How to Get Rid of Mildew on Paint

How to Get Rid of Mildew on Paint

How to Get Rid of Mildew on Paint

Having over 40 years' full-time experience in the general contracting field with a specialty in the kitchen and bath area, David Pinsley is now the vice president/senior designer/sales executive for First Rate Renovations, Inc. and Cultured Marble Products in San Leandro, California. According to him, mildew is one of the most common causes of house paint failure. Here, Pinsley talks about how to get rid of your mildew problem.

Patches of mildew can grow on the surface of virtually any matter, both organic and inorganic. Mildew is really just a fungus,and when it attaches itself to exterior or interior house paint, it makes everything look dirty.

For some reason, mildew 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. So you may need to take care of the mildew problem sooner than you thinkor, sooner than you would like.

Ascertain Mildew before Painting

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. So resist the urge 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. For this reason, you should 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.

Stop Mildew from Spreading

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. 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.

Like most types of mold in general, mildew thrives in hot, steamy areas. 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 keep these areas in your house as well-ventilated as possible to stop the dreaded mildew from taking rootand 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.

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