How to Detect Mildew
- 1). Follow your nose. You can smell mildew quicker than you can see it. It has a musty, unpleasant odor. One whiff and you're on its track.
- 2). Locate where the smell of mildew is coming from, and you'll see it easily. Mildew has a number of forms, ranging from a dark stain to tiny black spots on wood frames, plaster walls, tile grout, cloth and plastic. Well-advanced mildew can cause permanent staining and rotting of clothing and anything made of natural fibers.
- 3). Inspect surfaces that are consistently moist and dark, and any room or closet where humidity is high and lighting and ventilation are poor. Run a finger along surfaces. If it feels slightly slimy and comes away coated in black or gray residue, you've detected mildew.
- 4). Check areas in your home that have sustained water damage. Ceilings where a roof above is damaged, walls where a pipe has leaked or burst, and window frames that are improperly sealed are prime areas for detecting mildew.
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