What’s really lurking in shower as pink gunk ‘isn’t mould’

If your shower needs a little bit of TLC, it may be time to clean it – especially if you’ve got an orangey pink substance lurking in it.

While many refer to this substance as “pink mould,” it isn’t at all. Therefore, one cleaning expert has shared: “You don’t need any special mould products for this pink/orange slime because it’s not actually mould”.

But what is it, and how can you prevent it from coming back? TikToker @tidytrojans said that she was “cleaning a shower with pink mould, soap scum, and hard water build-up”.

But the ‘mould’ is actually bacteria, and therefore, using a specific mould cleaner will be fruitless. So here’s what to do instead.

She revealed she was going to start with a vinegar-based cleaning product. Apparently, this “works super well on soap scum, especially when paired with an ammonia-free dish soap”.

The cleaner then described that the pink stuff was a bacteria called Serratia marcescens, which is ‘an opportunistic pathogen in humans.’

Serratia marcescens is a species of bacteria that is commonly found in bathrooms, especially in moist environments like showers, sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. It is recognised by its reddish-pink or orange biofilm or slimy appearance, often forming in areas where soap scum, standing water, or moisture collects.

The bacteria thrive in wet, humid conditions. And the TikToker explained it “feeds off soap scum and mineral deposits” – and can be dangerous to your health.

For those who are immunocompromised, it can cause breathing problems and urinary infections, especially if it gets on personal hygiene products.

She then used Bar Keepers Friend, which can be purchased on Amazon for £8.59, to really get the shower gleaming.

By going in with an electric spin scrubber, she could reach all the nooks and crannies of the shower. This ensured that it was as sparkling clean as possible.

The cleaner ensured that the shower fixtures were looking as good as new as well, removing the hard water droplets. She also “did the same on the shower door as well”.

The final result was amazing, as she showed off the gleaming cubicle, which was now free of all the vile bacteria.

Someone in the comments said: “I thought it was soap scum,” and she replied: “There is, but then bacteria starts to grow on it (which is pink and orange coloured)”.