How to Rid Your Home of Mold and Mildew
Ask Danny, Attics and Basements, Green Home, Repairs and Installation, Safety and Security by Danny Lipford
Our house has a musty smell, and we recently found mold growing inside some of the closets and cabinets. How can we get rid of it? -Joseph
Hi Joseph,
Since mold and mildew require warm, moist conditions to grow, start by eliminating any unwanted sources of water, such as leaks in the roof, dripping pipes, or gaps around tubs or showers. Check to be sure your outside walls are weather tight and that rain isn’t coming in around windows and doors. Finally, correct any moisture problems under your home in the basement or crawlspace.
Humidity levels indoors over 60% can promote mold growth, so monitor the relative humidity in your home with a humidity gauge (hygrometer). If the humidity is high, lower it by running the air conditioner or installing a dehumidifier. Also, consider improving air circulation in your home by using bathroom and kitchen vent fans, as well as paddle or portable fans.
To remove small amounts of mold and mildew, scrub the surface with water and detergent then dry it thoroughly. For more serious cases, use a product specifically made to kill mold. While diluted bleach can kill mold on nonporous surfaces, it’s largely ineffective on porous materials, including wood, and will damage fabrics.
Good luck with your project,
Further Information
- How to Prevent and Remove Mold (article)
- Eliminating Mold in Your Home (video)
- How to Reduce Mold and Moisture Under Your Home (video)
2 Comments on “How to Rid Your Home of Mold and Mildew”
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November 8th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Dear Danny, We live in a log home, and the dream just turned into a nightmare when we realized our basement ceiling is covered with grey mold spots just like the photo on this web site. We are sick. There is no water problem; it is simply humidity. Is this kind of mold a health hazard, or could we simply cover floor joists with plastic and then greenboard; or must it first be cleaned? Is the plastic/greenboard the correct strategy after cleaning?? Should we first have the ceiling (josts and osb subflooring) painted with Binz? We are now running our dehumidifier daily, even in the winter, but are concerned all the wooden walls in the basement will also soon be covered with mold spots. PLEASE help if you can. Thanks, Warren & Marty Bellamy, Medina, Ohio
Ben Erickson Says:November 9th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Hi Warren,
Mold can pose a health hazard to those allergic to it, and lead to rot and termite damage. You should kill the mold currently in your basement, then try to determine what’s causing the excessive moisture problem in your basement and correct it. There are a number of articles and videos on our site that should help. Start with the ones to the left of this article in “Related Articles” then try searching our site for the keywords mold and moisture. You can also find all the articles in the “Attics and Basements” category in the drop down navigation at the top of every page under “Home Improvement.”