Home Mildew Removal Tips

Posted on: 14 September 2022

Mildew isn't always an immediate threat to personal health, but it shouldn't be ignored. If you notice mildew anywhere in your house, these home mildew removal tips will help address the issue.

Don't Ignore Mildew

When you notice mildew somewhere in your home, don't ignore the issue. Homeowners sometimes delay addressing mildew issues, because they don't perceive the mildew as an emergency problem. Even if the mildew isn't serious, though, it should promptly be addressed.

Mildew will only increase with time, which increases the work required to remove it. You might have to scrub harder, use harsher chemicals, and/or scrub longer. If you ignore it for an especially long time, you might even have to hire a home mildew removal specialist.

The conditions that promote mildew growth are often well-suited for mold too. Not changing the conditions (e.g. light, temperature, or humidity) could allow molds that do pose direct health issues to grow.

Determine Whether Mildew or Dirt

Sometimes mildew looks like dirt on the wall, ceiling, or floor. You can easily determine whether a splotch is mildew, mold, or dirt, however, and you don't have to buy an expensive testing kit.

Clean a portion (or all) of the splotch with diluted bleach. If the spot comes back, then it's a living organism, such as mildew or mold. Then, you should follow mildew home removal steps. If the splotch doesn't return, it was probably just dirt (and should've been cleaned anyway).

Spray an Antimicrobial Treatment

Once you've cleaned off all the mildew in an area, spray the area with an antimicrobial treatment. The treatment will inhibit microorganism growth, including mildew and mold growth. It may not fully prevent growth, but it'll slow growth so that you don't have to clean the area again anytime soon.

Antimicrobial treatments for mold home removal can be found in spray bottles and larger fog machines.

Replace Building Materials

If mildew growth is persistent in a particular area, you can replace the building materials in that area with mildew-resistant materials. Non-porous synthetic materials tend to grow less mildew than porous and organic ones. For instance, ceramic tile will grow mildew less quickly than wood.

Replacing building materials is a more intensive mold home removal tip, but it could be necessary if you have a serious and recurring problem. Depending on your skills and level of comfort, you might replace materials yourself or hire a professional contractor

For more information, contact a home mildew removal service near you.

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