If you plan to remodel, it is ideal to check the toilet for mold growth. Mold growth is orange, brown, green pink, or black, and it has a musty smell. Mold growth in toilets usually happens in homes with more than one toilet, because the extra toilet doesn't get flushed as often since the water sits in the bowl.

Mold thrives in moist environment like toilets, and it poses a health hazard, if left unattended. Here are some tips to clean mold from the toilet bowl before remodeling.

Prepare to Clean

To clean mold, you need:

• rubber gloves
• safety glasses
• old clothes
• face mask or respirator
• bucket
• fan
• baking soda
• white vinegar
• bleach
• borax
• sponge
• scouring pad
• spray bottle
• toilet bowl brush 

Flush the toilet to drain remaining water, and to let allow fresh water to fill the bowl. Vent the area by running a small fan, or opening a window. After you are done cleaning, scrub your face, and dispose of materials that came into contact with the mold.

Clean the Mold 

Wearing old clothes, gloves and safety glasses, fill a spray bottle with detergent, and spray the mold to loosen it. Pour a cup of bleach down the toilet bowl hole, and let it stand around fifteen minutes. Don't mix bleach with other cleaning agents, or it will make toxic fumes. Mix bleach and a gallon of water in a bucket.

Soak a scouring pad in the bleach solution, scrub the seat and lid, then flush. Use a toilet brush dipped in the solution to clean inside the toilet bowl staying aware of the jet areas. If you are allergic to bleach, combine two cups of warm water with one cup of borax, then proceed like you did with the bleach solution.

For an alternative, pour a cup of white distilled vinegar in the bowl, and sprinkle baking soda below the rim, and inside the toilet bowl. Allow it to sit around an hour with the lid closed, then flush. Soak a sponge with vinegar, and clean the seat, lid, and rim.

Prevent Future Mold

Stop future mold growth by cleaning the area regularly, fixing leaks, and keeping the room ventilated. Set up a dehumidifier or exhaust fan in the bathroom to lower humidity, and make sure the lid stays raised to help circulate air. Humidity levels should stay under 50%. Since humidity levels change often, check the levels more than once daily. If there is flooding, don't delay clean up more than 24-48 hours.

Cleaning mold from your toilet bowl protects your health. If no amount of cleaning removes the mold, or it keeps coming back, hire a mold removal service before you remodel.