Fun and Informative Articles

Mildew is a fungus that can grow on the surface areas when conditions facilitate its growth.

Areas of high humidity such as a basement or attic, closed up spaces like closets and cabinets, and places where a water leak occurred contribute to mildew growth.

Once you figure out why your house has a mildew smell, there are steps you can take to eliminate the odor and prevent it from recurring.

The difficulty of this task is Moderately Easy. 





You will need: 

• Rubber gloves
• Garbage bags
• Household bleach
• Bucket
• Scrub brush
• Fan
• Dehumidifier
• Activated charcoal sticks

Step 1:
Locate the source of the mildew smell. If you had a water leak, check that area to see if moisture is still present. Open cabinets and closets and take notice if you smell a musty odor. Survey your attic and basement areas, especially if they are areas where humidity is high. Damp clothing from a laundry room could also be the source of mildew growth.


Step 2:
Wash any clothing with a mildew smell. Add household bleach to the wash cycle to get rid of the mildew while washing. Always check clothing labels before using bleach to wash.


Step 3:
Throw away any items that have sever water damage and are not salvageable, such as wet boxes or storage crates. Place these items in garbage bags, seal the bags, and set out for trash pickup.


Step 4:
Mix equal parts of warm water and bleach in a bucket. Use a scrub brush to clean areas in closed spaces where mildew is growing. Often these spaces are high humidity areas, such as a basement or crawlspace. Use a fan to expedite drying the area.