Home Cleaning Tips: How to Get Rid of Mildew
Part of the home staging process is to clean the house thoroughly. Mildew is no fun to have around. It can cause problems on fabric, walls, curtains and furniture. To avoid problems in the future, use a dehumidifier in storage areas that tend to have high moisture levels and air out the bathroom after taking showers to allow the walls, curtains and towels to dry fully. To solve the problems that have already occurred, here are a few methods for eliminating mildew on different types of surfaces.
For fabric -
Mold likes dark, damp and warm areas and once it find a home, it grows, leaving you with black mildew stains that smell. To remove these stains from clothes, life-vests, cushions and other items made from fabric, take them outside and let them dry fully in the sun, as sunlight helps to stop mold from growing. Once you've stopped the mold from spreading, take a stiff bristled brush and brush off the mold stains. Make sure you do this outside to avoid further growth on new surfaces, such as your carpet.
If the affected item is washing machine friendly, soak it in all-fabric bleach for 30 min and then wash it as you normally would. If the item is not washing machine friendly, dab a few drops of all-fabric bleach onto the problem spot and allow it to sit for 5 min then hand wash it thoroughly. Let it air dry completely!
For the bathroom -
For small mildew stains on your bathroom walls, mix 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of warm water. Wearing protective gloves, scrub the wall will a brush and let it sit for 5-10 min and then rinse. If your walls are pretty covered in mildew, you should call in a professional as this simple approach may not be enough.
For a moldy shower curtain, your answer is easy. Put it in the washing machine with hot water on a gentle cycle. Use regular detergent and bleach. Put it in the dryer on low heat for about 2 min. It will still be wet at this point so hang it back up on the shower curtain rod and open it fully to allow it to air dry.
Furniture -
Sometimes old, wooden furniture can start to smell bad and become stained with mildew. This is an easy fix! Using the soft brush tip, vacuum the furniture to get off the loose mold. Then, mix dish detergent and warm water and lightly wipe down the stained areas and rinse quickly and lightly. Don't get the wood too wet! Let it dry thoroughly.
Some home staging experts use basic products such as baking soda for a number of uses. Baking soda can be used to freshen up stale smelling drawers and closets. Simply sprinkle a small amount in the drawer or on the shelf and let it sit for a bit. Vacuum up the excess powder and breathe the new, fresh scent of clean!
Article Source: http://www.homestagingchannel.com/home-cleaning-tips-how-to-get-rid-of-mildew-i-358.php
Last Updated Wednesday, July 1, 2009 - 07:27 PM EDT.
