0
Mold and Mildew
Mold is a type of fungi, and is usually associated with things decomposing. Mold can be dangerous, or it can be helpful. Some medications are made from types of mold. Mildew is a fuzzy fungal growth. It tends to grow on organic materials, and usually suggests that there has been dampness in the area.
655 Questions
How does mildew make you sick?
Mildew makes you sick because it gets inside of your eyes, on your skin, in your nose and throat, and into your lungs. Babies, children, and the elderly are the ones who are most sensitive to mildew.
Is mold or mildew a problem for baby?
Mold and mildew certainly are problems for babies. These things can cause respiratory problems that could potentially be fatal to the baby.
Mildew can be bad for one's health. Especially in people with compromised immune systems, mildew can cause all kinds of breathing-related disorders. It is best to remove mildew as soon as it is discovered.
I am certainly no doctor. However, I have been working in the same school for nearly 5 years and within my first few months of working there, I started having migraine headaches. The school has recently been tested for mold and mildew due to a high number of faculty presenting with headache and upper respiratory problems. It may be an issue among students as well but without realizing it and schools certainly don't advertise this stuff.
I have also been having increased mildew issues in my bathroom and one other room in my home and experience about as many headaches at home as I do at school. Many of us at the school are starting to request testing (allergy and other diagnostic testing) to see if a connection can be made.
I also suffer from asthma and chronic bronchitis with colds, which can also be affected by overexposure to mold and mildew. I would recommend asking your doctor if you have chronic headache and suspect regular exposure to mold and mildew.
How do you prevent mildew in cars?
If you are a snowbird and leave your car parked for long period of times you could use Home-Zone - www.homzone.com - I have been using this product for years without any problem. You may be able to find it in your local hardware store.
True or False Class II commercial wallcoverings are required to be mildew resistant?
While vynil wallcoverings contains additives to resist mold and microbial growth on the product itself,these additives will not prevent growth if moisture is allowed to accumulate in the wall or wall cavity.This is because the vynil will act as a vapor barrier restricting the escape of moisture. Also using an adhesive that is mold resistant will help as will a perforated wall covering that will make it more permeable (allowing fluid to penetrate or pass through it).But at the end of the day the moisture problem should be corrected before installation of wallcovering. While vynil wallcoverings contains additives to resist mold and microbial growth on the product itself,these additives will not prevent growth if moisture is allowed to accumulate in the wall or wall cavity.This is because the vynil will act as a vapor barrier restricting the escape of moisture. Also using an adhesive that is mold resistant will help as will a perforated wall covering that will make it more permeable (allowing fluid to penetrate or pass through it).But at the end of the day the moisture problem should be corrected before installation of wallcovering.
Mildew is kind of light brown and cream color mixed together
How do you get rid of mildew smell?
To get rid of mildew smell, you can try using white vinegar, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide to clean the affected area. Ventilate the space to allow fresh air to circulate and prevent moisture buildup. Consider using a dehumidifier to control humidity levels and prevent further mold growth.
You don't...
How do you get rid of a mildew smell in a car?
You can put charcoal briquettes or a box of baking in the closed area after you're done to absorb any other smell that will arise in the future. Installing a dehumidifier or an electric air vent fan will discourage moisture from collecting in that area and encourage the air to move around. As a final touch, use an air freshener spray or Fabreeze to bring back a fresh smell in to the closed area that previously smelled like mildew.
Neither being disabled nor displaced due to mold will particularly add to your cause for getting help. If you own the home, then you will need to get it repaired before you can sell it. There may be some agencies in your city that will assist you in getting mold removed and repairs done, but they may not be able to supply all of the money and materials. Under some specific circumstances of how the problem was created (other than lack of maintenance), your hazard insurance will help. Alternatively, perhaps you can apply for a home equity loan or refinance your house. The deal is, if the mold is more than 10%, then you need to have the situation fixed by a licensed company.
How do you get musty mildew odor out of trunk from wet clothes?
try using woolite and follow the directions on the can
What help exists for a disabled family out of their home due to toxic mold or mildew?
There is no such thing as "toxic mould" or "toxic mildew." For the most part, the notion of "toxic mould" was a creation of over imaginative journalists, who sacrificed objectivity for a "good yarn." Generally speaking where one discovers mould or mildew in their residence, normal everyday housekeeping procedures are all that is necessary to correct the problem. Occasionally, where there is a catastrophic water loss, or flooding, more extensive water damage remediation is required. Very seldom is evacuation necessary. The process can be slow, so to speed things up get a friend to phone into your local TV news and tell them what it's all about. The media just loves this sort of thing and it will make others aware this could happen to them as well. This should get you some help a lot quicker than going through all the red tape and poor excuses.
What is the difference between mold and mildew?
Mold and mildew have many similar characteristics, but they are different types of fungi, and are often different in color and texture. Mold and mildew are often mentioned together as they can both grow in many of the same moist and warm locations. However, mildew is often found more often than mold in showers, paper and fabrics and mold is usually found more often than mildew in foods. They can sometimes be difficult to tell apart as they both spread out from spores. Mold is often black, green, red or blue in color while mildew is usually gray or white. The two main types of mildew are powdery and downy. Powdery mildew is commonly found on roses and other flowering plants. Powdery mildew is created by an ascomycota type of fungus. Downy mildew is from the oomycota type of fungus and is found in agricultural products such as grapes and potatoes. Both mold and mildew thrive in damp environments, so keeping areas dry is the main preventative measure to help eliminate the fungi. Bathrooms are a prime source of mold and mildew as not only are they often damp, but they also usually do not have a lot of ventilation. Some molds have toxins called mycotoxins that some people may be allergic to. Symptoms of a mold allergy may include headaches, Asthma and coughing. Irritation of the eyes and throat may also occur as a result of breathing mold toxins. Molds are not always harmful; the antibiotic penicillin was created from the mold of the same name. Moldy food should not be eaten. A mildew infestation on paper and some fabrics cannot be scrubbed off, but a mildew remover can usually get rid of mildew on harder surfaces such as surfaces in bathrooms. Some mold and mildew removal products should not be used by asthmatics or in an area that is not well-ventilated. Bleach solutions are often effective in killing both mold and mildew.
How do you remove mold and mildew from a futon that has gotten wet on one end?
Wash off as much of the mold and mildew as you can--use white vinegar in the water, or put some baking soda in the water. Then, let the futon sit outside in the sun for a day or so.
How do you remove mold streaks from the shady side of asphalt roof shingles?
When it comes to moss or mold on a roof, the culprit is actually a blue-green algae which is most commonly found in warmer, humid climates. Although it does not damage the roofing the black stains it leaves do not look good.
One solution if there are only a few shingles involved, would be to replace the discolored ones with new shingles to match. This means that you would either have to have some extra shingles lying around or that you could find them at a local supplier. However, if you shingles are pretty old, this may not be possible.
Your options then would be to try to find the closest match available or take shingles from another area of the home that where the shingles are less visible and use the old shingles in the spots that you want to replace the bad ones and then install the new shingles that don't match as well in the spots where you took the old shingles from. Please see my earlier response to the topic "Shingles" for more on this procedure.
Of course, this problem is going to show up more on lighter shingles, so replacing them might be your best option. However there is a method of cleaning that might just do the trick.
One of the suggestions out there that has been used for years is to get a garden sprayer and mix a 50/50 solution of water and bleach and spray wash the roof to get rid of the algae. Keep in mind that a garden sprayer is not a pressure washer. Do not use a pressure washer because you can blow the surface of the shingles right off the roof and thus damage the shingles.
Due to the very delicate bond between the composition shingle and its protective layer of marble chip granules, the use of a pressure washer is NOT RECOMMENDED AT ALL. If one insists on the use of a pressure washer, the spray tip nozzle MUST BE KEPT far enough away from the shingles so that the pressure does not exceed that of an ordinary garden hose.
Once even a small percentage of the granules are gone from the shingles, the effect of direct sunlight will accelerate the degradation of the underlying shingle and destruction of the shingle will occur long before the normal life expectancy of the shingle
A better solution would be to use one of the deck cleaners out there that are safe for the environment. Products containing oxygen bleach clean well and will not harm the plants. Anytime you can use an product that is good for the environment, the better off you are.
Input from a roof cleaning professional:
There are a few schools of thought on how to properly clean a roof. Based upon my research, years in business and tried and true method, nothing is more effective than using sodium hypochlorite, more commonly known as bleach. With this chemical (applied at approximately a 6% solution with other surfactants) you do not have to rinse the roof at all. This mitigates all danger of damage from the use of pressure. Any pressure is too much. The difference will be instantaneous. After the first good rain, dead lichen and any remaining haze will be washed away leaving your roof looking nearly new.
Here is a common sense thought to add. Hire a professional. I am all for DIY and saving money but sodium hypochlorite will burn your skin and it can wreak havoc on lungs. It will also kill plant life and surrounding vegetation on contact. Professionals will use protective gear (respirators, safety harnesses, roof protectors on ladders, special climbing shoes, etc) as well as protect your landscaping from damage.
How do you clean hot chocolate that has set on a mattress and is moldly?
A steam cleaner (make sure it gets hot enough to sanitize) will kill off the mold and whatever else is there, then you just use a cleaner like Oxyclean spray to get out the stain.
Can you withhold rent until a serious black mold issue has been resolved?
Yes, but you need to open an escrow account and put the rent money in the account while the repairs are being made. Also, send a letter to the landlord, certified mail, listing the repairs and explaining the escrow account.
That's the "Cliff's Notes" version.
Look in the phone book for Legal Aid, or call your county bar association. Don't rely on info you get online
Mold is considered a living this because of the following:
1) it acquires energy from digesting other substances
2)it reproduces via spores
3) it adapts to its environment
4) it is made up of cells
Can a change in pH kill molds and mildew?
Everything that lives has a pH level that they work best in. In humans that is 7.4. Anything much higher or much lower can cause damage and even death to the cells and therefore the organism. The same is true for molds and mildew. These grow best in low pH (under pH5).
What is meant by two mold casting?
There are two molds that you put together to make the casting, so the part is easier to get out of the mold ----------------- If two or more (sets) of molds were necessary to produce the casting. Picture a statue, one mold was used to create the body and a second mold was used to create an outstretched arm, that is attacted separately.
