Pink Mold: Is it Dangerous and How Do You Get Rid of It?

If you’re seeing slimy pink stains around your shower, sink, or toilet, you’re probably dealing with pink mold — and while it may not be as scary as black mold, it’s still a problem you shouldn’t ignore.

Certain types of pink mold, like Serratia marcescens, are actually bacteria that thrive in moist, soap-scummy environments and can cause infections, especially in people with asthma, weakened immune systems, or contact lens users.

Getting rid of pink mold isn’t just a matter of scrubbing with soap and water. You’ll need to take proper safety precautions and use effective cleaners like bleach, borax, or hydrogen peroxide. For larger infestations — especially those covering more than three square feet or found inside HVAC ducts — it’s best to call in a licensed mold remediation pro.

In this guide, we’ll explain what pink mold is, where it comes from, the health risks it poses, and how to clean it up for good.

What Is Pink Mold and Why Does It Form?

Pink mold isn’t always mold. In most bathrooms, the culprit is Serratia marcescens, a bacteria that looks like slimy pink or orange mold.

It thrives on moisture and feeds on the fat and phosphorus in soap scum — which makes showers, sinks, and toilet bowls prime real estate.

You’ll typically spot it:

• Around shower tile grout
• In toilet bowls or sink drains
• On bathroom floors, walls, or even inside cabinets if the humidity is high enough

Another offender is Aureobasidium pullulans, a true mold that starts off pink, yellow, or white but darkens to brown or black over time.

It prefers organic materials like damp window frames, plant soil, or linseed oil paints.

Fusarium is another pink mold species, but it’s less likely to show up indoors. When it does, it usually starts on houseplants and can spread to wallpaper or carpet if moisture is present.

The most common type, Serratia marcescens, is generally low-risk for healthy people but can cause:

• Skin infections, particularly if it enters a cut or abrasion
• Urinary or respiratory infections if inhaled or spread through contaminated surfaces
• Eye infections, especially in contact lens users (never store lenses in a moldy bathroom)

Aureobasidium pullulans can be more dangerous with long-term exposure. It often hides in humidifiers and circulates throughout your HVAC system. This can lead to “humidifier lung,” a lung inflammation that causes coughing, shortness of breath, and flu-like symptoms.

Fusarium is rare indoors, but when it appears, it can pose a serious risk if spores contaminate food or enter the body through wounds — especially in people with compromised immune systems.

Bottom line: While pink mold isn’t the worst kind of mold, it still needs to be dealt with. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear before taking action.

Getting Rid of Pink Mold

If you’re healthy and the mold is limited to a small, easy-to-reach area — like the corner of your shower — you can tackle the cleanup yourself. But for anything bigger than a 3-square-foot patch, or if the mold is inside your HVAC system or followed a sewage backup, it’s time to call a licensed mold remediation pro.

When To Call a Professional

Skip the DIY route and hire a pro if:

• You have asthma or another respiratory condition.
• The mold covers more than 3 square feet.
• It’s inside HVAC ducts or behind walls.
• It appeared after a plumbing or sewage leak.

For mold in your ductwork, you’ll also need an HVAC technician to identify what’s causing the moisture buildup.

DIY Pink Mold Removal (Step-by-Step)

If it’s a small patch and you’re healthy, here’s how to handle it safely:

1. Wear protection: Gloves, goggles, and an N95 respirator mask are a must. Mold exposure can irritate your lungs, skin, and eyes — even if it’s not black mold.

2. Vacuum the area: Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap loose mold spores before you start scrubbing.

3. Pick your cleaner:

• Bleach: Mix 1.5 cups of bleach with 1 gallon of water (about a 10:1 ratio).
• Borax: Use 1 cup per gallon of water.
• Vinegar or hydrogen peroxide: Use full-strength — no need to dilute. (Important: never mix cleaners, especially bleach with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide — the fumes can be toxic.)

4. Apply and scrub: Spray your cleaner directly onto the moldy surface, let it sit for at least an hour, then scrub with a sponge or brush. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.

Mold Prevention Tips

To keep pink mold from coming back:

Clean out humidifiers often, especially if you use them daily.

• Spray vinegar monthly on tile, grout, or other problem areas.
• Use a bathroom fan or open a window after showers.
• Wipe down wet surfaces like shower walls or countertops regularly.

Final Thoughts

Pink mold might not be the most dangerous type of mold, but it’s still something you should deal with right away — especially if anyone in your household has asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system.

For small patches, you can usually handle removal yourself with proper safety gear and an effective cleaner like bleach, borax, or vinegar. Just remember: soap and water won’t cut it. And if the mold keeps coming back, covers a large area, or shows up in your HVAC system, bring in a professional to fully eliminate it and fix the root cause.

Staying on top of moisture and regular cleaning is the best way to stop pink mold from coming back.