popagefd
How To Remove Mildew
For painted surfaces, a chlorine bleach solution is best (keep the area ventilated while you're working in it). Chloride bleach or a solution of sodium hypochlorite will work well on an unfinished cement floor. It might be a good idea to seal the floor with an epoxy paint when you're done, as an aid in keeping moisture at bay. Untreated cement or concrete tends to absorb and hold moisture. An ammonia and water solution will work best on any vinyl and tile surfaces.
While doing all of this, it's a good time to check on exhaust fans and vents, and clean them, fix them, or install them as seems to be appropriate. Good air circulation is a positive step in preventing mildew from returning. Once you've removed the mildew from the interior surfaces of your house, you can turn your attention to removing mildew from other items.
Fabrics - The best way of removing mildew from clothing is to take the item outside in the sun and brush it off. Don't brush it off indoors. You'll just scatter the mold spores around doing that. Leaving the article in the sun for awhile may be all you'll need to do, but if there are mildew stains you'll want remove them. For washable fabric, lemon juice and salt is an effective combination. Just spot clean the stain with the lemon juice and then spread on salt and let the fabric dry. If the stains persist, the next step would be to wash the article in soap and water, letting the cloth soak for awhile in warm or hot water as appropriate for the material being cleaned. Extra stubborn stains may have to be treated with bleach, but be aware that not all fabrics can tolerate chlorine bleach.
Leather - If you have clothing that's been damaged by mildew it's quite possible you'll have a pair or two of shoes with the same problem. Removing mildew from leather is usually successfully done by rubbing the affected area with petroleum jelly and then sponging it with a mixture (equal parts) of rubbing alcohol and water. Once the stain has disappeared, apply a leather conditioner (apply conditioner on leather only, not on suede).
Books And Paperwork - If you have some books or other paperwork with a mildew problem, brushing the paper off out of doors and letting it dry in the sun will usually do the trick. If you have some very old books, they may smell musty, and you'll think they have mildew. But lots of old things, including books and clothing, smell musty but do not actually have a mildew problem. They just smell old. So, look for stains or for dampness and don't rely entirely on smell.
And Then There's Carpets - Sometimes we save the best for last, in this case we've saved the worst for last. Removing mildew from carpeting can be a major challenge. Anytime a carpet is allowed to become wet or damp, due to an overflowing sink or a broken pipe for example, mildew will often form quickly, unless the carpet can be dried. If the carpet is very wet, it will have to be removed, and either dried out of doors, or taken to a drying installation by a professional. It is at that location where it will dry out, and be deodorized and any mildew will be removed. You can vacuum the carpet to remove water if you have, or can rent, the right type of vacuum cleaner, a wet vacuum. But you'll still need to remove the carpet to dry it thoroughly and treat it for mildew. You may find that the carpet pad will have to be replaced in any event.
If you encounter a mildew problem, count yourself fortunate if it is a tile floor, or a few articles of clothing that are involved. As we have shown, removing mildew from these things is relatively simple. Hopefully you'll make it through life without having a soaked carpet to contend with.