This little gesture that we almost systematically skip when getting out of the shower, in a hurry by the cold or simply by the desire to get it over with. Except that these few seconds of inattention pay off, literally, on the tile joints a few weeks later.
According to ANSES, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, between 15 and 20% of French housing has visible mold. The main cause of this phenomenon can be summed up in one word: excessive and lasting humidity. A figure that takes on its full meaning when we measure what actually happens in a bathroom: after a hot shower, the humidity level in the room can rise to 90%, transforming the space into a true tropical atmosphere for several tens of minutes.
The problem does not come from this steam itself, which is inevitable as soon as you take a shower, but from what happens right after. If moisture is not quickly evacuated or absorbed, it condenses on all cold surfaces in the room: tiles, shower walls, mirror. This stagnant water, combined with residual heat, creates precisely the ideal conditions for the installation of mold, which can form visible stains in just two to three days according to several specialized sources. Wiping the shower just after use therefore means directly intervening on one of the three conditions necessary for their appearance, even before they have had time to take hold.

What this task actually involves

Wiping the shower or bathtub involves removing residual water from the walls, floor and glass surfaces just after use, using a squeegee or absorbent cloth. Allow around 3 minutes for this quick action, to be carried out ideally after each shower for a truly preventive effect in the long term.

Tips and tricks for a truly effective gesture

The squeegee remains the quickest and most effective tool: a few vertical passes on the glass or tiled walls are enough to remove most of the stagnant water, much faster than a cloth which requires more handling. A model hung directly in the shower, within easy reach, greatly facilitates the adoption of this reflex on a daily basis.
Opening the window or activating the VMC (controlled mechanical ventilation) immediately after showering, in addition to wiping the surfaces, considerably accelerates the evacuation of remaining ambient humidity. Leaving the bathroom door ajar for a few minutes after showering also allows humid air to spread throughout the rest of the home rather than stagnating in a confined space.
For tile joints, which are particularly sensitive to the appearance of mold, a light wipe with a dry cloth over these specific areas, in addition to the rest of the shower, limits the accumulation of humidity in these corners where water tends to infiltrate more permanently.

With 15 to 20% of French homes affected by visible mold according to ANSES, this small gesture of three minutes after the shower is not anecdotal. A simple squeegee, repeated systematically, can make all the difference between joints that remain clean and a recurring battle against black stains.