How to Naturally Clean Mildew

Mildew grows on a variety of surfaces.

In many homes lurks an annoying menace that will stain the surface it's growing on as well as fill the area with a musty odor. While you can typically find mildew growing in your bathroom, this fungus will thrive in any moist, dark and humid location. Fortunately, you do not have to live with slimy mildew and musty odors as there are several natural items that will remove mildew, as well as mold, from your home.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Cloths
• Laundry detergent
• Tea tree oil
• Oxygen bleach
• Small bucket
• Borax
• Spoon
• Sponge

Instructions

Vinegar

1. Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar.

2. Mist the mildew liberally with the white vinegar and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Wipe the mildew and vinegar off of the surface with a cloth. Repeat the process until you have removed all traces of the mildew.

4. Remove mildew from washable fabrics by laundering them with 1 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup laundry detergent.

Tea Tree Oil

1. Mix 4 tsp. tea tree oil with 4 cups cool water.

2. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle.

3. Mist the mildew and surrounding area with the mixture. Let the mixture sit on the mildew for 15 minutes.

4. Wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth. Repeat the process if necessary.

Oxygen Bleach

1. Mix 1 gallon warm water with 1/4 cup oxygen bleach. Submerge a cloth in the mixture and wring out the excess liquid.

2. Scrub the mildew off of the surface with the damp cloth. Continue scrubbing until you have removed all of the mildew.

3. Rinse the surface with a clean cloth dampened with cool water. Let the surface air dry.

Borax

1. Fill a small bucket with 2 cups hot water. Add 1/2 cup borax and mix it in with a spoon.

2. Dampen a sponge in the mixture.

3. Scrub the mildew off upholstery and other non-washable fabrics with the damp sponge. Let the mixture sit on the fabric for three to four hours or until the mildew stain is no longer visible.

4. Rinse the mixture off of the fabric by blotting the area with a clean, damp white cloth.

5. Pat the fabric dry with a clean, white towel.

References

• Reader'sDigest.com: 150+ Household Uses for Vinegar
• The Good Human: The Mother Of All Natural Mold Fighters -- Tea Tree Oil
• CBS News: Heloise Hears A Hint
• Reader'sDigest.com: Mildew Cleaning Solutions

Resources

• United States Environmental Protection Agency: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mold Cleanup and Remediation
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace