How to Eliminate and Prevent Mold and Mildew within your Home

The paint dealer should be able to offer an alternative to PST, if it is not allowed in your area.

After mixing up the solution in a bucket, thoroughly wipe down the walls with this solution using a rag, and then rinsed off with clean water. If you plan on repainting the walls let the walls dry for several days before repainting. Also, make sure the area is dry. You may want to consider using a dehumidifier in the room to help with the drying out process.

After removing the mold and mildew from the walls, it is important to take steps for preventing its growth in the future. For example, if you are planning to repaint the walls apply a mold and mildew resistant additive to the paint prior to applying the paint to the walls. Again, your local paint store should be able to help by mixing in the mold and mildew additive to the paint. Regardless of whether or not you plan on repainting the walls or not, it is important to understand what caused the mold and mildew and to take steps to prevent its growth in the future.

Mold and mildew typically form in a home due to two reasons, high moisture levels within the home, and insufficient airflow. Unfortunately the downside of today’s new home construction is that they are well built and air tight. This air tightness, however can lead to a buildup of moisture levels in the home which can then lead to the formation of mold and mildew.

To prevent future outbreaks of mold and mildew in the home, you may need to install an air conditioning system in the home, if one was not installed when the home was built. Alternatively you may need to install a house fan, or attic fan in the home. These types of fans can create sufficient air movement in the home to prevent moisture build up and thus eliminate the threat of mold and mildew growth. Another area to examine is your home’s basement. If there is standing water or damp spots in it, then take a look at the exterior of the home. Make sure the grade of the land around the home’s foundation causes water to run away from the home.

Also, if your home has gutters, make sure the drain spouts properly divert rain water run-off away from the home. Finally, consider installing a sump pump or dehumidifier in your basement to remove water from the basement. Also, if your home has an earth crawl space for a basement, install a layer of plastic on the floor of the crawl space and cover it with crushed stone.

If you are building a new home or an addition to the home, make sure you insulate it properly to prevent the threat of mold and mildew.

If you live in an area with high summer humidity and cold winters, use insulation with a vapor barrier on your exterior walls. The vapor barrier should be applied on the warm side of the wall (towards the inside of the home). This will prevent moisture from wicking onto the insulation during the winter months.

With this list of preventative steps you should be able to prevent the re-occurrence of mold and mildew within your home, and/or the prevention of it all together.