Shower mold starts with moisture, not with cleaning neglect alone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the key to mold control is moisture control. Its guidance recommends scrubbing mold from hard surfaces with detergent and water, drying the area completely, and fixing plumbing leaks as soon as possible. That means the fastest visible cleanup is only the first step. The real goal is to reduce the damp conditions that allow mold to return.