BlackMoldInHomes.com

Mildew is, like mold, a generally used term for a variety of fungi species.

It happens quite often when de-cluttering a wardrobe, that you will be hit by a very distinct musty, moldy smell. Usually you will find that items, such as leather shoes and belts, woolen fabrics, cotton clothing and more are covered with a whitish – green or gray layer of filament-like fungal colonies or show discolored spots of various sizes spread all over them.

These fungi reproduce by releasing microscopic spores, which are everywhere in the environment. To grow and expand into whole colonies, they require organic matter (leather, traces of dandruff, sweat or soil), a high level of moisture and lack of air ventilation.
All these conditions are usually present in closets, wardrobes, drawers and poorly aired rooms or basements, especially in the Summer season or when a home is generally damp or water damaged.

The colonies of this fungus family grow usually more on the surface, producing a white – gray, web-like or fluffy coating.

You will be able to identify the presence of fungi easily, as they have got a characteristic earthy smell.
Occurrence of these fungi is quite annoying. On white cotton clothing it can be a struggle to get stains and discoloration washed out, and in general, it is a better idea to discard clothing you would wear directly on your skin (underwear, for example) to avoid contamination of mucous membranes or skin rashes and allergic reactions.

Leather belts or shoes are easily washed with warm water and leather soap and wiped with preparations that contain fungicides.

Colonies can also grow on window sills, where condensation and again, organic matter, is usually readily available.

Mildew Prevention Is Better than Removal

Prevention is theoretically easy: withdrawal of one or more growth conditions will make it hard for spores to hatch and colonies to expand.

Proper ventilation and regularly cleaned and disinfected surfaces will reduce fungal growth and expansion of colonies significantly.
If the indoor environment is moist, the use of dehumidifiers and regular room ventilation will decrease air humidity and dampness.

In climate-zones where the air outdoors and indoors reaches a high level of humidity, dehumidifiers may help to keep moist below 40%, which is for fungal growth too low.

Gardener’s Pain

Mildew is also known as a parasitic plant disease, where two different types of growth behavior can be observed: the white-gray colored, powdery mildew that covers plant leaves or fruits on the surface and the deep-growing fungus that will grow into organic matter and destroy especially veggies and fruit.