to the bright pink substance you are finding around your shower drains, vanity sink, and shower doors.
People typically call this "pink mold" but it is not a mold at all. It is a bacterial colony, and it is very common in wet areas. The good news is, it is very easy to remove!
I'll summarize some ways to remove the pink bacteria, but I'm also including some links so you can learn more.
First, to clean the area you can make a mixture of 2 Tbs liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup baking soda. You simply scrub the area, (an old toothbrush can work well for small spaces) and rinse it clean. Then, spray the area with a solution that is half water, half vinegar, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Scrub again, rinse, and dry the area. I recommend wearing gloves while doing this. I do not recommend using bleach, as that can be harmful to our health - it irritates our lungs.
The bacteria grows in wet and moist environments, which is why you are seeing it around the sink drain, and in the tub sliding door. Water gets trapped there, keeping the area wet. To prevent the mold from returning, here are some tips. When you are showering, if you have a bathroom fan, run it before, during, and about 20 minutes after you shower. You can also dry your shower walls and doors with a towel or a squeegee. By keeping the area dry, you can reduce the reoccurrence of the bacteria.
I am not sure if this is the same bacteria you are seeing on your countertops. If your countertops are often wet from cooking/doing dishes, that may be the case. As much as possible, keep countertops dry. You can spray down your countertops with a vinegar solution (half water, half vinegar), scrub, and dry.
I hope this helps!
Additional resources:
1. This link is about removing mold in the home - while you are dealing with a common bacteria, these recommendations will still apply to you. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/how-get-rid-mold-my-home
2. This Old House has a really nice resource on dealing with "pink mold." https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/91886/how-to-get-rid-of-pink-mold-in-the-shower
Thank you so much for your response. The information was very helpful.
Regarding the kitchen countertop. There is bacteria on the particle board underlayment (now exposed) and the question is whether the cleaning you recommend is adequate on this somewhat porous material or if we need to replace any/all of it. I guess it depends on how potentially dangerous the bacteria is should it regrow. Do you have thoughts on that?
On Dec 13, 2024, at 11:30 AM, Ask Extension wrote:
Hi again,
This is a tricky question. For small areas of bacteria (less than 2 feet by 2 feet), that are only on the surface of the board, you may be able to clean the area sufficiently.
If the bacteria is widespread, or goes deep into the board, you won't be able to clean it.
If the amount of bacteria (pink stuff) is small and on the surface, you can try cleaning it by spraying thoroughly with a mixture of half water and half vinegar, and scrubbing. Then you can let the vinegar solution sit for a while before trying to blot out any excess liquid. The key after this is letting the particle board dry completely.
Once you have either cleaned or replaced the particle board, you need to keep the area dry. For bacteria or mold to grow, it needs water, which suggests that water was getting beneath the underlayment. The water will provide a perfect environment for bacterial growth. The glue used in particle board can often be a food source as well. If you can stop the water, you can stop the issue from coming back.
This is a tricky question. For small areas of bacteria (less than 2 feet by 2 feet), that are only on the surface of the board, you may be able to clean the area sufficiently.
If the bacteria is widespread, or goes deep into the board, you won't be able to clean it.
If the amount of bacteria (pink stuff) is small and on the surface, you can try cleaning it by spraying thoroughly with a mixture of half water and half vinegar, and scrubbing. Then you can let the vinegar solution sit for a while before trying to blot out any excess liquid. The key after this is letting the particle board dry completely.
Once you have either cleaned or replaced the particle board, you need to keep the area dry. For bacteria or mold to grow, it needs water, which suggests that water was getting beneath the underlayment. The water will provide a perfect environment for bacterial growth. The glue used in particle board can often be a food source as well. If you can stop the water, you can stop the issue from coming back.
