Mildew is really just a fungus, and when it attaches itself to exterior or interior housepaint it makes everything look dirty. David Pinsley is vice president/senior designer/sales executive for First Rate Renovations, Inc. and Cultured Marble Products in San Leandro, California, and talks here about getting rid of your mildew problem.
Not many people realize it, but mildew is one of the most common causes of house paint failure. Mildew is actually a fungus, and patches of it can grow on the surface of virtually any matter, both organic and inorganic. For some reason, it loves to attack paint, especially if the painted surface is located somewhere warm or humid.
As a result, the exterior of your house, shed or your garden gate may start to appear dirty and ugly, with small blotches of black, brown or purple discoloration, which is the mold showing its true colors.
The life of a good paint job is estimated to be 8 to 10 years. But painted surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room may also attract this fungus, as these are areas that are hot and sticky as a rule. So you may need to take care of the problem sooner than you think or, sooner than you would like.
Mildew Needs Nourishment
Mildew will continue to grow as long as it gets nourishment, which in many cases is simply dirt or organic matter found on top of paint. While many manufacturers have tried to develop a paint that is resistant to mildew, it is only as strong as the surface upon which is painted. That means if mildew is present in any form on the surface before you paint it, you’ll need to be scrupulous about cleaning it off before you do.
Resist the urge, however, to simply paint over mildew. While it may initially appear to be a neat trick, if you do so, then in the long run you will be sadly disappointed. The difficulty lies in ascertaining whether or not mildew actually is present, as often it just looks like a patch of dirt, indistinguishable from other patches of dirt.
Test an area first by placing bleach on the surface. If the drops cause the surface to lose its dark appearance, mildew is probably underneath. If not, you are in the clear and all you need is a new paint job, not a mildew treatment.
Mildew-Resistant Products
Many products are on the market which advertise themselves as mildew washes and some do work. But it’s usually a case of trial and error to see which one is the best for you and your home.
Remember again, though, that mildew, like most types of mold in general, thrives in hot, steamy areas. So keep these areas in your house as well-ventilated as possible to stop the dreaded mildew from taking root and spreading. And use a mildew-resistant paint when you paint again in those areas so that you won’t have to scrub off the new mildew anytime soon.
