Is mold in the home reason for you to panic? Not if you know how to get rid of it. We want to share with you some very effective things you can do when you see either mold or mildew growing in your home. Our cleaning and fixing experts have some solutions for you.

What are the Best Cleaners to Use on Mold?

You cannot use the same cleaners for tiles and hard surfaces on your mold and expect to get rid of it. You may wipe the mold away, but are you killing all those tiny mold spores that could spread throughout the house and start mold growing elsewhere? You won’t be killing them and getting rid of the mold problem unless you use the right cleaners.

Bleach is really effective at treating mold, since it will whiten and brighten the spot where the mold was, and it will kill the mold spores. Tea tree oil and grapeseed oil work well too, effectively eliminating mold and doing a good job of cleaning it up. We would also recommend white vinegar for its cleaning powers when dealing with mold.

You want to use the right cleaners and make sure that you are treating mold with the most effective chemicals and natural substances. Using other cleaners that won’t be as effective may make the mold disappear, but that will only be a temporary victory, and the mold will likely return very quickly.

You can get rid of mildew with regular household cleaners, most of the time. You don’t have to worry about using specialized cleaners, but for mold, you want to ensure you are using the proper tools.

Do I Need an Expert to Remove Mold and Mildew?

Mildew is pretty simple to get rid of, and you can use your normal cleaning methods to remove it. The same methods and cleaners you use to clean countertops and other hard surfaces will work fine where mildew is concerned. For mold, the problem can persist even after repeated cleaning.

You may want to call in a mold remediation specialist if there is a continual mold issue. Or you can hire experienced maids to do the cleaning for you. A Chicago crew of cleaners can tidy up your entire home quickly, dealing with the mold very effectively and leaving spotless surfaces behind.

In some cases, you may be able to get rid of these unsightly growths of mold and mildew for yourself. It is easier to remove them and keep them away if they are new growths and you catch them early on. If there is only a little mold, it should be simple enough to get rid of it without outside help, but a widespread problem will need professional help.

Eliminate Powdery Mildew Quickly

If you are dealing with powdery mildew, you want to use a specialized treatment method. This mildew is dry and has a musty smell, and it is most easily removed with white vinegar. Vinegar works because of its bacteria-killing properties. You want to use something like that for areas that you touch often, such as countertops and sinks.

White vinegar can kill both mold and mildew, though it won’t deal with invisible spores in the air. How do you use white vinegar to eliminate these issues? Start by soaking down the affected area with white vinegar. There is no need to dilute it.

Then, scrub at the area with a sponge until the mildew is mostly cleared up. Allow the vinegar to sit on the mildewed area for a couple of hours. Then, scrub more until the mildew completely clears up. Rinse the area down with water and let it dry naturally.

Aren’t Mold and Mildew the Same?

Many people will lump these two together, talking about them as if they are the same and using the two terms interchangeably. However, mold and mildew are different. Mildew tends to look gray or white and have a powdery appearance. Mold often looks fuzzy and can be green, red, black, or even blue.

With both of these biological elements, you will have the potential for health problems, like allergy symptoms and breathing issues. Mold is definitely worse, though, as it is more dangerous and harder to remove. Mold comes back more easily as well when it is cleaned up, so there will sometimes be a need to call in professionals to deal with it, where that usually isn’t necessary with mildew.

Mold and Mildew Prevention- Best Practices

Let’s leave you with a few tips on how to minimize the presence of mold and mildew in the home. You can prevent both of these the same way, even though they are a bit different. They both look for wet, dark places to hide and grow, so if you cut down on the moisture levels and bring in more light, they won’t be very comfortable.

Make sure that the airflow in your house is good and air is circulating well. Fresh air tends to keep mold out. You can add vents and fans and open doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate.

If you work to keep the humidity levels low, that will help a lot with your mold and mildew problems. You can bring in a dehumidifier to get rid of some of the moisture, especially in problem areas like the basement or laundry room. You can set some of these devices to turn off automatically so that they are only running when necessary.

Final Thoughts

You have to stay vigilant to keep mold and mildew out of your home. Make sure you are cleaning regularly or having someone come and clean for you. If you spot either of these growths, deal with them immediately before they can spread further. Look for growth beyond the easily visible areas to ensure that mold and mildew don’t get away from you and grow uncontrollably in places that are hard to see.