Have you noticed a pink stain in your shower? Maybe even in your sink or toilet too? Have you stopped and wondered what it was or why it was there? Did you clean it with Lysol or Bleach? It comes off easily, but what is it, and why is it there to begin with? You probably think it’s due to our water here in the Bradenton area being hard, but it actually isn’t. Most likely it’s a bacteria called Serratia Marcescens.
Serratia Marcescens is commonly found in bathrooms, showers, grout, shower corners, and toilet water lines. It can cause human infections too. It feeds off phosphorus-containing materials or fatty substances such as soap and shampoo residue. Because it likes moist environments, the perfect breeding ground is the bathroom. To help prevent it, it’s best to wipe down and dry showers or tubs after use, but that isn’t always practical. Unfortunately that is the only way to keep it away.
It will keep coming back if things aren’t dried after each use. The only other way to keep it at bay is constant cleaning. To avoid using harsh chemicals down your drains, you can split equal parts of vinegar and water, it’s less harsh on the pipes. This will do the job just as well as any harsh chemicals you would typically use. Just spray that on the affected area and wipe it down, or even let it sit there for more concentrated areas.
If you have any leaks, the pooling water will allow the bacteria to grow in those areas, so get leaks fixed sooner rather than later to avoid this.
Wyman Plumbing has been serving Bradenton, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and other communities throughout Manatee & North Sarasota Counties since 1924. We are your local hometown plumber, contact us for your plumbing needs.
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