Pink stains are a common complaint that most homeowners mistakenly believe to be a problem with their water quality, but they typically stem from a completely different source. We’ll go over what this issue is, how it arises, and what you can do to fix it.
Pink stains in your bathroom are typically not a sign of poor water quality. A naturally occurring bacteria called Serratia marcescens is to blame for the pink stains on bathtubs, toilets, and showers. This bacteria lives on moist surfaces and is airborne. Pink slime is left behind by the bacteria growth at the water line in the toilet bowl, on shower doors, around sink and tub drains, and on bathtub walls.
The Best Ways to Prevent Pink Stains
Cleaning your home frequently is the best way to stop these stains from getting into your bathroom. Before the issue recurs, thoroughly clean your bathroom, from the shower to the toilets, especially during the summer when the pink mold is most active. Â.
Keep your bathroom dry, and the humidity at its lowest. Open a few windows to reduce humidity and turn on a ventilation fan to maintain air circulation. Additionally, keep your toilets clean to stop bacterial colonies from settling there. Â.
What Are Pink Stains in the Bathroom?
There are a few potential causes of pink stains in your bathroom, but Serratia marcescens, also known as pink mold, is the most likely culprit. Although they can form unsanitary colonies, these bacteria rarely or never harm healthy people. Although Serratia Marcescens isn’t particularly dangerous, it can still cause a few health risks.
These bacterial colonies in toilet bowls have the potential to cause urinary tract infections (UTI), which can be particularly dangerous for kids and animals. The bright pink to orange-like hue of Serratia Marcescens is well known, and it almost always leaves a slimy pink stain. If you see pink slime in your bathroom, Serratia bacteria are probably to blame. Â.
Besides Serratia Marcescens, another common stain is rust. Although rust typically has a deep reddish-orange hue rather than a pink hue, the color may be diluted or mistaken for pink. When metal surfaces exposed to water begin to rust, bumping into their rough surface can result in painful skin injuries.
While rust does not directly endanger the health of people or animals, an open wound is more likely to contract infections. Although rust is frequently linked to tetanus, the disease is actually brought on by bacteria that may be present in outdoor rust. Â.
Starting out as a light reddish-orange color, rust stains can eventually take on a rust brown hue. Rust in your pipes can result in structural damage if it is not treated right away, costing you money in future home repairs. Â.
If you’ve been working on a hair dye or tie dye project recently, the bright pink stain that won’t go away might simply be colored dye that found its way into your bathroom when you washed up or brought your dye supplies with you to the bathroom. Â.
However, coloured dye is notoriously difficult to remove. Fortunately, there are a few ways for you to remove that discoloration without harming your bathroom fixtures because dye was made to last. Most hair dyes come with instructions on how to remove the dye from surfaces and your skin.
How Do I Get Rid of Serratia Marcescens?
When it comes to S and pink slime, strategy is key. marcescens is “management,” rather than elimination. Unfortunately, the abundance of this airborne bacteria makes it very difficult to get rid of its pink slime no matter how much you clean.
You can take the following actions to lessen the amount of pink slime that accumulates in your bathroom:
Here’s how to “get rid of it” if you already have pink slime in your home or office:
You can also use this bleach solution.[2]
However, you should be aware that the pink slime will probably grow again. It might only take a few weeks for it to reappear.
Several other points to consider include the fact that Serratia bacteria do not thrive in chlorinated drinking water. But because chlorine is a volatile substance, if water is left standing for long enough for any remaining chlorine to go away (i The pink slime could appear (for example, on a shower curtain or a toilet).
Pink slime is therefore more likely to be encountered by those who use activated carbon filters to remove chlorine from their water.
Additionally, more people claim the issue manifests itself during the summer, when humidity and temperatures are at their highest. If windows are left open for a long time, this is even more true. You should take extra precaution to keep windows closed during these times because Serratia marcescens can be stirred up during yardwork or construction.