Mildew is a fungus that can grow on a lot of surfaces like paint, tile, grout, etc. All of those substances can be found in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Relatively, molds are basically the same. Molds are fungal organisms that build up in rotting materials or surfaces that are moist and dirty. Homeowners know how these organisms can easily get their way inside their homes especially in the bathroom and in the kitchen. As mold or mildew in small amounts may not be harmful, if you don’t get rid of it, it will spread and it can be harmful to you and your family or kid’s health. Below are some useful tips on how to remove molds and mildews at home.
Moisture
Molds or mildew builds up in warm and damp environments. When you take a hot bath, the room gets damp and moisture builds up. When you cook, it gets warm in the kitchen too. If you don’t clean after you use your bathroom or kitchen, it is most likely that molds will grow in the most damp or moistened areas.
Tip: Install an exhaust fan if your ventilating system is not that good. Most air conditioning and heating units already have a ventilating feature. However, it may not be powerful enough to get the moisture out of the room especially if there’s too much steam from the hot bath or steam from cooking. It’s best to have an exhaust fan to keep the moisture out of the room. This will greatly help prevent molds and mildew build-up.
Maintain surfaces clean
Dirty areas or surfaces are the places where bacteria will grow. It’s also where molds and mildew will reside. So before that happens, make sure that you keep your surfaces clean at all times.
Tip: After using your work station or taking a shower, make sure that you leave the area clean. When you use the workstation in your kitchen, make sure to spray it with a surface/tile cleaner and wipe the surface clean. When you use the shower, it’s best if you use a disinfecting spray afterwards. Then, if you have a shower curtain, stretch it out and don’t leave it all cramped in one corner. It will allow the shower curtain to dry faster and avoid mold or mildew build-up. Remember, mildew LOVES shower curtains! So make sure that you clean your shower curtains regularly. Choose vinyl and synthetic shower curtains because you can simply toss them in the washer and add disinfecting bleach to keep them clean! It’s best if you have a fan in your bathroom so that you can turn it on for just a few minutes to circulate the air and dry up the room faster.
Regular Maintenance
Make sure that you regularly clean shower doors, tubs, tiles, and floors. Use a product that is especially created to kill molds. Regular bleach can prevent molds and remove mildew in your surface. Grout is also one of the favorite parts of molds and mildew. Make sure you brush your grout every so often with a disinfecting cleaner made especially for tile and grout.