mildew

	Stain Removal Topics	back

Topic :Extreme mildew problems Do you have a good remedy for mildew? Our bathroom and bedroom walls and windows are stained with mildew and we can't seem to eliminate it. I have tried the bleach detergent mixture usually recommended and to no avail. Some have told me to put black plastic under the house under the rooms as a preventive measure. Do you think that will help once I get the mildew under control. The bedroom is on the North and the bathroom adjoins on the east. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. The house was built in 1956 and the windows show pretty good age and do sweat quite a bit. Can you have too much stuff stored in the attic maybe causing the house not to breathe properly? Thank you.
First off, bleach should work unless the wood is stained black from years of mildew. There is a professional product available from janitorial supply stores which is stronger than bleach. It costs about $5 per quart and comes under many different names. As for preventing the mildew, Install an exhaust fan in the bathroom or repair the on that's in there (clean and check it's efficiency). A de-humidifier would probably solve the problem for good though. Make sure the windows are shutting tight and caulked well around the outside. Storm windows on the outside or at very least plastic window insulation kits during the winter will help too, by creating an air-pocket to insulate the inner windows. The plastic might help a little if you just have a crawl space under the house. It's a cheap solution, might be worth a try. As for too much stuff in the attic, it's not likely, but if your "stuff" is piled up in front of vents and is from floor to ceiling....it may be adding to the problem.