Why Treasure Coast bathrooms, closets and grout grow mildew so fast, what a regular cleaning routine can do about it, and the point where a problem needs a professional rather than a cleaner.
Humidity is the background condition of every Treasure Coast home. Rain falls on about 92 days in a normal year in Stuart, summer nights rarely drop below the mid 70s, and a closed-up house or a busy bathroom can grow a gray film on grout within weeks.
This guide explains where that moisture comes from, which spots in local homes show it first, the habits that keep it down and the limits of what house cleaning can do.
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals put Stuart's annual rainfall at 62.72 inches, with about 92 days a year getting at least a tenth of an inch. The months from June through October each normally get more than 6 inches, and August and September top 8.
Heat keeps the moisture in the air. Normal July and August lows sit near 76 degrees and highs near 91, and the station averages about 81 days a year at 90 or hotter. Warm air holds more water, so a bathroom that would dry in an hour in a cooler climate stays damp much longer here, and towels, bath mats and shower curtains stay wet between uses.
The Florida Department of Health says keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent helps prevent mold, and that below 50 percent is best for controlling both mold and dust mites. An inexpensive hygrometer in a bathroom and a bedroom tells you which side of that line your home is on.
For most Treasure Coast homes, the air conditioner does the heavy lifting. Running it steadily through the wet months, keeping the thermostat at a consistent setting and using bathroom exhaust fans for a while after every shower are the habits that keep the number down. Seasonal homes left with the air conditioning off or set very high over the summer often come back with mildew on closet walls, shoes and leather.
The same few spots carry the first signs in almost every local home. Catching them early keeps the job to a quick wipe instead of a scrub.
Port St. Lucie Utility Systems answers the two most common bathroom stain questions on its water quality FAQ page. The pink ring in a toilet bowl or shower is the bacterium Serratia marcescens, which comes from the air, not from the water. The black slime that forms on faucets and showerheads is mold that does not live in the drinking water.
Both are surface growth that comes back when a damp bathroom goes without scrubbing. Neither is solved by a water filter. Regular cleaning of bowls, drains, showerheads and faucet bases, and drying the shower after use, keeps them in check.
About 46 percent of housing in the City of Stuart was built before 1980, and about 39 percent of units are in buildings of 10 or more units. Older bathrooms can have smaller exhaust fans or none at all, original grout that has lost its seal, and windows that let damp air in. Interior condo bathrooms with no window depend completely on the fan.
In those homes, a squeegee and a fan run after every shower make more difference than any product. A bi-weekly visit keeps grout and caulk from building up between deeper cleans. Read the recurring cleaning guide for how often local households schedule visits.
Regular cleaning removes the everyday surface mildew on tile, grout, caulk, glass and fixtures, and keeps it from getting established. A One-Time Deep Clean after the wet season adds wiped blinds, vents and fixtures, and hand washed baseboards. See the deep cleaning guide.
Cleaning does not fix a moisture source. The Florida Department of Health says an area under about 10 square feet can usually be handled by a homeowner, but larger growth, or any mold tied to a leak or water damage, calls for an experienced professional. Mildew that returns within days of cleaning usually points to a leak, a failed seal or an air conditioning problem worth having checked.
The questions Stuart homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Stuart and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
