Fungal Growth in a Kitchen

Mildew Facts

• Mildew is a type of simple fungus, also called mold, which causes minor respiratory symptoms in some people, such as coughing, nasal stuffiness and throat irritation. Mildew grows on a variety of surfaces, including fabric, wood, carpet, wallpaper, paint and dust. Like other types of fungus, mildew gradually decomposes the item on which it grows. If you don't remove mildew, it can destroy your woodwork, cabinets, cookbooks, dishtowels and food, along with permanent structural damage to your home.

Causes

• Cooking naturally releases water vapor into the air, creating favorable conditions for mildew. Your kitchen may also show signs of mildew if poor caulking allows water to leak from the edges of the sink into the cabinets or if the sink pipes leak. In addition, not using your stove top range vent, while you cook, lets water vapor and particles of grease stay in the air. For best results, vent your stove to the outside or use a recirculating range hood.

Signs

• Mildew often appears in spots and may be green, gray, brown or other colors. Different types of mold grow in different colors, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not recommend testing mold as all types of mold should be removed. In addition, rumors that "black mold" or "toxic mold" are linked to severe health problems have not been confirmed, according to the CDC. A musty smell also indicates mildew growth. If you notice condensation on the kitchen walls, water streaming down the windows, peeling paint, rotting windowsills, curling wallpaper or moisture underneath the sink, your kitchen has excess moisture and likely has a mildew problem.

Mildew Removal

• Remove mildew from hard surfaces with soap and water or a diluted bleach solution of 1 cup bleach in 1 cup water. Wear gloves and goggles and open windows and doors when using bleach. Wash mildewed fabrics, such as tablecloths and cloth napkins, with soap and water and let them dry in the sun. Porous materials that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned may have to be discarded. Throw away any food that has mildew on it.

Reducing Moisture

• If you have mildew in your kitchen, you must reduce the moisture levels to prevent it from coming back. Mildew spores are in the air everywhere, so killing existing mildew growth doesn't prevent regrowth. Reduce moisture by fixing leaking pipes, turning on the vent when cooking and caulking the edges of the sink. In addition, cover pots and pans while cooking and avoid simmering food for excessive amounts of time. You can also install a dehumidifier in the kitchen to reduce ambient humidity.