Things You'll Need:
- Sodium percarbonate
- Plastic bucket
- Rag or sponge
- Household bleach
- Protective gear
- Mildew-control paint
- Mildewcide
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Step 1
Use sodium percarbonate, a common laundry detergent. It will both kill the mildew as well as help remove mildew stains without resorting to toxic, fume-inducing chemicals. Fill a bucket with a gallon of fresh water. Add six ounces of sodium percarbonate. Mix thoroughly to dissolve the sodium percarbonate powder.
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Step 2
Dip a rag or sponge in the sodium percarbonate solution. Use the rag or sponge to scrub at the wall or painted surface. Scrub all areas on which mildew is growing. Discard the rag or sponge after scrubbing. Let the solution sit on the paint for 15 minutes.
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Step 3
Use household bleach to kill the mildew as an alternative to sodium percarbonate. Unlike sodium percarbonate, bleach is toxic and emits fumes. Proper protective gear, such as a face mask and gloves, should be used. Mix one part bleach and nine parts water in a plastic bucket.
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Step 4
Repeat Step 2, using the bleach solution instead. Focus only on the area on which mildew is growing to avoid spreading the mildew spores to new surfaces.
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Step 5
Rinse the wall to remove the sodium percarbonate or bleach. Use a fresh wet rag to wipe the surface. Allow to dry.
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Step 6
Repaint the sterilized paint surface. While sodium percarbonate and bleach will kill mildew and remove most of the stains, some staining may remain. In addition, paint that had mildew growing on it is weakened and more susceptible to new mildew. Repaint with a paint product containing mildew control chemicals, such as biocide barium metaborate or zinc oxide.
