Basic Guidelines For Mold and Mildew Removal

Mold and mildew can appear in the most unusual of places. Wherever there is moisture, mold and mildew will find it and make a home. It’ll appear on towels, bath mats, shower curtains, bathroom ceilings even outdoor furniture depending on where in the world you live. It’s not only an ugly sight to see, but it can also have terrible health implications such as asthma or skin irritation. There are a number of remedies and precautions you can take that will drastically reduce and often eradicate mold from growing in your home. Here are some basic guidelines to consider for removing mold and mildew from your life.

1. Let the sunshine in. Mold and mildew love the dark damp places, and often those places reside indoors, in a cupboard somewhere. So if noticing a musty smell on your towels and on your laundry, you just can’t beat the old fashioned method of hanging them out in the sun to dry. The fastest and most effective way to kill mold is by leaving it in direct sunlight. Once the fabric is dry, be sure to use a dry brush to wisp away any remaining spores on the surface. This will reduce the likelihood of mold growing again in the future.
2. Soak spots. If you’re finding black spots and splotches on your towels, curtains, shower curtains or any other fabric, then it’s a little late for sunshine. You’ll need to get some fabric bleach and put them in the wash for a full cycle. Rinse them and wash them like you would any normal laundry item, but be sure to focus the bleach on the areas that have splotches or mold spots as this will help focus on the affected areas and remove the stain. If you’re finding spots and splotches in your bathroom on the walls and on the ceiling, you’ll want to get some chlorine and a brush and start covering the affected areas with this solution, but be sure to wear gloves and a mask as chlorine can be harsh on your lungs. Once the solution is dried, you can paint over the mold with a fresh coat of paint.
3. Outdoor furniture. For outdoor furniture, the same techniques apply to fabrics, but not so much when it comes to wood. Wood can soak up moisture and form mold and mildew just like fabric, but it can be tougher to defeat. Wiping down the furniture with a semi-damp cloth with a little dish washing liquid on a regular basis will help keep the mold at bay, as long as the wood is dried thoroughly afterwards. Sealing the furniture with a polish or lacquer is the best way to prevent mold from growing. For musty odors, you can always try sprinkling baking soda on the effected areas and then vacuum after a few hours.
4. Call in the professionals. If your mold infestation is getting out of hand and you’ve tried all of the above methods to remedy the outbreak, then it’s time to call in the hard hitters. The health implications of having black mold on your clothes and in your home can be harmful, so it’s important to eradicate the problem at the source in order to not have any further infestation. Consulting a specialist such as Microbial Insights Inc. is a good place to begin before you start cleaning mold. They specialize in wiping out mold infestations at the source of the problem.