Following the recent record rainfall, mold and mildew may be a problem, according to Pamela Turner, a Cooperative Extension housing specialist with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
To keep mold and mildew growth at a minimum, run the air conditioner and keep the windows shut. Air conditioning, fans or dehumidifiers will remove some of the moisture and keep the indoor humidity below 60 percent.
Turn on the bathroom exhaust fan when taking a shower and the kitchen fan when cooking. Most mold and mildew problems start in bathrooms or kitchens, especially if there’s a leaky faucet or pipe.
Turner offers these tips to get rid of mold:
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, close-toed shoes, gloves, a mask and a hat when cleaning up large quantities of mold. Wash these clothes as soon as you’re finished cleaning. Don’t wash them with other clothes.
• Use a mild detergent mixed with water to wash mold off hard surfaces.
• Or, use a solution of either mild bleach and water or borax and water. With both, mix one-half cup of bleach or borax with one gallon of water.
• Wash fabrics infected with mildew in the washing machine. Use hot water if possible.
