Often people have to learn how to clean mildew when remodeling a home or when selling a home. A botanist will say that mildew is nothing more than mold that grows on plants and they are correct. The word, mildew, has been adopted to mean the mold that grows in bathrooms, basements and other places that have a hard time staying dry. Mildew develops because there is not enough air flow or sun to dry an area and a continuous moisture is left behind. It is important to remove this mildew because it causes damage to the home and the people living there. Over time the mildew that stains a surface will eat it away and some molds produce mycotoxins that can allegedly cause respiratory problems. The most wide spread health problem caused by molds and mildew is allergies.http://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-mildew.htm

By taking steps to prevent mildew the removal and clean up will be greatly reduced. If there is a mildew problem immede3at action should be taken to contain it before it can spread further. There are chemicals that can clean mildew, but there is an environmentally friendly way also. Along with removing the mildew there is the musty odor to get rid of also.

The best way to prevent mildew is to keep things clean and dry. Mildew is most likely to grow where there is excess moisture, like bathrooms, basements, drawers and closets. Soil of grease can build up and supply food for mildew to begin growing when the temperature and moisture are right.

Remove Excess Moisture

1. Try to control the dampness inside the home. Without proper ventilation things like cooking, laundering and bathing can add three gallons of water to the air everyday. By improving the ventilation this can be changed.
2. Closets, bathrooms and crawl spaces are often poorly ventilated. By opening doors or investing in a few fans these areas can dry out.
3. By drying the air much of the moisture that could cause condensation and then mildew will be removed. Cool air is drier than warm air and so a properly installed air-conditioning unit should replace moist warm air with cool dry air.
4. There are chemicals that can dry the air. Moisture-absorbing silica gel, activated alumina and anhydrous calcium sulfate are not harmful to fabrics. By hanging a cloth bag of one of these or the open container in a well sealed closet, or similar area, the moisture will be removed from the air.http://www.fcs.uga.edu/pubs/current/C767.html

There are a number of different ways to kill and remove mildew. It is important that if the mildew problem in larger than ten square feet to call a professional to clean and find any mildew that may be hiding.

For surfaces like bathtubs, hard counters and sinks distilled white vinegar will do the job. A spray bottle, baking soda, white vinegar and an aggressively abrasive sponge are needed. The bottle should be filled with undiluted vinegar and then sprayed onto the mildew. The vinegar should be allowed to sit for a few hours so that it can soak into the mildew. Dampen the sponge with hot water and a good amount of baking soda and begin scrubbing.http://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-mildew.htm

Removing mildew spots from clothing and fabrics requires fast action. Any surface growth should be brushed off outside to prevent any spores from spreading through the house. They should then be sunned and aired thoroughly before cleaning according to tag instructions. Washable items should be washed once with soap and water then rinsed and dried in the sun. If the stain remains try lemon juice and salt. Moisten the stain with the lemon juice and then spread the salt on it. The item should then be sun dried again and then rinsed thoroughly.http://www.fcs.uga.edu/pubs/current/C767.html

Along with seeing mildew or mold there is also that pungent musky odor that indicates there is mildew growth. These are most noticeable in closed in areas like basements and shower stalls. Removing this odor can help keep mildew from growing faster along with cleaning thoroughly. Musty odors mostly disappear if the area becomes well heated, ventilated and dried, but sometimes other treatments may have to be used as well.

Chlorinated lime or bleaching powder can be used to remove musky odors in the basement. Simply sprinkle the chemical all over the floor and then sweep up after the odor disappears. Scrub cement and tile with a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite or chlorine bleach to remove odors. One half cup of this to one gallon of water is all that is needed for this. Last rinse it off with clean water and then wipe dry. Windows and doors should be left open until area is dry. There are aerosol sprays available that clean and sanitize bathroom walls. As always when using chemicals be sure to read any and all labels carefully to avoid harmful consequences.http://www.fcs.uga.edu/pubs/current/C767.html

Using the vinegar and baking soda method to clean and remove mildew will also remove the odor.http://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-mildew.htm