Preventing Mildew

Mildew is a fungus that is very common in the majority of homes up and down the country. This particular fungus is at its liveliest and grows in areas of the house that are hot and humid. The places where it takes hold are rooms in the house where the air is not circulated properly and where there is plenty of moisture. The regular places in your house where mildew can occur are places like showers and basements. There are various methods and steps you can take to get rid of mildew and also try to stop it growing again. 

Step 1 – Increase Air Circulation in your Home

It is very important that you try to improve the circulation of air in your home, as by letting fresh air in you will reduce the risk of mildew forming. The thing with mildew is that it is a fungus that grows rapidly in areas that are damp and hot. You may find that a lot of bathrooms in particular have a fan that is built in when you move in. If you do have a fan already installed in the bathroom, then you should ensure that you leave it on as long as possible and especially when having a shower for example. Taking a shower creates more moisture, which will, in turn, lure the mildew in to settle. If you do not have a fan already, then you should think about installing one in this room more than any others in the house as this is the most humid. Without fan or even if you do have one, you should still take steps to keep doors and windows open whenever you can. In addition if there are any trees that are stopping air getting in through your windows these should be trimmed back accordingly.

Step 2 – Take Steps to Prevent Mildew before it Starts

Although ventilating your home is vital if you want to try to prevent mildew, it may not completely solve the problem. It can still occur on surfaces and walls. If this is the case, then you need to keep an eye on any growth and try to stop it spreading. There may be dark spots appearing and this is the start of the growth. The best thing you can do when you discover this is to clean the surface well with chemicals such as strong bleach. It is important that you wear protective gloves so you do not get any chemicals on your skin.

Step 3 – Control the Level of Moisture in Closets and other Storage Areas

Ensuring that areas in your home do not get too damp is critical to prevent mildew growing as this is what it lives for. Make sure that you try to leave lights on in storage areas and closets in order to heat up the area and allow any moisture that is there to disappear. Baking soda is also useful when it comes to preventing moisture in damp areas as it helps to soak up excess water.