How to get rid of mildew in the air in a humid basement apartment ?
Im a bit of a health freak and Im wondering what Im doing to my health by breathing in mildewy air ?
What’s the best way to get mildew out of the air in a damp basement apartment?
How to get rid of mildew and excess humidity in a basement apartment by a damp forest ?
I live in this 3.5 room apartment beside a forest in Rawdon Quebec. Its being raining a lot. I can smell the mildew when I go into the city for a few days and return. My landlord gave me a dehumidifier, but I have yet to use it. I leave all the window screens open when I am here, and any mildew odor seems to go, however the forest area keeps things very humid
Im concerned about breathing in mildew, as its probably not good for the lungs or health. I also have an air purifier that puts out ozone. Would it be better to use one machine or the other, or both ? I think I also need to take a lot of my things out of boxes, and put them into sealed plastic storage containers ? I never finished unpacking all my things yet from moving in here a few months ago, so there are still several cardboard boxes
Once I get all the boxes emptied out, I can wash the wall which is closest to where the mildew is. Im in a semi basement, and on the side of this quadraplex, there is a driveway and a big field of grass beside that, Im a few feet under ground on the side, but street level in the front where there is no mildew problem. I also dont want to wreck any books. Im just not sure how to best deal with this problem, as I never had it before. I live up a mountain beside a forest, with a river running by a few hundred yards away, and a lake at the bottom of the mountain, so lots of humidity, but a cooling relief from the city,
If I start using the dehumidifier, should I leave it on when Im gone into the city for a day or two ? Ive never used one before
Thx much for your suggestions
Mildew and mold are caused by a fungus that thrives on warm, moist and dark environments. Some types of mold are toxic to human health and though they are rare, they can be fatal.
Control these conditions and you’ll control the fungus. It is possible to try and eradicate the fungus itself but if the favorable conditions remain, then it’s easy for it to return.
So, lets get these 3 factors sorted shall we?
Moisture: Reduce this by increasing ventilation. I understand the damp environment you have but if clothes dry on a washing line then increased ventilation will dry out your home. Open windows when you are home and use the de-humidifier at night and when you are away. Be aware that de-humidifiers pull out an amazing amount of water and need emptying regularly, so unless you have it plumbed into a drain, the de-humidifier will cut out once the reservoir is full (sometimes after only a few hours). However using the de-humidifier regularly will reduce any dampness that may be in the walls, furnishings etc.
Dark: Not much you can do about this apart from leaving curtains/blinds open when you are away/during the daytime if possible.
Warmth: While fungus likes warmth, actually turning up the heating will decrease the chance of water vapor condensing on surfaces, keeping the moisture ‘in the air’ rather than being available for the fungus.
Putting clothes (and anything else) into airtight plastic boxes can help preserve them from damp, just make sure they’re really dry before you put them away.
"Air purifiers" that put out ozone should just be dumped in the trash, there’s nothing healthy about ozone. They can be used to remove odors etc but NOT while humans are occupying the same space!
If you want to kill and remove existing mildew, use a dilute solution of bleach. This is good for areas of obvious mold but as mentioned, you really need to take all the other steps to ensure it cannot survive in your home.
you can purchase a dehumidifier, it is a machine that pulls the humidity out of the air. Not sure of costs, etc. But they are used for situations like yours.
Cross tying to same asker, same question, multiple areas.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ap2Ts1_2DGOw4uIb7bXrvaQjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20100805060551AA0VMhL
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100805061601AAbrvDH