How to Get Rid of the Red Stuff (Serratia marcescens) in Your Bathroom
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

How to Get Rid of the Red Stuff (Serratia marcescens) in Your Bathroom

The reddish-pink film in your shower or bathroom, often called “pink mold” or “pink slime,” is actually Serratia marcescens, a bacteria that thrives in moist, soapy environments. This slimy, red-orange residue appears on tiles, grout, drains, or shower curtains, feeding on soap scum and hard water minerals. While typically harmless for healthy people, it can trigger allergies or look unsightly. This guide explains how to identify, remove, and prevent Serratia marcescens using eco-friendly methods and tools, keeping your bathroom hygienic and fresh. Shop our affiliate links for the best cleaning products!

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Is Your "Emergency Stash" of Toilet Paper Growing Mold? (And How to Store It Safely)
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Is Your "Emergency Stash" of Toilet Paper Growing Mold? (And How to Store It Safely)

It is the dirty secret of bathroom organization: You buy the mega-pack of toilet paper, stuff 12 rolls into the dark cabinet under the sink, and forget about them.

Months later, you reach for that back-of-the-cabinet roll, and it feels... damp. Maybe it smells a little musty. Or worse, it has faint grey spots.

That isn't dust. It’s mildew.

Most people don't realize that toilet paper is essentially a sponge made of organic material (cellulose). When you store it in a dark, humid bathroom cabinet—especially near leaky pipes or right next to the shower—it becomes a petri dish for mold.

You don't have to stop storing TP in the bathroom (we aren't monsters; nobody wants to run to the hallway closet in an emergency). But you do need to upgrade how you store it.

Here is why the "Cabinet Stash" is failing you, and the 3-step system to fix it.

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How to Prevent Bacterial Growth in Your Bathroom Sink Area
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

How to Prevent Bacterial Growth in Your Bathroom Sink Area

The bathroom sink area is a high-traffic zone where toothbrushes, soaps, and wet washcloths can create a breeding ground for bacteria if not managed properly. Bacterial growth around the sink can lead to odors, stains, and potential health risks, especially in humid bathrooms. By adopting simple hygiene practices, proper storage techniques, and effective ventilation, you can keep your sink area clean, dry, and bacteria-free. This guide shares practical tips to maintain a hygienic bathroom sink, complementing your efforts to prevent mold and maintain a clutter-free space.

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Dehumidifier vs. Exhaust Fan: Do You Really Need Both for a Healthy Bathroom?
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Dehumidifier vs. Exhaust Fan: Do You Really Need Both for a Healthy Bathroom?

You step out of the shower. The mirror is foggy. The air feels heavy. The towels are damp.

You flip the switch for the ceiling fan (which sounds like a jet engine taking off), but 20 minutes later, the room still feels like a swamp.

This is the "Bathroom Moisture Trap." And if you are trying to prevent mold naturally, this lingering humidity is your worst enemy.

We get this question constantly at PureBathBliss: "If I have an exhaust fan, why would I need a dehumidifier? Aren't they doing the same thing?"

The short answer is: No.

They are two different tools that solve two different physics problems. Depending on your home’s age, your climate, and your bathroom’s layout (especially if you are windowless), relying on just one might be the reason your grout keeps turning black.

Here is the definitive breakdown of the Fan vs. Dehumidifier debate—and how to know which one you actually need.

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Why Your Shower Curtain Liner Might Be Polluting Your Indoor Air (And What to Buy Instead)
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Why Your Shower Curtain Liner Might Be Polluting Your Indoor Air (And What to Buy Instead)

You know that distinct "new shower curtain smell"?

For years, we associated that sharp, chemical scent with cleanliness—a sign that we had successfully refreshed the bathroom. But if you have ever unpacked a cheap plastic liner and felt a slight headache or dizziness after hanging it up, your body was trying to tell you something.

That smell isn't "freshness." It’s off-gassing.

In our quest to create a healthy bathroom sanctuary, we often look at big-ticket items like ventilation fans or low-VOC paint. But sometimes, the biggest pollutant in the room is the $10 sheet of plastic hanging right next to your face while you shower.

The good news? Swapping it out is one of the cheapest, fastest, and most effective wellness upgrades you can make. Here is the definitive guide to navigating the confusing world of shower curtain materials, from the toxic to the truly pure.

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Beyond Aesthetics: 7 "Bio-Filter" Plants That Scrub Toxins From Your Bathroom Air
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Beyond Aesthetics: 7 "Bio-Filter" Plants That Scrub Toxins From Your Bathroom Air

You scroll through Pinterest and see it: a bathroom that looks less like a tiled box and more like a Balinese jungle spa. Lush vines trailing from the ceiling, ferns exploding with green in the corner. You want that look.

Then you look at your own bathroom. It’s small, humid, and has one tiny frosted window (or maybe no window at all). You assume any plant you bring in there is doomed to a slow, brown death.

You are wrong.

While it’s true that a cactus or a succulent will rot in a dark bathroom, there is a specific category of plants—Tropical Understory Plants—that actually prefer low light and high humidity. In the wild, they grow on the jungle floor, shielded from the sun by tree canopies, drinking in the mist. Your steamy, windowless bathroom is essentially their natural habitat.

Adding greenery isn't just about aesthetics (though it looks amazing). NASA studies show that these specific plants act as bio-filters, scrubbing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air—toxins commonly found in toilet paper, cleaning products, and cosmetics.

Here are the 7 toughest, most beautiful plants that will thrive in your sanctuary, even if you don't have a green thumb.

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Why Everyone Is Hanging Eucalyptus in Their Shower (And How to Do It Correctly)
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Why Everyone Is Hanging Eucalyptus in Their Shower (And How to Do It Correctly)

You’ve seen the photos: lush green eucalyptus cascading from a showerhead like a living chandelier. The steam rises, the scent hits, and suddenly your $80-a-month gym membership feels unnecessary.

It looks like pure decoration. It’s actually one of the simplest, most effective wellness upgrades you can make all winter.

When done right, a single $10 bundle turns every shower into an aromatherapy session that clears your sinuses, drops your blood pressure, and makes January feel bearable.

When done wrong it becomes a mold factory and a pet hazard.

Here’s exactly how to do it right.

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Breathe Easy: The Ultimate Guide to Bathroom Air Quality, Ventilation, and Healthy Ambiance
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Breathe Easy: The Ultimate Guide to Bathroom Air Quality, Ventilation, and Healthy Ambiance

Close your eyes and picture a "clean" bathroom. What do you smell?

For most of us, the answer is a cocktail of bleach, artificial pine, or "Ocean Breeze" air freshener. We have been conditioned to believe that a sterile, chemical scent equals hygiene. But the truth is, a truly clean bathroom smells like... absolutely nothing.

The air quality in your bathroom is arguably the most critical environmental factor in your home. It is a space where high humidity meets chemical cleaners, creating a "toxic soup" of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can be more polluted than the air outside your front door.

This invisible threat doesn't just damage your lungs; it creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, which silently destroys your home’s infrastructure. If you have ever scrubbed black spots off your grout only to see them return a week later, you don't have a cleaning problem—you have an air problem.

True Pure Bath Bliss isn't just about a sparkling tub or organic cotton towels. It’s about the air you breathe while you soak.

This master guide is your blueprint for transforming your bathroom from a damp, chemical-laden box into a healthy lung for your home. We will break down the physics of ventilation (including the math most contractors get wrong), the strategy for banishing mold before it starts, and how to create a spa-like ambiance without toxic aerosols.

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How to Naturally Clean Your Shower Curtain Liner (Without a Washing Machine)
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

How to Naturally Clean Your Shower Curtain Liner (Without a Washing Machine)

You know the moment. You pull the curtain open and there it is: orange-pink slime marching up the bottom hem, black speckles in the folds, and a general cloudy haze that screams “replace me.” Most people rip it down, toss it in the trash, and buy another $6 plastic liner. But that liner isn’t trash yet—and throwing it away is literally sending non-recyclable plastic straight to landfill.

In 20 minutes, using ingredients you already have, you can make it look brand-new again. No washing machine, no bleach, no tears in the plastic.

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7 "Unkillable" Plants That Thrive in Your Windowless Bathroom (And Purify the Air)
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

7 "Unkillable" Plants That Thrive in Your Windowless Bathroom (And Purify the Air)

You dream of a lush, spa-like bathroom dripping with plants… …then you remember your bathroom has zero windows, fluorescent lighting, and more steam than a rainforest. Most houseplants would file a complaint and die within a week.

But these seven don’t just survive in a dark, humid bathroom—they absolutely thrive there. They’re so tough you’ll think they’re fake (until they grow).

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The Softest Touch: Why Organic Bamboo vs. Cotton Hooded Towels Matter for Sensitive Skin
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

The Softest Touch: Why Organic Bamboo vs. Cotton Hooded Towels Matter for Sensitive Skin

The second you lift your dripping baby from the warm water, the air feels cold against their skin. Those first 30 seconds are magic, but also fragile. A scratchy, chemical-smelling towel can turn that moment into a shiver and a cry. A cloud-soft, pesticide-free one becomes an extension of the bath itself: warm, safe, and gentle.

Your towel isn’t just for drying. It’s the bridge between bath and moisturizer, the first hug after water, and the last thing touching your baby’s skin before bedtime.

Most drugstore towels fail this job miserably.

This guide walks you through exactly why material and texture matter more than color or cartoon prints, and which fabrics truly protect eczema-prone or sensitive skin.

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Stop the Mildew Cycle: Pro Tips for Ventilating Your Bathroom During and After Painting
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Stop the Mildew Cycle: Pro Tips for Ventilating Your Bathroom During and After Painting

You’ve just laid down the final coat of zero-VOC, mildew-resistant paint. The walls look flawless—soft sage, perfectly smooth, spa-worthy. You step back, admire your work, and decide to celebrate with a steamy, luxurious shower.

Big mistake.

Within 48 hours, you notice tacky spots near the shower. A week later, tiny blisters appear. By month’s end, black mildew blooms under the paint film, and the finish begins to peel in sheets.

This isn’t bad luck—it’s science ignored. The paint never cured. You sabotaged your $300 investment with 20 minutes of steam.

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Creating a Zero-Humidity Sanctuary: Simple Swaps for a Cool, Dry Summer Bathroom
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Creating a Zero-Humidity Sanctuary: Simple Swaps for a Cool, Dry Summer Bathroom

You step out of a lukewarm shower into a wall of steam that clings to your skin like a second layer. The mirror is a foggy blur, the grout looks suspiciously dark, and the air feels thicker than soup.

This isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous.

Summer humidity turns your bathroom into a mold incubator, a sweat trap, and an energy vampire. But here’s the secret: You don’t need AC or expensive gadgets. A few smart, natural swaps transform your space into a cool, dry oasis—all while saving energy and protecting your health.

These simple habits and natural materials defeat summer stickiness.

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Is Your Hair Dryer a Fire Hazard? Pro Tips for Cleaning Lint and Extending Appliance Life
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Is Your Hair Dryer a Fire Hazard? Pro Tips for Cleaning Lint and Extending Appliance Life

You flick on your hair dryer and catch it: a faint burning smell. Or maybe it’s the high-pitched whine as the motor strains. You shrug—it’s fine, right?

Wrong.

That smell? Lint smoldering inside the heating coil. That whine? A motor fighting for its life.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, hair dryers cause over 1,200 home fires annually—most from clogged filters. One spark in a lint-packed vent can ignite in seconds.

But here’s the good news: 5 minutes of maintenance eliminates the risk, saves you $80–$200, and doubles your dryer’s lifespan.

This guide delivers the urgent, zero-waste protocol to keep your appliances safe, efficient, and out of the landfill.

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7 Best Eco-Friendly Paints for Humid Rooms
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

7 Best Eco-Friendly Paints for Humid Rooms

Painting a bathroom or any high-humidity space is a balancing act: you want a finish that resists mildew, wipes clean, and doesn’t off-gas toxins every time you take a steamy shower. Unfortunately, most conventional paints fail on at least one of these fronts—peeling within a year, trapping moisture, or releasing VOCs that linger in the air long after the brush is dry. The good news? Eco-friendly paints have evolved far beyond their early “granola” reputation. Today’s top formulas deliver professional-grade durability, zero harmful emissions, and colors that pop—without sacrificing your health or the planet.

In this guide, we’ve tested and vetted the 7 best eco-friendly paints specifically engineered for humid rooms. Each one earns its spot through real-world performance in steamy bathrooms, laundry rooms, and spas. Whether you’re a DIY beginner or a seasoned renovator, you’ll walk away knowing exactly which paint to choose—and why it’s worth every penny.

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Why Eco-Friendly Matters for Kids
Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby Air Quality & Healthy Home Greg Barnaby

Why Eco-Friendly Matters for Kids

In 2025, the push for eco-friendly living is stronger than ever, and it’s especially critical when it comes to kids. From the air they breathe to the products they use, eco-conscious choices play a vital role in protecting their health and shaping a sustainable future. As parents and caregivers, understanding why eco-friendly matters for kids can guide everyday decisions, including what goes into their bathrooms.

Eco-friendly practices reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, conserve natural resources, and teach children to value the planet. With rising concerns about climate change and pollution, introducing sustainable habits early fosters a generation of mindful stewards. Let’s dive into why this matters and how it benefits both kids and the environment!

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