Apartment Stains and Mold Eat the Security Deposit
Residents in apartments are facing cleaning challenges, including stubborn stains, mold growth, and residue from previous tenants. These issues threaten security deposits and create stress around move-out procedures.
SOURCES (60)
“I recently brought a condo and I see these two black stains alongside the edge. One is behind the dishwasher and the other is near an exterior door. Perhaps it is water damage? Is there a way to save the floor? Thank you! submitted by…”
“Hi. I just moved in a couple hours ago. I found a medium sized puddle by the bathroom. The linoleum by the bathroom is super squishy and flips up. There's a bunch of loose floppy linoleum all over the apartment but theres only a puddle by the bathroom. The appliances were dirty. There was dead bugs in the windows and on the ground. I just want to move in bro. submitted by /u/Secure_Tourist_7291 [link] [comments]”
“Any ideas on how to remove this discolouration? submitted by /u/Walton_paul [link] [comments]”
“i moved into a room and share a restroom with one other person, but my roommate has not been here at all. there was black mold in the restroom before i moved in (on the walls and corners too). the landlord came and wiped it off, put some chemicals, and put caulk everywhere. however he did not do anything to the shower doors. i have not used the showers at all since i’ve moved in. it’s been some time so it feels awkward to ask him to fix it, so is there a way for me effectively clean this? or sho”
“moved into an apartment and this is what the bathroom fixtures look like. is this corroded or just needs a good scrub? submitted by /u/whatsmyissu [link] [comments]”
“This pipe outside has been spraying water onto the exterior wall. Not sure how long. We’ve got staining on the baseboard in our toilet room which is the room inside next to the water pipe. Our apartment complex is saying it’s not a big deal and it’s too hot in Phoenix to get mold. They’re saying to let it dry and they’ll come paint it. We are worried about it getting mold. Is the apartment complex right and we won’t get mold? Can we do anything to prevent mold ourselves? submitted by”
“What would be the best approach? Products (EU)? Does the grout need to be replaced outright or can I scrub it off with some product? Last photo shows a hard-bristle brush the previous tenant left behind which could be good for it. Should I buy some kind of respiration mask before attempting to clean? Even if the brushing could be effective for the wall I’m not sure how to tackle the rubber but underneath the glass piece. submitted by /u/every-name-is-takenn [link] [comments]”
“I’ve noticed some black spots on the caulk in my shower and on the drywall on the back side of my shower. I reached out to the apartment complex front office and they sent someone out to test the black spots on the dry wall. They said they sent it in for testing and it came back that it wasn’t mold. They decided to paint over the black spots on the drywall but I’ve noticed that the spots are starting to reappear. Curious if anyone has dealt with this before? I really want to cut the drywall that”
“Moved into an apartment recently and found water leaking from the ceiling down the wall into a little alcove desk area in the apartment. See this link for pictures: https://imgur.com/a/water-leak-jgyy03b Timeline of events: August 24th evening - I always place my gym clothes into my duffel bag which I set down in this alcove desk area. I wasn't paying super attention buy I assume at this point the leak hadn't developed or was small or else I think I would have noticed. August 25th mornin”
“I moved in to a 3 level townhome 2 months ago and I noticed the bathroom is much colder than any other room in the house when the AC is running. Upon inspection of the vanity, I found mold and the moisture is also seeping into the cabinet. The bathroom is directly above the furnace room. My questions are: Is it against code (canada) or simply a bad idea to just remove the duct from the main (pic 4) and patch it? Since I will have to remove the bottom board of the vanity anyway to clean the mold,”
“Looking at homes and noticed this in the shower is this fixable without a Reno? Or is Reno needed submitted by /u/Kitkat873 [link] [comments]”
“Hi, What is the best way to clean this mold above the shower? Our bathroom is not ventilated (there is a window but we can’t keep it open when the weather does not permit). Any help is appreciated. submitted by /u/chimpansies [link] [comments]”
“Hi all! Sorry if this is not the right place for this post but I’m not sure what to do about this. These spots on the wall and my shower floor have been here the past few months. I’ve done my best to clean them, but they come back. The shower is always leaking and causing our bath mats to mold, and the caulking along the floor is cracked. I googled it, and apparently it’s just a bacterium not mold. We move out of our apartment in around a month, and I’m not sure how or if i need to report this t”
“My boyfriend just moved into an apartment in DC and found this in a closet corner....mold? submitted by /u/Similar-Extent149 [link] [comments]”
“I’m pretty embarrassed it got to this point but I live in a studio and the shower I have is very small and very hard to clean and honestly it is my fault it got to this point but how can I get rid of this. submitted by /u/mangopassionf [link] [comments]”
“Water collects behind my faucets and I’ve tried everything to clean this black mold (I’m assuming this is black mold but I really have no idea). Even when I clean it, some black always remains. Looks worse when wet of course. But the issue is….I can’t get a scrubber back there!! The space is too narrow between the faucet and this spot. Tips on how to get this off and clean?? submitted by /u/ironyis4suckerz [link] [comments]”
“I opened up the dishwasher to our new apartment. I found this inside. I have a gut feeling it’s black mold in the dishwasher…what do you think? submitted by /u/Natural-Grade-4897 [link] [comments]”
“What looks like grout is orange, wet, and crumbly. I don’t know where to start or what to do. The outside of the shower (last photo, showing where is meets the floor) gets wet when the shower is used. This is not my area of expertise! submitted by /u/5weetLemon5 [link] [comments]”
“My bathroom is in dire straits. There is what looks like - calcium deposits on the floor - mouldry brown deposits on the wall and on the shower materials I don't know think I will be able to sort this out on my own. There are some cleaning services but I just don't know what to ask them to do. They charge me +200 GBP just for an assessment and I'm not sure I want to fork that much. Do I need repainting for the wall? Some limescale solution for the floor? Any help would be much apprec”
“I’ve tried Clorox Mold & Mildew Remover several times, along with scrubbing, but I’ve never been able to remove all of the black discoloration. It improves temporarily and then comes back. The bathroom also has a persistent, slightly musty smell. The worst areas are where the shower floor meets the walls and in some of the floor grout lines. In a few places, the material between the tiles looks cracked or completely missing, so I’m wondering whether this has gone beyond something I can fix b”
“Pray it’s not mold but it barely changed color or went away after scrubbing it with a cleaning solution submitted by /u/Wheresthebeans [link] [comments]”
“Hi guys, im in a bit of a dilemma with this stain. I’m moving out and I would really like my deposit back lol. basically I had some bread in here totally forgot about it, it molded and left this giant stain. Tried cleaning it with dawn and water, didn‘t work. Vinegar and warm water, no difference. Is there anything else I could try? Or am I screwed. This type of wood isn’t really actual wood it’s like one of those plywood shelves or veneer shelving? Looks like fake plastic shiny wood. I read tha”
“It's Kellogg Quality, y'all! Bathroom's upstairs, there was a leak below the bathtub, and when the false ceiling tile was removed, out fell this bad boy! As a new renter, I don't know the house's history, so I don't know how it got there. I cleaned it last after finishing the dishes, and now it has bits of egg all over its inside. So what should I do? Take an old toothbrush to it or something? submitted by /u/Rob_wood [link] [comments]”
“I have a small patch of mold spots near the fan in my bathroom. I am going to fix this by cutting out at 2 x 2' area around the fan and replacing that area with new drywall and refinishing it. I have all the materials I need (listed above in picture) but the one thing I can't figure out is the paint. My house is fairly new so we have all the paint that the construction workers used to paint the house, and the only white paint that we have is late and I am very sure that this isn't la”
“Noticed mold on the guest bathroom ceiling (that shower has only been used once or twice) cleaned/disinfected if and is back a few weeks later. Went up in the attic today and found this. Obviously that has to be fixed but all in all how terrible is this? (Multiple pics but same spot) submitted by /u/Grouchy-Cloud-7928 [link] [comments]”
“Hi I've been tidying my room up and I can see in the corner of the wall these stains. The little brownish points and at the top in the corner and that thing that dripped. It's been here since I painted my room roughly 7 years ago. I can't tell if it was here before on top of other paint job or if it's "new". And I can't tell how long it took to spread but it looks like it didn't spread more since a kid of years. It is stable. This is my parent's house and I&”
“Hello, I am temporarily renting an apartment as an international student. I'll be here for 6 months, which is quite a while. In the shower by the tub, I noticed that there are these black spots that I think are mold. Is there anything budget friendly I can do to remove them? submitted by /u/lemonslicecake [link] [comments]”
“I found this on top of my cabinets and I'm worried that it's black mold. Any mold experts here? submitted by /u/johnnyviper4541 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I live in an apartment with pretty poor ventilation and we’ve developed quite a bit of mold in the bathroom. It’s mainly on our door frame in the ceiling around it, but there’s also some around the air conditioning event and summit in the corner of the actual shower on the ceiling. I’ve tried using bleach wipes to get rid of it before, but it just keeps coming back quicker and quicker each time and I’m not sure what to try next because it’s on a weird area where if I spray it’ll com”
“Is this normal? Looks like a bodge? Im redoing my bathroom and ripped up the shower tray to find this Also the wall to the right looks like a cheese sandwich peppered with holes and the mortar peeling off and blocks moving when pressing on the brick lightly Ive been advised to strap it and use mortar repair but honestly the state of this id rather just knock it down and put a timber stud / sfs Its not load bearing , what you think? Should I knock the wall down and start again? submitted by”
“i just moved into new apartment and noticed this can someone please tell me if its mould. and if it is, is it true the marks will still stay even if cleaned submitted by /u/Silent-Equipment8155 [link] [comments]”
“Walked into one of our bathrooms earlier to find a thin sheen of water all over. Thought it might be from the shower wand spraying up into the air but no. Mopped it up and went to inspect the toilet with a bright flashlight and some mirrors. Seated correctly. Floor is polished cement. No cracks at the bolts, looked at the gasket between the toilet tank and the bow. Bone dry, no warping. Checked the water supply, no issues. Checked a hidden access box for the feed, nothing. Flushed maybe 40x mini”
“I moved into a new place and this linoleum-ish tile is on part of the wall. There was some epoxy-like stuff coming out of it but I thought it was dried. One of my pillows brushed up against it and it left stains. Any tips to get the glue off the wall? I can’t remove the tile and I’m on a limited budget submitted by /u/KittyDomoNacionales [link] [comments]”
“Hi all. The first pics are under my bathroom sink in my apartment where this piping just doesn’t look quite right to me and I’m suspecting some humidity and leaks and mold (the humidity with no showering or anything is like 71% under the cabinet) but mostly I’m wondering if it looks worth getting an inspector in? The last 2 photos are from where they put new cabinets in but left this darkness and this mysterious wild set of wires (is this an inspector worthy offense?) . Any advice ,even if it’s”
“Hello all. I’m moving into an apartment this week and noticed that on one of the walls, all along where the wall meets the floor, is this residue that’s kind of dark blueish/green. I included a picture of what it looked like wiped up with a paper towel (just some tiny green specks came up). I tried just scrubbing it but to no avail. Does anyone here have any clue what this could be and what I can do to clean it up? submitted by /u/Jeekdanielsdos [link] [comments]”
“Hi all. In your opinion what’s the best cleaning solution to remove water calcium build up on glass shower doors? Is there anything out there I can coat onto the glass to stop them getting marked in the first place? Thanks so much submitted by /u/TheGent1984 [link] [comments]”
“I've been living in a relatively old renovated apartment since last December and my bathroom with shower doesn't have a window or good ventilation. The apartment was renovated 3.5 years ago and I've been living here since 10 months. Just a few days ago, I noticed these gray spots on the higher part of the wall on the other side of the shower. It's a 3m high wall, so far I couldn't reach it to see what it is. Are these typical mold? 💔 How can I get rid of them? submitte”
“On first floor ceiling underneath shower or behind the shower where wife’s makeup desk is? P-l-u-m-b-e-r suggested we do this as a first step ourselves before six hundred plus diagnosis charge submitted by /u/Embarrassed-Foot-800 [link] [comments]”
“These stains are on ceiling of my shower. Do they look like mold? submitted by /u/Careful_Quantity2656 [link] [comments]”
“Hello! I recently moved into a new rental and noticed the tile in the bathroom seemed dirty. I tried moping it, and realized it seems to be grout residue from whenever they put the tile in. Any renter-friendly suggestions on how to clean this? Thanks so much! submitted by /u/squigglesandgiggles [link] [comments]”
“We have a tub/shower combo with sliding glass doors. We’ve been here for almost 3 years and I’m at my wits end with these particular spots. I’ve tried bleach, bleach pens, scrubby brushes, even car detailing tools to try and get this black crust off, and it’s stuck. Hard. Anyone have a similar issue who’s found a solution? submitted by /u/PlutoQueen69 [link] [comments]”
“found mold behind a tall cabinet drawer, probably due to the intense heat and humidity lately (apartment is old with no insulation) before everyone goes running to the comments, THE LANDLORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED!! I am just looking for tips to kill the mold temporarily until he’s able to send out someone to service, check for any leaks and fully replace the wall. I’ve heard vinegar and bleach would be good place to start (and ofc I am aware not to mix em) submitted by /u/WildJojo43 [lin”
“If you’re in an apartment or condo the only way to find the source is to put dye packs in drains and see which unit it comes from.”
“Moving into a newly rented apartment, and the white walls and wooden floorboards have yellowish marks and stains on them. The walls also have black scuff marks. Any advice on how to clean this and what products are safe for painted walls? I don’t want to ruin the walls but I would like to get the marks (especially the yellow ones) out 🙏 submitted by /u/SeaPickleFan [link] [comments]”
“A can of shaving cream caused all this rust to settle into the shower and Its kind of impossible to scrub out. Im moving soon and need my damage deposit back...is getting this out possible...? Any tips/hacks would be appreciated :) submitted by /u/frostypomegranatee [link] [comments]”
“Sorry, but it’s really hard to get a decent photo of this, this has been building up for awhile and I’ve never tackled it, used some cillet bang limescale remover but it’s done nothing. Does anyone have any decent methods on how I can get rid of this and make it clear again or am I going to need a replacement? Thanks submitted by /u/Kartcab93 [link] [comments]”
“I recently inherited my grandmother's place. No one has lived here in about 8-12 months. This is the state I found the shower in. Ultimately I want to replace the shower but that is a year or 2 away. What can I use fo get this clean? I already threw out the shower curtains and plan on getting new one so mold and mildew don't transfer. Thanks in advance. submitted by /u/Hybridsoulz [link] [comments]”
“All the dark spots you see is (I think) some kind of mold that attached itself on to the rubber of the shower baseboard. I think this happened because of a lack of airflow and presence of humidity A cleaning lady came to help me but couldn't really remove it. What can I do? Thanks submitted by /u/1337istheway [link] [comments]”
“desperately need my deposit back but my shower shelves took the finish off the tub. the finish was pretty bad to begin with so i don’t need to make it look perfect, just less noticeable?? submitted by /u/melancholy_princess [link] [comments]”
“Renting this house with a grill without protection, of course I made some fat spots on the rendered wall. Tried to clean it with soap, now it’s worse with giant stains. Does anynoby know if there a way to clean this? submitted by /u/GutFlorus [link] [comments]”
“Ever since moving into my apartment, I’ve had respiratory issues and am allergic to mold. My bathroom consistently smells like mildew as well, despite me having the air vent going and using a squeegee after each shower to minimize any moisture forming. My landlord came out and told me the caulking had just turned black from wear, but I can scrape off black parts that dissolve in my hand, like mold. The lighter caulking spots have nothing that rubs off. My question is: how can I clean these darke”
“Found in basement bathroom in Minnesota. submitted by /u/MamaPhy [link] [comments]”
“my apartment took down a wall in my bedroom because the sheetrock was moldy and had fans blowing at the same time. it blew white drywall dust all over everything I own because they didn’t cover any of my things. I have severe mold allergies so want to trash anything that could be contaminated. What can I keep, what should I trash? submitted by /u/anonybussy [link] [comments]”
“Hi! Looking for advice on how to address this issue of a water stain on a new (I believe quartz) bathroom counter from water left on it for a day. Thanks! submitted by /u/idefine [link] [comments]”
“My wife has had some weird symptoms going on lately and she’s thinking it could have to do with the visible mold in our bathroom (and potentially whatever invisible is hiding behind the tiles). I sprayed with hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for 20 min, then wiped and scrubbed and made almost no difference. Later used bleach based Mold Armor and didn’t really do much either. I went light with the Mold Armor cause I was essentially testing since we have little ventilation and I’m not prepared for”
“I'm working on a bathroom that probably hasn't been deep cleaned in 10+ years. There's rust circles on the counter top and tub edges from canned products, what is most likely a build up of menstrual blood on the toilet, and corrosion stains around the sink faucet. I've used general bathroom cleaners, melamine sponges, and a dishsoap/vinegar mix we used for some other tough messes in the same house. The toilet stains are above where the water comes out, on the rim under front of s”
“I only put my sponge inside it so I dont know what could cause that. Maybe soap scum idk submitted by /u/Alternative_Bad663 [link] [comments]”