How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew in the Home

Eliminate Moisture before Cleaning or Professional Remediation

Jul 30, 2009

Mold and mildew left untreated can cause respiratory illness. Prevent mold from spreading by eliminating moisture. Clean moldy surfaces with household cleaners.

Two common problems found in the home are mold and mildew. Mold and mildew are terms often used interchangeably by homeowners and professionals; however, the two organisms have distinct characteristics and prefer slightly different living environments.

Mold has a musty odor. It has a fuzzy appearance and can come in a variety of colors – green, yellow, black, brown, and white, just to name a few. Mold typically grows on wall surfaces, under carpets, on ceilings, in basements, in damp closets or storage spaces, and on rotting foods. Mildew is a form of mold, but is usually gray or white. Mildew has a stain-like appearance and is commonly found on bathroom shower curtains and on damp clothing left bundled up or piled on the floor over a period of time.

Mold and Mildew are Health Hazards

As well as staining surfaces and being unsightly to the eye, both mold and mildew contaminate the air with spores. Left to breed in a dark damp environment, mold and mildew can become a health problem, making home inhabitants sick.

Small amounts of air contaminants aren't a problem for most people. In fact, the allergens that float in the air – pollen, dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other compounds – are dismissed as part of the natural environment. Some persons, however, are extremely sensitive to allergens.

Author Michele Bender, in an article posted on the Web site, Lifescript, titled, "7 Hidden Dangers in Your Home" (July, 2009), comments, "It doesn’t take much to make mold happy and multiply: It chomps down on dust, wood, paint, paper, cotton or oil, among other things. It’s attracted to modern building materials like drywall." And that's not all: "Complex heating and cooling systems can make mold matters worse, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma."

How to Get Rid of Mold

Cleaning surfaces inhabited by mold and mildew only solves half the problem. It is necessary to remove warm moisture that promotes growth or the mold will return. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air and provide one solution for stopping mold growth when there is no other cause.

Small areas of mold infestation can usually be controlled with household cleaners. Steps to cleaning mold on hard surfaces:

Bathrooms, kitchens, and basements are particularly susceptible to visible mold growth, but there may be a much worse problem that’s growing behind the walls. A leaky roof or a leaky pipe may be the source of a severe mold problem that could lead to costly repairs. Large areas of extensive damage may require professional mold remediation.

Flooding can cause extreme mold damage, especially where the consumer's belongings, carpet, flooring, and furniture are involved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the PDF article, "Get Rid of Mold" (no author given), states there are precautions that need to be taken in a home that has experienced flood damage: "After a flood, mold will grow in your house. It can make you sick. You will need to clean your house." And, "Things that stayed wet for two days have mold growing on them even if you can't see it."

How to Get Rid of Mildew

New environmentally safe green cleaners solve most bathroom mildew problems. For tough mildew stains on hard surfaces try a stiff-bristled scrub brush. Clothing that's mildewed (or molded) may be salvaged, depending on the material and extent of the damage. A local dry cleaner may be able to lift the stain. For do-it-yourself cleaning, try treating mildew-stained clothing with the following steps:

A home that smells musty most likely has a mold problem – and a problem with water damage or excess humidity, as well. Mold and mildew spores travel very easily and it's not just older homes that are subject to mold infestation. In fact, mold grows readily on drywall and many new home building materials when conditions are suitable.

Not all molds are dangerous, and small places harboring mold can usually be cleaned of mold growth by using common household cleaners. The key to preventing mold re-growth is to take care of the moisture or water problem that caused the mold or mildew growth in the first place.

The copyright of the article How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew in the Home in Home Management is owned by Mary King. Permission to republish How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew in the Home in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.