Mildew and Mild Prevention

Mildew and Mold Prevention

Here are a few tips to prevent mildew and mold from becoming a problem where you live.

Keep your living space clean. This includes picking up clutter from floors, especially clothes, books,
magazines, etc. Cloth and paper can easily get damp and become a mildew and mold growing area.
Do not store items wet, this includes laundry that may still be damp, clothes, towels, sheets, shoes,
umbrellas, etc. Also, do not place wet items into the hamper, they may mildew before you do your
laundry.
Do not place wet items on cloth covered furniture. If cloth covered furniture does get wet, ensure that
you clean up the wet area and allow it to dry. The same applies to carpeted areas.
Take out your trash, clean out the trash can regularly (including wiping it down with a cleaning solution
that kills mildew and mold) and clean up any spills that might happen around the trash can.
Do not leave water sitting anywhere, including on the bathroom floor. Clean it up immediately and
wipe the surface with a cleaning solution.
Keep your kitchen sink drain cleaned out on a regular basis, in order to prevent backups and stagnant
water.
When taking a shower, ensure that the fan is running during your shower and 30-minutes after your
shower. This will evacuate the steam from the bathroom and help decrease the humidity and water
build up. Use a bathmat when getting out of the shower and hang it and all towels used in a flat
position, allowing them to easily air dry. Keep the bathroom door open when not being used, this
allows for better air circulation and decreases the humidity. Pull the shower curtain across the shower
when done to ensure that it drips dry.
Clean the bathroom (the shower, sink, toilet, etc.) no less than once a week, though depending on how
many times it is used in a week, it may need to be cleaned more often. This will ensure that mildew
does not build up.
Report any leaks immediately to University Housing, either through the work order system at:
https://www.usca.edu/departments/housing/ or by contacting the RM.