Why do Tampa homes get mildew so easily?
As the EPA puts it, "The key to mold control is moisture control." The National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay puts the rainy season for most of West Central Florida at May 25 to October 10, about four and a half months, and during those months the outdoor air that slips in through doors carries a lot of water.
Inside the house, that humid air meets cold surfaces. The EPA explains that condensation may form when warm, humid air contacts a cold surface, the way water beads on a cold bottle taken outside on a hot day, and it shows the same thing happening on an uninsulated air conditioning duct. Add daily showers and cooking, and bathrooms stay damp long enough for mildew to grow on grout and caulk.
What should indoor humidity be in a Florida house?
The EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60 percent, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. The CDC says to keep it as low as you can, no higher than 50 percent, all day long. A simple hygrometer will tell you where your home stands.
The EPA suggests air conditioners and dehumidifiers when needed and says to keep air conditioning drip pans clean and drain lines flowing, which is a job for your HVAC technician. The CDC advises kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans that vent outside.
Where does mildew show up first in a Tampa home?
Mildew starts on surfaces that get wet often and dry slowly. In late summer, these are the places worth checking first:
- Shower grout lines, especially the lowest rows and the corners
- Caulk where the tub or shower pan meets the wall
- Shower glass and the bottom track of a sliding shower door
- Window sills and window tracks where condensation collects
- Air vent covers and the ceiling around them
- Under the kitchen sink and around the dishwasher door seal
- The back of the toilet tank and the base of the toilet
What causes a musty smell in a Tampa house?
A musty smell usually means something is staying damp. The EPA notes that you may suspect mold even when you cannot see it if a building smells moldy, and that hidden mold can grow on the back side of drywall, wallpaper or paneling and on the underside of carpets and pads.
If the smell comes from damp towels or a shower curtain, cleaning and drying will fix it. If it stays after the house is cleaned, or is strongest near a wall, a ceiling stain or an air vent, a cleaning visit cannot reach the source.
How to prevent mildew in the bathroom between cleanings
Professional cleaning works best when the bathroom does not stay wet between visits. These habits follow the EPA and CDC advice on ventilation and drying:
- Run the bathroom fan or open the window during every shower, as the EPA advises, and leave the fan on for a while after
- Squeegee the shower glass and tile walls after the last shower of the day
- Leave the shower door or curtain open so the stall can dry
- Hang towels and bath mats spread out instead of folded, and wash them often
- Use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking or running the dishwasher
- Dry condensation on windows, walls or pipes as soon as you see it, which the EPA says to act on quickly
- Dry any leak or spill within 24 to 48 hours, since the EPA says mold will not grow in most cases when wet materials dry in that window
How to clean mildew on shower grout and tile
For small spots on hard surfaces, the EPA says to scrub mold off with detergent and water and then dry the surface completely. The CDC says household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water can remove mold from hard surfaces. The CDC also warns never to mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, because that produces a poisonous gas.
The EPA does not recommend bleach or other biocides as a routine part of mold cleanup, and it says not to paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. If mildew has grown into the caulk and scrubbing does not lift it, the caulk usually has to be replaced, which is a handyman task.
Does a standard or a deep clean scrub shower grout?
A standard visit, which is what recurring service uses, cleans the shower, tub, sink, toilet, mirrors and floor in every bathroom. Detailed scrubbing of grout and tile is part of a deep clean, along with baseboards, door frames, light switches, ceiling fans, blinds, and window sills and tracks.
If your grout lines have gone gray or the shower has not been scrubbed in months, a deep clean is the better first visit. A home of 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft is $440, with the booking form scheduling 8 hours of cleaning time. Green cleaning products are available at no charge on any visit.
How often should I clean a bathroom in Florida in summer?
A shower used every day gets wet every day, so the gap between cleanings decides how much buildup forms. With weekly service the shower and tub are cleaned every 7 days. With every-other-week service the gap is 14 days, and your daily squeegee and fan habits carry more of the load.
For a home up to 1,999 sq ft, a standard clean is $220. Weekly visits are 15 percent off, or $187, and every-other-week visits are 10 percent off, or $198, from the second visit on; the weekly vs biweekly guide shows the full first-year math. Lilly Maids has been cleaning homes around Tampa Bay for 5 years.
When do you need mold remediation instead of a cleaning service?
Lilly Maids is a house cleaning company and does not do mold remediation. We do not remove mold from drywall, ceilings, carpet or air ducts, and we do not test for mold. This is what EPA guidance says about larger problems:
- If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 ft by 3 ft patch, the EPA says in most cases you can handle the job yourself
- If mold covers more than 10 square feet or there has been a lot of water damage, the EPA points to its guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings and to contractors with experience cleaning mold
- If the damage came from sewage or other contaminated water, the EPA says to call in a professional experienced with buildings damaged by contaminated water
- If you suspect hidden mold behind drywall, wallpaper or paneling, the EPA says to consider an experienced professional
- If you have health concerns, the EPA advises consulting a health professional before starting cleanup
- If you suspect the HVAC system is contaminated with mold, the EPA says not to run it, because it could spread mold through the building
Prices
Priced by square footage. Weekly visits are 15% off and every other week 10% off from the second visit. Minimum booking 4 hours. Extras and details.
| Home size | One-time | Every 2 weeksEvery other week | Weekly | HoursCleaning time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,999 sq ft | $220 | $198 | $187 | 4 h hours |
| 2,000 - 2,499 sq ft | $275 | $247.50 | $233.75 | 5 h hours |
| 2,500 - 2,999 sq ft | $330 | $297 | $280.50 | 6 h hours |
| 3,000 - 3,499 sq ft | $385 | $346.50 | $327.25 | 7 h hours |
| 3,500 - 3,999 sq ft | $440 | $396 | $374 | 8 h hours |
| 4,000 - 4,499 sq ft | $495 | $445.50 | $420.75 | 9 h hours |
| 4,500 - 4,999 sq ft | $550 | $495 | $467.50 | 10 h hours |
| 5,000 - 5,499 sq ft | $605 | $544.50 | $514.25 | 11 h hours |
Weekly and every-other-week prices apply from the second visit. The first visit on a new schedule is charged at the one-time price.
| Home size | Price | HoursCleaning time |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 999 sq ft | $220 | 4 h hours |
| 1,000 - 1,499 sq ft | $330 | 6 h hours |
| 1,500 - 1,999 sq ft | $440 | 8 h hours |
| 2,000 - 2,499 sq ft | $550 | 10 h hours |
| 2,500 - 2,999 sq ft | $660 | 12 h hours |
| 3,000 - 3,499 sq ft | $770 | 14 h hours |
| 3,500 - 3,999 sq ft | $880 | 16 h hours |
| 4,000 - 4,499 sq ft | $990 | 18 h hours |
| 4,500 - 4,999 sq ft | $1,100 | 20 h hours |
| 5,000 - 5,499 sq ft | $1,210 | 22 h hours |
From our customers
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★★★★★
Excellent service! The house was cleaned very thoroughly, and everything looks great. Very professional, reliable, and highly recommended!
Yecheng L. · Thumbtack · Aug 18, 2026
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★★★★★
Amazing work! I didn’t move in as a new tenant, so I inherited someone else’s mess and never had a deep clean. Turned my depressing apartment into a place that I actually want to spend time. I’ve just become a regular customer!! 10 out of 10 would recommend!
Kendra L. · Thumbtack · Oct 6, 2026
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★★★★★
Lilly Maids did a great job cleaning our home! Everything looked fresh, clean, and well taken care of. We were really happy with the service and would definitely recommend them!
5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Deep cleaning, Fridge cleaning, Oven cleaning, Interior cabinet cleaning, Pets in home, Just once
Lady F. · Thumbtack · Sep 2026
Common questions
What humidity level prevents mildew in a Florida home?
Aim for indoor humidity under 60 percent, with 30 to 50 percent as the EPA's ideal range. The CDC says no higher than 50 percent, all day long.
Why does my house smell musty in Tampa?
A musty smell usually means something is staying damp, such as towels, a shower curtain or a spot near a leak. The EPA says a moldy smell can point to hidden mold even when none is visible, and it suggests considering an experienced professional in that case.
Does Lilly Maids do mold removal?
No, Lilly Maids does not do mold remediation. A standard visit cleans the shower, tub, sink and toilet, and detailed grout and tile scrubbing is part of a deep clean.
Does a deep clean include shower grout?
Yes, a deep clean includes detailed scrubbing of grout, tile and fixtures. A home of 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft is $440 for a deep clean.
How often should I clean my bathroom in a humid climate?
In a bathroom used daily, weekly service means the shower and tub are cleaned every 7 days. Weekly standard service for a home up to 1,999 sq ft is $187 per visit after the first visit.