The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1293358
The Press-Dispatch Fall Home Improvement Wednesday, September 30, 2020 C-5 REMOVE MILDEW from your home's exterior Homeowners want their residences to look inviting in- side and out. Part of keeping an attractive property involves addressing issues that can compromise not only the ap- pearance of a home, but even its integrity. People who live in regions with high humidity may find their homes are vulnerable to exterior mildew growth. Mil- dew is a kind of mold. Molds include all species of micro- scopic fungi that grow in the form of hyphae, which are multicellular filaments, ac- cording to the Environmen- tal Protection Agency. Mold thrives on any organic mat- ter and surfaces with mois- ture management problems. Mildew, in particular, lives on shower walls, windowsills and other places where moisture levels are high. Mildew also can grow on home siding as well as fences and other exte- rior structures. While typical- ly gray or white, mildew can be various colors. Experts recommend vari- ous cleansers to help combat the issue of mildew on a home. One of the first products that homeowners tend to reach for is sodium hypochlorite, which is a standard bleach used in laundry and pool san- itation. While sodium hypo- chlorite seems to make mil- dew vanish, those at This Old House say that chlorine evap- orates too quickly to get to mildew's roots on porous sur- faces, such as wood or vinyl siding. Bleach also can stain clothing and damage foliage around the house. Hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen bleach, is less volatile, will not affect foli- age and can clean mildew, al- gae and dirt on and below the surface. Trisodium phosphate is an- other effective cleanser. Com- monly known as TSP, it often succeeds where other solu- tions fail in regard to stub- born stains and mildew. TSP also works well on various ex- terior surfaces. TSP needs to be used with extreme cau- tion. When using TSP, wear long sleeves, gloves, goggles, and a respiratory mask, says Today's Homeowner. The product also requires ade- quate ventilation. There also are some environmental con- cerns, as TSP can damage foli- age. In addition, if the product ends up in lakes and streams, it can trigger an overgrowth of algae that results in the de- pletion of oxygen levels in the water. Eco-conscious home- owners may want to try oxy cleansers before TSP. Mildew shies away from bright sunlight, so it tends to grow on the north side of homes. Removing trees or other foliage that can further block sunlight to areas of the house can help eradicate mil- dew growth and stop it before it starts. Another tactic is to clean out gutters regularly and thoroughly to reduce moisture and to prevent decomposing debris from running over the edge of the gutters. This run- off can drip down the home's siding and spread the mildew to other areas. Mildew can be problematic any time of year. 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