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Managing Mold and Mildew in Your Home by Nikki Willhite Mold and Mildew are two words you don't want to hear when someone is talking about your home. Mold and mildew can make you very sick, it can do a lot of damage, and removing it can be expensive. Mold and mildew are actually different types of fungi, but they both grow in the same conditions and they both are hazardous to your health. Their appearance and the problems they cause are similar enough that most people just group them together. Mold and mildew can grow on any organic surface, from drywall to food. They love dark, warm and moist locations. In your house you can often find them inside your walls and under your carpet. I'm sure you've seen the home improvement shows on television where the wallboard is removed in the bathroom to reveal the ugly fungus. Not only are mold and mildew expensive to remove and hazardous to your heath, but they feed on the organic material that they grow on, rotting out wood and other materials. The smell is strong, and it also can be difficult to get rid of. So what can you do to protect your home from mold and mildew? As far as the smell of mildew, try taking anything that smells outside and leaving it in the fresh air and sun for awhile. If the smell is on something you can't move, like your carpet, sprinkle it with baking soda. Prevention is your best defense against mold. Make good use of the ceiling fans in your bathroom and utility areas. They are there for a reason. You should leave the bathroom fan on for at least 30 minutes after someone takes a shower. Make sure your attic and basement has good ventilation. Many older homes to not have enough vents to the outside. When we moved into our last home we had to add 6 of them to our crawl space under the house. If your closets are giving you problems, try adding louvered doors, which let in more air. Or if you electricity in your closet, you can also leave a low wattage light bulb on to help dry it out. If your attic or basement is damp, use an exhaust fan to dry it out. If the humidity in your attic or basement is very high, you may have to install an air-conditioner. Pianos have wooden soundboards which are very sensitive to changes in humidity. People with grand pianos often put dehumidifiers under their pianos to protect them. You have to be careful with your dryer. It makes a lot of moisture. Be sure that it is vented to the outside of your home. If you just run the vent under the house you are asking for trouble. The wood under your house will become subject to not only mold and mildew, but to rot and insects.  Also, the lint from the dryer will  build up and may catch fire. There are also chemicals you can buy and put in areas with high humidity. As far as the outside of your house, don't let it get covered in foliage. Let you house be exposed to as much light as possible to keep down the mold and mildew. All plants have a life span. Most homeowners let bushes and shrubs go until they are hopelessly overgrown and hard to pull up. Be merciless in pulling out the foliage next to your home. Your house will look better if you can see it, and as an added bonus, if you pull the foliage away from your home you will have few bugs inside your house. You also do not want to let water stay on your house too long. Be mindful how long you run the sprinklers and if the water is hitting your house, how long it is staying on it. As far as removing mold and mildew, you must remember that it is a living organism and you must actually kill it. If you just clean it off, although it may look clean but there will be enough left that it will grow back. Here is the formula for a solution to use to kill mildew on painted surfaces 2 cups liquid bleach 2 quarts of water 2 Tbsps cleanser containing trisodium phosphate  (such as Spic 'n Span) When you use this mixture, put it on the mildew and then let it dry. Then rinse it off with lots of water. When wall is dry, repaint. To keep mold off bathroom tiles and shower curtains, use a ceramic tile cleaner that is a mildecide spray. Again, spray it on,  let it sit a few minutes , and then scrub it off with a brush and rinse dry.   Use a toothbrush to clean the grout. Dip the toothbrush in a mixture of bleach and water (4:1) To clean mildew off clothes, take them outside and lay them in the sun. Use a brush to gently remove stains. If you can bleach the article of clothing, use 2 Tbsps of bleach in 1 quart of water. Soak the clothing in the bleach for 10 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Do what it takes to keep your home fresh and healthy for your family. The best way to manage mold is simply to prevent it from forming. About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!

 

 

 

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