Causes of Household Mildew

• Most commonly, household mildew develops in moisture prone areas, especially during humid summer season. The most favorable temperature range for mildew to grow is from 75 to 85 degrees F. Mildew grows in rooms that are warm, damp and poorly lighted. It can also grow in places where air circulation is not good. Such places may include basements, cellars, closets and shower curtains. Rust on pipes beneath sinks or behind washing machine, freezer, ice maker or refrigerator can be the breeding ground for mildew. It can also develop on leaky roofs and septic sewage breaks.
  
  

Identification of Household Mildew

• Mildew can be black, white or green in color with a powdery texture that is easily identified. Spotting mildew can be a challenge sometimes, especially when its breeding ground is a wall cavity, beneath wallpaper, crawl spaces, air ducts, inside cooling or heating equipment or below a carpet. In such a case, its presence can be detected by a musty smell that it produces.
  
  

Health Related Issues Due to Mildew

• Mildew can not only create havoc in the building and cause damage to the articles it infests, but can also cause severe health related issues in humans. It can cause allergic reaction in eyes, throat and nose and also give flu like symptoms to the infected person's body. The sufferer may also experience headache, dizziness, depression, fatigue, restlessness and fever. Some serious effects of mildew include asthma, regular nosebleeds excessively, memory problems and respiratory dysfunction like shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. These symptoms are more susceptible in people who have a weak immune system like pregnant women, old people, sick people and infants.
  
  

How to Get Rid of Household Mildew

• Remove mildew by mixing 1 part chlorine bleach in 4 parts of water and apply it on the affected parts. If mildew is on the walls, spray the solution with a spray bottle. If it is on the clothes, soak them in the solution for an hour before washing them with detergent and air drying them. If it is on furniture, apply the solution on the stain with a brush and let it dry before wiping it off. There are mildew-resistant sealants and paints available now-a-days which may be coated on furniture, tiles and walls. Some acrylic-based products are also available that can be used inside the bathroom, basement or closet.