Preventing And Curing Mildew In The Home

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30533, 31 August 1964, Page 2

Preventing And Curing Mildew In The Home

Damp warm conditions encourage the growth of mould in our homes and the spots of mildew eat into their host material causing unsightly and permanent damage if not checked, warns the Department of University Extension, University of Otago. It suggests a number of ways in which mildew may be prevented, or cured, in the home.

Moulds cannot grow in dry dust-free conditions, so this is the first line of defence. Clean clothing, furnishings and all wall surfaces with brush, duster or vacuum cleaner.

Control dampness by sunning and airing damp articles, and by ventilating rooms adequately. Air in heated rooms is warm, and can hold a great deal of water vapour. So open windows and doors on dry days, to let out the warm air with its load of moisture. It may be necessary to turn on convection heaters or electric fans to speed the action.

There are chemical substances which take up moisture and so discourage mould growth. One of these is silica gel, available from a firm of manufacturing chemists through your local chemist. It is hung in bags in wardrobes amongst the clothes or placed in an open container on a shelf. Keep the doors closed to exclude any moist air. Silica gel is not harmful to clothes. It can be dried by heating in a cool oven (300 deg. F.) for several hours and can then be used again. Calcium chloride absorbs moisture and is also a deodorant. It is useful where musty odours have developed as a result of mould growth. Place it in open containers on cupboard shelves, away from contact with any fabric. This chemical becomes liquid after absorbing moisture, and must then be discarded. Treatments

Once the house is dried out, the mildewed areas can be treated. As mould is a living organism which attacks the structure on which it lives, it cannot always be removed entirely.

Paintwork is seldom severely affected and washing with water containing borax or ammonia is usually sufficient to remove the marks. Rinse well afterwards as these alkalies are harmful to paint. Wallpaper cannot readily be cleaned effectively if the mildewed area is extensive. The best course is to replace the damaged portions with fresh paper, after making sure the wall underneath is completely dry. Small spots of mildew can be treated with a paste of magnesium carbonate and water. Allow to dry and remove with a sharp knife. Holland blinds should be scrubbed with soap and water if washable, otherwise use the magnesium carbonate treatment given above.

Mattresses, upholstered furniture and other unwashable articles. Remove mould spores by vacuuming thoroughly, outdoors if possible. Wipe over with a mixture of equal parts of methylated spirits and water. Dry in the sun. Leather goods.—Wipe with the methylated spirits mixture, or clean with saddle soap. Follow up with a good leather dressing. Clothing and Furnishings.— Brush, shake or vacuum out of doors. Sun and air thoroughly. Dampen washable articles, and rub with household soap. Allow to dry in the sun, then rinse, and repeat if necessary. Unwashable fabrics should be drycleaned. Bleaching For extensively affected articles, bleaching may be needed. Use a chlorine bleach for white linens and rayons, and cottons without a resin finish, following the directions given on the bottle. For silk, wool and all coloured washable fabrics, the safest bleach is sodium perborate. Dampen the stain, sprinkle with the powder which is obtainable from a chemist, leave for a few minutes, then rinse well. If doubtful of the colour, test in an inconspicuous place first. Further Protection The insides of cupboards, wardrobes and drawers can be brushed with a solution containing a quarternary ammonium compound, which acts as a sanitising agent. Suitable compounds are available from a manufacturing

chemist through your local chemist, e.g. Cetrimide. Spray or brush on the following mixture:— One ounce of 10 per cent quarternary ammonium compound and two ounces trisodium phosphate in one gallon of water. Shower curtains and curtain linings can be made mildew-resistant by being treated with a light waterproofing agent such as is used to showerproof sportswear and raincoats.