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Latest Articles
5 Reasons To Choose Artificial Grass For Your Garden
Transforming your garden is an exciting time. There are so many things to consider and so many different things you can do in order to change a...
on Apr 12, 2021
What to Know When Choosing an Air Conditioner
You cannot blame yourself when you are currently shopping for a new aircon that you would be able to use for your home. You would want to use an...
on Apr 7, 2021
The Best Flowers for Great Curb Appeal
Right now is planting season and the beginning of yard work season. One of the biggest factors in quick and successful home sales is curb appeal....
on Apr 5, 2021
5 Signs for Homeowners to Repair vs Replace Their Roof
As a homeowner, you might have noticed some changes in your roof. And you need to figure out whether it means a roof repair or you have to change...
on Apr 5, 2021
Top Tips When Choosing Houseplants for Your Home
Your home is your castle. It is somewhere you can relax, unwind, and be yourself. In the modern digital world, this is becoming increasingly...
on Apr 5, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
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Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
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Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
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Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
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Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
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Removing Mildew from Wood
by Michigan State University on May 12, 2012
Unpainted wood In damp, warm, poorly ventilated areas, surface mold often develops on wooden parts of buildings. Since new, unseasoned lumber is particularly susceptible to mildew, avoid using it whenever possible. Painted wood Indoor wood surfaces covered with enamel or oil-resin paint rarely mildew, unless conditions are very favorable for mold growth. Softer paints on outdoor surfaces mildew more readily. Molds feed on the oil and minerals in the paint and cause a dirty-looking discoloration. They may penetrate the paint film deeply, even to the underlying wood. Mildew-resistant paints in all colors for outdoor wood surfaces are available at paint and hardware stores. Manufacturers have formulated their products with fungicides to help combat mildew attack.
PRECAUTION: Mildew-resistant paints should not be used on window sills, playpens, beds, or toys because these paints can be injurious if they reach the mouths of small children. If mildew grows on wood, use heat and increase the air circulation to get wood as dry as possible. Badly infected wood may need to be replaced, preferably with wood that has been treated or that is naturally decay resistant. Thoroughly clean mildewed surfaces, woodwork, and other wooden parts by scrubbing them with a mild alkali, such as washing soda or trisodium phosphate (8 to 10 tablespoons to a gallon of water), or with disinfectants.
Paint and grocery stores and janitors' supply houses sell these products under various trade names. Rinse the wood well with clear water, and allow the wood to dry thoroughly. Then apply a mildew-resistant paint. If the mold has grown under the paint or varnish, remove all the paint or varnish from the stained areas.
Then scrub with a solution containing about 9 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate and 1 cup of household chlorine bleach to a gallon of water. Stronger solutions can be used if necessary. Wear rubber gloves. If stain remains, apply oxalic acid (3 tablespoons to 1 pint of water). The acid is poisonous; handle carefully. Finally, rinse the surface thoroughly with clear water. Dry well before refinishing.
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Articles Archive
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