Five Things You Should Know About Mold and Mildew

Mold is a bigger problem than many people realize. Yet, there are many things people don’t realize about mold. For example:

1. Mold affects your health. Mold spores in the air can contribute to asthma and trigger allergies. Mold can grow on surfaces, inside walls, or under carpets. It makes your house smell musty and can destroy fabrics and soft surfaces like acoustic tiles and wood.
2. Mildew is caused by mold. Though there are always mold spores in the air, molds that cause mildew will flourish in damp areas where there is poor light and poor air circulation. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements are prime candidates for the formation of mildew. They can grow on shower curtains, draperies, upholstery, damp clothing and towels, and tile walls.
3. Soap scum offers excellent nutrition for mold spores to produce mildew. And, mildew will produce more mold spores.
4. The best defense against mildew and mold spores is prevention. Getting rid of mold can be difficult, but preventing the mold spores from germinating is far easier.
5. To prevent mildew from forming, reduce indoor humidity by increasing ventilation, venting bathrooms and dryers to the outside, and using air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and exhaust fans when cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.

You can keep the occurrence of mold and mildew down by removing mineral deposits and soap scum from your shower, tub, tiles and sinks. For sinks and toilet bowls, follow these steps:

• Empty bowl of water.
• Soak paper towels in vinegar.
• Line bowl or sink with soaked paper towels.
• Let sit for several hours, keeping the paper towels damp.
• Remove paper towels and scrub with a heavy duty nylon bristle brush.
• Rinse well with warm water.

For shower walls and vertical surfaces, you should:

• Pre-test an area of the tiles to be sure that they are non-porous.
• Apply gel-based bathroom cleaner with a cloth or sponge.
• Let sit for ten minutes, or follow label directions.
• Scrub walls with nylon bristled brush.
• Rinse well with warm water.
• Dry with soft towel.

Once you’ve got your walls clean, keep them clean with the following hints:

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