Home Maintenance and Repair

 Causes of mildew

    Mildew grows on the surface of mold. Molds are microscopic multinucleated multicultural fungi. Big words for what is more simply just a plant. Molds can grow anywhere where they can find food. Cotton, linen, rayon, silk, wool, leather, wood, and paper are delicacies to mold.  Molds thrive best in warm, damp, poorly ventilated areas of almost every home.

    The air is full of molds, but those that cause mildew require moisture and heat to grow. It is important to note that, while molds grow fastest in temperatures between 75 F and 85 F,  these same molds are killed by sunlight.

    It would be a wise for you as the home owner to be on the look out for areas that might be damp, warm, dimly lit and poorly ventilated. Some of these area might be crawl spaces, cellars. These molds will often be found in draperies, rugs, shower curtains and even on damp clothing waiting to be hung or ironed. Moisture that helps in the creation of molds may come from leaky plumbing in the walls, basements, or crawl spaces. The daily use of  a steamy shower without proper ventilation can allow for the growth of molds on the surface of the sheetrock walls of your bathroom.

    Today's newer homes are built so air tight that they can actually be great place to encourage the growth of mold, especially during the warmer months. By the same token molds are more likely to be found in drafty homes during the colder months when the warm air escapes into the unconditioned space in the home where it can condense causing moisture to be present.

    Mold while a strong adversary can be dealt with. Please be sure and see other chapters related to the prevention and cleaning of mildew infested materials.
 

 

 

Troy Dobson             Fair Oaks, California getaliving@comcast.net