Paint & Wallpaper

(MS) - Mildew. It could be those dark stains you find on your bathroom ceiling, the walls of your basement, in your laundry room or in other high humidity areas of your home. Mildew often looks like dirt but can be easily identified by applying a drop of household bleach to the discolored area. If the stain disappears or lightens, you have mildew. Cleaning may remove it, but the trick to controlling mildew is to prevent it before it starts. By using some ideas from the mildew experts at ZINSSER®, you can minimize - and even prevent - many mildew problems:

*****  Keep airflow constant. Consider installing an exhaust fan and replacing solid doors with louvered ones to improve ventilation in mildew-prone areas. This alone can increase airflow and significantly impede the growth of interior mildew.
*****  Eliminate moisture. Stagnant water produces moisture in the air and creates the perfect environment for mildew growth. Limit moisture by using a dehumidifier in high humidity areas. Also, take steps to remove excessive moisture by wiping down shower walls after each use and cleaning spills that can be created by leaks, wet laundry or raincoats in basements, laundry rooms and closets. This will reduce the moisture in the air and decrease mildew growth.
*****  Clean infected areas. Clean mildew-covered surfaces with a solution of 1 cup household bleach to one gallon of water. Follow this solution by rinsing thoroughly with clean water.
*****  Prevent mildew growth. Prevent the growth of mildew on painted surfaces by applying two coats of a mildew-proof paint like ZINSSER's Perma-White® Mold and Mildew-Proof Bathroom Paint. Perma-White is available in bright white and can be tinted to off-white or a variety of pastel colors to match your home's décor. It protects itself against mildew as it brightens and beautifies your home.

     For more information about preventing mold and mildew, call (732) 469-8100 or visit www.zinsser.com for more home improvement tips.

THE TRICK TO CONTROLLING interior mildew is to prevent it before it starts.

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