How to Get Rid of Mildew

Mildew is produced by certain molds. It may be white, blue, green, black, or a combination of colors. If mildew is not removed it can actually eat away at organic materials such as wood fabric, and leather. Read on to learn how to get rid of mildew.

If you've left a wet beach towel on the backseat of your car for several days, you may notice an off smell black dots over both surfaces when you finally get around to bringing it in to the house. Those dots are mildew which thrives in warm humid areas.

Take the item outside and remove all the surface mildew you can. Shake, wipe, and then rub with a dry fabric brush or toothbrush to get as much off as possible. You need to do this outside so you don't spread the spores in the house.

There are several treatments you can use to eliminate the mildew. If its a dryclean only item or specialty fabric, you'll want to bring it to a professional. If it's washable, try one or more of these remedies in order, making sure to test each solution on an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it doesn't damage the item.

1. Moisten the stain with lemon juice, spread salt over the lemon juice and place out in the sun to dry. Rinse thoroughly after the item is dry.
2. Soak in straight vinegar, and line dry. Rinse thoroughly after drying.
3. Soak the stained area with a solution of one tablespoon of sodium perborate bleach and two cups of hot water, allowing the solution to sit for 30 minutes. Launder as usual, but line dry.
4. Chlorine bleach may also combine 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach with one cup of water and allow the solution to sit on the stained area for 15 minutes, then rinse and launder as usual.

Keep the area dry and well ventilated, adjusting the temperature so that its lower than 77°F or higher than 88°F . Mildew thrives in between those temperatures.